Coffee contains caffeine that can cause palpitations if consumed in large quantities. But it does not usually affect a healthy person.
Coffee has caffeine which has the element of keeping the brain awake and more active for many hours. Caffeine is not only found in coffee but also found in tea, soda, alcoholic drinks, and chocolate.
The main compound of coffee is caffeine and below is the table of amounts of caffeine in different drinks:
| Drinks | Quantity | Caffeine Content |
| Coffee | 8 oz | 100 mg |
| Tea | 8 oz | 50 mg |
| Coca Cola | 8 oz | 25 mg |
| Cocoa | 8 oz | 15 mg |
The main effect of regular consumption of coffee is heart palpitations. If someone drinks coffee regularly then he or she may experience heart palpitations immediately after drinking it.
Keep reading to know more.
Heart Palpitations
Palpitation is the irregular beat or rhythm of the heart. The heart of a normal person beats 60 to 100 beats per minute and the heartbeat remains normal when there is nothing strange happening to it in daily routine. Heart palpitation is the feeling that a person feels when their heart beats very fast or slow, or sometimes it skips a beat. Palpitation feels like the heart is fluttering and pounding.
Now that we know what heart palpitations are, can coffee cause heart palpitations? If consumed in limited quantities then no, but if consumed in copious amounts then yes.
You see, coffee is one of the most popular drinks amongst people. The caffeine from it keeps us awake and active. The main compounds of coffee are caffeine, tannins, carbohydrates, fixed oils, and proteins. The effect of caffeine’s regular use varies from person to person.
A healthy person does not feel any problem after caffeine intake but if you drink more than the suggested quantities then you will experience palpitations. The MayoClinic suggests only consuming 3 to 4 cups of coffee in a day which should not be more than 8 ounces each.
This totals up to 400 mg of caffeine for a day. Therefore, if your daily caffeine intake is more than this, you’ll face caffeine overdose. And one of the main symptoms of this is heart palpitations along with jitteriness, nausea, and many more.
So, you’re likely to face heart palpitations if your daily caffeine intake is out of hand.
Can Coffee Give Me Heart Problems?
Caffeine in coffee may raise blood pressure when drank in large quantities. And elevated blood pressure is responsible for a heart problem.
Coffee users may have a risk of a heart attack. The overdose of coffee may result in a permanent heart problem that leads to heart palpitations, heart attack, and other related problems. Caffeine intake does not directly hit your heart but it raises the blood pressure. This high blood pressure results in a heart attack.
Overconsumption of coffee has a stimulatory effect on the nervous system that raises blood pressure. And the worst thing that happens after this is the risk of a heart attack because high blood pressure damages the arteries and restricts the flow of blood to the heart and brain.
So we can conclude that the overdose of caffeine may badly affect the cardiac health of any person.
Can Coffee Cause Irregular Heartbeat?
It is proven that excessive use of caffeine results in an irregular heartbeat that can be cured by minimizing the quantity of coffee intake.
Another question that comes to mind while discussing the side effects of caffeine might be irregular heartbeats. As we already discussed excessive coffee intake can cause heart palpitations and heart problems. So it is correct to say it affects the heartbeat as well.
An irregular heartbeat is called arrhythmia which means a problem of heart rhythm. An arrhythmia occurs when the heart signals that relate to the heartbeats can’t work properly.
The heart needs attention when a heartbeat is :
- Too fast
- Too weak
- Skipping beats
- Fluttering heart feeling
All these conditions must be considered seriously because a heartbeat abnormality is a sign of a heart problem.
Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat may further lead to a Heart attack or sudden death.
So whenever we take a caffeine-containing drink like tea, coffee, soda, chocolate, etc we must be careful. We should not avoid precautionary measures while using any drink or food in our daily routine.
Should I Stop Drinking Coffee If It Gives Me Heart Palpitations?
It is worth mentioning that if drinking coffee gives you heart palpitations then you should probably stop drinking coffee and consult with a doctor.
The ingredients of the coffee show that it can cause heart palpitations to a person who is sensitive to it or already has heart problems. But a healthy person does not need to worry while having a cup of coffee.
If a person feels heart problems like irregular heartbeats etc after caffeine intake they should cut down their caffeine intake immediately. Because if they don’t, it may lead to severe problems like:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- High blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Sleep disorder
- Irregular Heartbeat
As we all know the overdose of any caffeinated drink results in the above-mentioned problems, we must be conscious while choosing the amount of our caffeine.
And the answer to the question should I stop drinking coffee after feeling heart palpitations is an obvious yes. The heart is the main human organ that maintains the whole body’s functions. If it does not work properly it means something is going to be wrong. So one should be wise and avoid the intake of caffeine.
Here is an awesome video I found out for you to watch on a similar topic.
How Do You Stop Palpitations After Drinking Coffee?
Increased intake of coffee can cause palpitations that can be lessened by exercise, relaxing techniques, reduced stimulant intake, proper hydration, and stimulating the vagus nerve.
The excessive use of caffeine causes palpitations. When someone feels palpitations it makes them restless. Heart-pounding or fluttering is not a normal condition. It may cause dizziness and nausea in some people. We must know what to do whenever we may face this problem. Following techniques may help in reducing heart palpitations:
- Exercise
- Relaxing techniques
- Reduce stimulant intake
- Balanced electrolytes intake
- Proper Hydration
- Stimulating vagus nerve
Exercise
This is generally a very important aspect that almost everyone should incorporate into their life. Regular exercise not only helps you stay fit but also helps to reduce heart palpitations. It lowers the blood pressure of the body and relieves the palpitation effects.
Relaxing Techniques
This is somewhat attached to exercise. Meditation and yoga all fall in the category of exercise. You see, meditation clears your mind thus letting your body get out of panic mode caused by palpitations. So adopting yoga or meditation would help you to relax instantly.
Reduce Stimulant Intake
Whenever one feels heart palpitations they must reduce the drinks and foods that have a maximum quantity of caffeine, for instance, coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.
Balanced Electrolytes Intake
Electrolytes are the molecules that are present in the body. They help to transfer electric signals in the body. Electrolytes help to regulate heart function properly.
If we take foods that are rich in sodium, potassium, and calcium, the number of electrolytes in the body will increase. These foods are:
- Potato
- Avocado
- Banana
- Spinach
Keep Yourself Hydrated
Water intake is very important for blood circulation. A dehydrated body faces problems in the circulation of blood that can cause heart palpitations. So if you want to maintain your cardiac health you should remain hydrated at all times.
Stimulating Vagus Nerve
The nerve that connects the brain and heart is called the vagus nerve. By stimulating it, palpitations can be mitigated. It can be done by
- Coughing
- Showering
- Splashing cold water on the face
All these things may lower blood pressure and heart palpitations as well.
Bottom Line
Caffeine is a compound that keeps you awake and active. People around the world drink coffee almost every day for its benefit. And one can enjoy coffee but must be careful about the quantity that it is consumed in because excess of anything is bad. Excessive consumption of coffee can lead to heart palpitations and may even cause an irregular heartbeat.
We should be balanced in every choice of our diet. The same rule applies to coffee. Always make sure to drink it in moderation and not in excess which is deleterious for your health. If you are facing heart palpitations, adopting relaxing techniques, staying hydrated, and doing a few extra things will save you from serious repercussions.