Training & Nutrition - caffeine and heart problems?

Anyone have trouble with heart arhythmias? I have been a 2-3 cup of coffee per day person for a long time, but in the last year I notice that occasionally there is an extra beat, then longer pause than normal, then normal heart rhythm. It can happen at rest but is more frequent when the heart rate is higher. I do not feel weaker. I have cut the caffeine down to 1 cup of black tea maximum and it seems to be going away. I ride 120 miles/week on average, mostly commuting back and forth to work. Yes I'm going to the doctor but I'm interested in other cyclists perspectives. thanks.

I had a friend who was a non exerciser who had an irregular heartbeat like that. His doctor told him to cut back on caffeine. It went away and never came back as long as he didn't over-do the caffeine.

Al

I recall that happening to me when i use to drink monster energy frequently. Now i have 1-2 a week and its gone.

I had a friend who was a non exerciser who had an irregular heartbeat like that. His doctor told him to cut back on caffeine. It went away and never came back as long as he didn't over-do the caffeine.

Al

I was in the hospital for about 2 days in 1994 for it. I was feeling bad for a couple of days and went to see my doctor. He hooked me to an EKG in his office for a bit, read the results and personally drove me to the hospital. It was due to too much caffine. I'm my case it was fresh brewed sweet iced tea. I made my own, to the tune of 3-4 gallons a week. I dont make my own ice tea anymore, but i still have a glass at a restaurant occasionally. I never gave up coffee, but i was not as obsessive about it like iced tea. I remember trying a dexatrim several years ago and just one pill sent me over the edge. I threw the box away. Caffiene as a weight loss aid is not for me.

Irregular heartbeat is nothing to screw around with. It can kill you.

I went to the hospital a year and a half ago with a collapsed lung. The doc saw my heartbeat skip a couple times on the machine, ordered some blood work then told me to eat a banana every other day. Problem gone.

See your doc.

I went to the hospital a year and a half ago with a collapsed lung. The doc saw my heartbeat skip a couple times on the machine, ordered some blood work then told me to eat a banana every other day. Problem gone.

See your doc.

You apparently were low on electrolyte. That interferes with the coductivity of your cell structure and messes up the electrical signals between your brain and heart I believe.

Al

Glaceau smart water has electrolytes, and it has the best taste.

Might have been but I thought it might have had to do with potassium.

There's a lot of different arrhythmic heart beats that could be like what you describe. The best way of learning about it is to go your physician, not a forum on the net.

The best way of learning about it is to go your physician, not a forum on the net.

But our overhead is so cheap that our diagnosis AND prescription are free!

Doc Martin

3 cups of coffee is not that much if you drink it regularly.

Had PVC (pre-ventricular contractions) due to too much coffee and a lack of sleep several years ago. I drink one cup a day now, no problems.

And to the guy who drank tons of iced tea....they make decaf tea bags ya know! I drink fresh brewed decaf tea every day.

It doesn't take much caffine to set me off anymore (and that's not good since I live near seattle). Combine that with a bit of dehydration and it's a sure trip to the ER for a date with a defibrillator. I will go into a rhythm known as Atrial Fibrillation and usally at a VERY high pulse rate. I took caffine out of the picture and problems went away, then got cocky and started drinking my Tea and diet Dr Pepper again. Sure enough, back into it, but at least I converted back into sinus rhythm on my own that time.

If you symptoms start increasing again you should talk to your doctor. A Exercise Tolerance Test or may be a Holter or Event Monitor would help in diagnosing your palpitations. Premature Ventricular contractions alone are not a big problem (its said that 50% of people have them and only 1/2 of them feel them) But if you start having runs of them (3 or more connected known as Ventricular Tachycardia), or are going into a rhythm such as Atrial Fibrillation, would need closer looking into.

While I don't play a doctor on TV, I do work as a Cardiology Technician (14 years) and a former EMT.*Legal requirement If you are concerned enough to ask about it here, you should be asking your Doctor.

But our overhead is so cheap that our diagnosis AND prescription are free!

Doc Martin
You get what you pay for.

i had to stop caffeine for several months because of that heart thing... back in april i was drinking two or three energy drinks a day and sometimes caffeine pills. eventually i started having panic attacks, chest pains, heart fluctuations, and dizziness every time i had any amount of caffeine (even tiny amounts like diet coke) there were times when i thought that my heart was going to just stop beating, and that would be such a downer for a 21 year old.

i still rarely touch the stuff... someone brought me a small cup of coffee on tuesday in the morning, and i was still amped at 3am when it was time for bed. through overuse and abuse i've facked my body's ability to process stimulants.

i had to stop caffeine for several months because of that heart thing... back in april i was drinking two or three energy drinks a day and sometimes caffeine pills. eventually i started having panic attacks, chest pains, heart fluctuations, and dizziness every time i had any amount of caffeine (even tiny amounts like diet coke) there were times when i thought that my heart was going to just stop beating, and that would be such a downer for a 21 year old.

Sounds like mitral valve prolapse. Time for an appointment with the cardiac specialist to get it properly diagnosed.

wow, that's crazy... i thought it was all in my head. i remember describing this to my brother and recalling a time when i felt like there was blood backflow in my heart. he just said i was crazy.

i don't care to get it diagnosed because it doesn't appear harmful, but thanks for the info :)

Had PVC (pre-ventricular contractions) due to too much coffee and a lack of sleep several years ago. I drink one cup a day now, no problems.

And to the guy who drank tons of iced tea....they make decaf tea bags ya know! I drink fresh brewed decaf tea every day.

Yeah i know. And for a while i did drink it. But, it just wasnt the same. Oddly enough i enjoy Caffiene free Diet Coke since i started to drink it a couple of years ago. But mostly i drink water.