OMG, just saw this story on "rapid" and "slow" metabolizers of caffeine and the variable effects coffee might have on the heart. (I'm sure I'm a rapid metabolizer....). Wonder if that's why Starbucks coffee stock (SBUX) took a 1.5% dip today.... Good to know that prior, LARGE studies demonstrated no additonal cardiovascular effects to caffeine. A study of nearly fifty thousand male health professionals showed no increase of cardiovascular disease due to coffee-drinking [THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 323:1026-1032 (1990)] -- a result in agreement with the Framingham Study [ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 149:1169-1172 (1989)].
--Wes
3 comments:
Hi Dr. Wes,
A quick question on caffiene. My doctor has told me not to have any caffiene due to heart arrythymias (V-tach and V-fib)--I never drank much--just one cup in the morning--I have cut this out and am miserable. Can I ever have a cup of coffee again?
BTW--great podcast--thanks!
I'm amazed they were able to find enough people who don't drink coffee to make a study ;). Can't stand the stuff myself, but I'm always in the minority.
I too was told by my Dr. to avoid caffeine--I have an ICD.
Helen and Shelby - Well this is one place where there HAS been a correlation between fast heart rhythms and caffeine. Most studies suggested causation after 8 cups of coffee, but if you have a ventricular arrhythmia, ANY caffeine might be too much. So stick with what your doctors are telling you on this one...
--Wes
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