Caffeine and pacemaker

Caffeine -effect on PM

by Selwyn - 2016-07-16 12:19:22

Caffeine does not affect your pacemaker.

Caffeine has a direct effect on heart muscle. 

It can cause extra heart beats, and increase blood pressure.

I was advised not to drink caffeine to avoid attacks of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( I remember having this conversation, looking at the operating light,  as my cardiologist  was fixing in my pacemaker). Further study shows there is little corroberative evidence to show coffee drinking in moderation is harmful. 

There is a great summary of  many variable  effects of caffeine at:

http://www.priory.com/pharmol/caffeine.htm

Selwyn

caffeine

by Tracey_E - 2016-07-16 22:07:40

Directly, it has no impact. Indirectly, it varies. My husband can chug mountain dew all day long then fall asleep. If I have more than one cup, my heart is racing half the night. My mom can have half a cup of coffee and be in afib, so none for her. Your rate should be fairly regular now that you are paced so it's hard to say if the caffeine will have an effect. It's fairly harmless to give it a try, just don't go overboard until you see how it goes. 

Thanks

by Heartfelt - 2016-07-17 08:10:29

Thanks for your comments. I don't miss the coffee taste or the coffee ritual, it's the caffeine boost that I miss.   I guess drinking coffee to increase my blood pressure would be a good thing since my bp is on the low side. Wouldn't want any unpleasant effects so will be attentive when I do have that first cup. 

Just Try It

by Artist - 2016-07-17 11:50:48

Everyone is different.  Your PM  primarily functions to control a low heart rate and really doesn't prevent AFIB.  A PM is often implanted to keep your HR from falling too low if you are taking beta blocker medications to treat AFIB.  I love coffee but have completely stopped drinking it.  I can even experience arrhythmias if I eat dark chocolate.  We are all different in our sensitivity to caffiene.  Try caffiene in moderation.  Your body will let you know now much is too much.  

I still drink coffee

by Czechmate - 2016-07-20 14:57:04

I just had my pacer installed 6 days ago.  I still drink coffee, but have noticed I don't crave it like I use to, same for food in general.  Since my body is now feeling energized I can see myself dropping it completely after a while.

Coffee Hound

by monkeyman - 2016-07-24 13:05:14

Have been drinking coffee since the age of 12. Healthy as a horse and have been extremely physically fit my entire life. When they told me that I needed a pacemaker I was shocked. My cardiologist asked if I drank coffee and said that it would not affect my pacemaker. It may elevate my bp but don't drink more than 3 cups  (18oz) per day. But every person is different. 

coffee

by Bella1954 - 2024-06-21 19:52:33

Hello, everyone, I am new to this pacemaker thing. I had to have one put in me 2 months ago. My heart was skipping beats and made me pass out. My son called the ambulance so I could go to the hospital to find out why. It was because my heart was skipping beats.I was reading about how caffine is not good if you drink a lot of it. It does something to your heart. I wish I had known sooner. I did not even know this could happen. Does anyone know if you can drink decaf coffee with a pacemaker without medical problems. Let me know, thanks