Drinking coffee daily may prevent irregular heartbeat

A daily cup of coffee may actually protect the heart rather than harm it, according to a surprising new study.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that people who drank a cup of coffee or espresso every day had a 39 percent lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder that can lead to stroke and heart failure.

The findings challenge long-held medical advice that heart patients should avoid caffeine for fear it could trigger palpitations or irregular beats.

The trial followed 200 coffee drinkers with permanent atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter, all scheduled for electrical cardioversion, a procedure that restores normal heart rhythm.

The participants were divided into two groups: One abstained from caffeine for six months, while the other continued to drink coffee every day.

Christopher Wong, lead author of the study, said: “The results were surprising. Doctors have always recommended that patients with atrial fibrillation minimize their coffee intake, but this trial shows that coffee is not only safe but also possibly protective.”

Experts say the results could reshape a patient’s orientation and suggest that moderate caffeine may actually help the heart keep beating.