2021.06.19 07:01
https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/2021/06/05/the-value-of-self-experimentation-monitoring-caffeine-effects-on-pvc-frequency-with-zio-and-kardia/
2021.06.19 07:09
2021.06.20 16:35
I drink three to four cups of coffee at least every day with no exception. So it might be the basic cause or major precipitating factor of the PAC I have, Dr. HJ! How could I rule out its possibility, then?
BB
2021.06.20 17:43
As a general rule, cardiologist would advise the patient with your kind of case to avoid
coffee altogether for a while like weeks to see if it helps.
If it does and if you must have coffee AM, limit it to one cup a day
or drink a most diluted coffee you can make that is acceptable to you.
If you can stop coffee altogether, it's all the better.
I have the same issue with PACs as you do.
For over a year I make one near full pot of coffee with just one tablespoonful which
others use for one cup of coffee.
In other words I make very diluted coffee and often add cold water to the cup
to cool a little which further dilutes it.
I smell coffee ok when I drink it and usually drink 3 cups of that.
This routine plus beta blocker has controlled PACs for years now without recurrence so far.
2021.06.20 18:34
What an will power, Dr. HJ, I wish I had!!!
I should try same approach but simply hopeless.
Unintentionally I ignore, excusing to myself with such age, but only wish it does not progress to the AFib with the help of beta blocker propranolol I take now though it is not effectively control OF PAC!
BB Lee
2021.06.20 17:59
Multicenter Study
J Am Heart Assoc
. 2016 Jan 26;5(1):e002503.doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002503.
Shalini Dixit 1, Phyllis K Stein 2, Thomas A Dewland 3, Jonathan W Dukes 1, Eric Vittinghoff 1, Susan R Heckbert 4, Gregory M Marcus 1
Affiliations expand
Free PMC article
Background: Premature cardiac contractions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Though experts associate premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) with caffeine, there are no data to support this relationship in the general population. As certain caffeinated products may have cardiovascular benefits, recommendations against them may be detrimental.
Methods and results: We studied Cardiovascular Health Study participants with a baseline food frequency assessment, 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter) monitoring, and without persistent atrial fibrillation. Frequencies of habitual coffee, tea, and chocolate consumption were assessed using a picture-sort food frequency survey. The main outcomes were PACs/h and PVCs/hour. Among 1388 participants (46% male, mean age 72 years), 840 (61%) consumed ≥1 caffeinated product per day. The median numbers of PACs and PVCs/h and interquartile ranges were 3 (1-12) and 1 (0-7), respectively. There were no differences in the number of PACs or PVCs/h across levels of coffee, tea, and chocolate consumption. After adjustment for potential confounders, more frequent consumption of these products was not associated with ectopy. In examining combined dietary intake of coffee, tea, and chocolate as a continuous measure, no relationships were observed after multivariable adjustment: 0.48% fewer PACs/h (95% CI -4.60 to 3.64) and 2.87% fewer PVCs/h (95% CI -8.18 to 2.43) per 1-serving/week increase in consumption.
Conclusions: In the largest study to evaluate dietary patterns and quantify cardiac ectopy using 24-hour Holter monitoring, we found no relationship between chronic consumption of caffeinated products and ectopy.
Comment: In spite of negative study above, however, we must remember that
anything that stimulates autonomic nerve system causing increased secretion of
catecholamines is not good whether it is coffee, alcohol or mental stress.
That is why beta blockers help control these arrhythmias.
2021.06.20 18:36
What about the effect of caffeine all the tea products have? They all have high content of caffeine though it might be different to each other, aren't they?
BB
P.S. Do you think it is worthy to try 'diluted' coffee like you did with good responses?
2021.06.20 19:19
Tea is no different.
As I said, the best choice is to eliminate all stimulants, which I did
for several years. Only much later I started diluted coffee cautiously.
The bottom line of our discussion is that no doctor measures blood level of
the catecholamine in his patients, which is the sum total of all the stressors
including coffee, tea, alcohol, etc. and daily mental stress level.
So each person and each doctor has to use his best educated guess.
A 66 year old cardiologist reports a self experiment of the effects of caffeine
on premature ventricular and atrial beats that disturb many seniors and
some of which progress to atrial fibrillation.
It is interesting to read along with the general review of the subject.