Daily cup of coffee may prevent afib recurrence
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
People with atrial fibrillation (afib) are often advised to limit or avoid coffee, based on the assumption that caffeine may trigger an episode of afib. But a new study found that a daily cup of coffee had the opposite effect — a lower risk of afib recurrence.
The study included 200 people with persistent afib who drank coffee regularly. After the participants received a treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm, researchers randomly assigned half of them to drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee or shot of espresso each day, while the other half were told to completely abstain from coffee and other products that contain caffeine. During the subsequent six months, the coffee drinkers (who drank, on average, one cup per day) were 39% less likely to experience a recurrence of afib compared to those who avoided caffeine.
According to the study authors, caffeine and other compounds in coffee may discourage afib through several possible mechanisms, including reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, and promoting physical activity. The study was published Nov. 9, 2025, in JAMA.
Image: © Penpak Ngamsathain/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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