Alcohol and Atrial Fibrillation: What You Need to Know for Heart Health
Cardiovascular DiseasesAtrial Fibrillation
Explore This Topic

Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) and Alcohol: Is It Safe to Drink?

Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) and Alcohol: Is It Safe to Drink?
Getty Images
By
Published on October 7, 2024
by
Health experts agree that heavy drinking and atrial fibrillation (afib), a type of heart rhythm disorder, don’t mix.

 That's because alcohol can trigger symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or a sudden drop in blood pressure that makes you feel woozy, says Gaurav Upadhyay, MD, PhD, a cardiologist and a cardiac electrophysiologist at the University of Chicago Medicine.

So how much alcohol is safe to drink for people with atrial fibrillation?

Afib and Alcohol Risk

“When you have any drink, whether it’s wine, beer, or liquor, it raises the risk of afib complications both acutely and long-term, while stopping drinking lowers the risk,” says Christopher DeSimone, MD, a cardiologist who specializes in cardiac electrophysiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

But having atrial fibrillation doesn’t mean you can never sip a glass of wine or beer again.

“The key is finding a sustainable amount, because even moderate drinking has been associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias, making it crucial for people with afib to understand the potential consequences of alcohol consumption,” says Dr. DeSimone.

The right amount for you depends on various factors, including how your body metabolizes alcohol, other health issues you may have, and the medicines you’re taking, he adds.

“Everyone’s afib is different, so while one person may be fine with one drink a day, someone else may not be able to handle more than one drink per week,” he says.

There is solid evidence to support keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum.

A study looked at the drinking habits of 100 people with atrial fibrillation. Researchers found that one alcoholic beverage doubled the odds of an afib episode, and people who had two or more drinks in one sitting tripled the odds of an episode.

Another study looked at 140 people with afib and divided them equally into an abstinence group and a control group that was allowed to drink as much as they wanted. The abstinence group had fewer atrial fibrillation recurrences in the first two weeks, and that pattern continued for six months.

“There are modifiable factors that are in your control as a person with afib. How much alcohol you drink will certainly reduce your risk of afib episodes,” says DeSimone. “It’s important to know that drinking also affects other factors that trigger an afib flare, such as sleep apnea and weight gain, and it contributes to hypertension.”

What Do the Experts Recommend?

According to guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, people with atrial fibrillation should minimize or eliminate alcohol consumption to reduce afib recurrence or burden.

Dr. Upadhyay says people should also follow other recommendations laid out in the guidelines. “That means controlling hypertension with medication, if necessary, maintaining a body-mass index (BMI) of less than 27, controlling diabetes, giving up tobacco, and exercising for more than 210 minutes per week.”

It's important to treat sleep apnea if you have it. According to one study, sleep apnea may induce changes to the nervous system that increase the likelihood of initiating atrial fibrillation. “It’s really important to use your CPAP machine and keep in mind that when you drink alcohol there’s a multipronged effect, since it can affect sleep, sleep apnea, and afib,” DeSimone adds.

Strategies for Drinking Safely

For people with atrial fibrillation who choose to drink, DeSimone recommends the following strategies to help reduce the risk of triggering an episode.

  • Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to counter alcohol’s dehydrating effects.
  • Monitor your symptoms. Keep track of how alcohol affects your symptoms, and consult your doctor if you notice any irregularities.
  • Limit intake. Stick to recommended limits that you have discussed with your doctor to minimize the risk of an afib flare-up.
  • Avoid binge drinking. Large amounts of alcohol in a short period increase the risk of atrial fibrillation due to the combined effects of alcohol on heart rhythms and inflammation.
  • Mind your medicines. Some prescriptions do not interact well with alcohol. Talk with your doctor before drinking alcohol with your medication.

The Takeaway

  • If you have atrial fibrillation (afib), alcohol can raise your risk of heart complications.
  • Although heavy drinking is particularly risky, even light to moderate drinking can increase the likelihood of arrhythmias.
  • To manage afib effectively, try limiting alcohol and focus on other heart-healthy choices like regular exercise and a good night's sleep.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
anurag-sahu-bio

Anurag Sahu, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Anurag Sahu, MD, is the director of the adult congenital heart program at Inova Health System in Fairfax, Virginia. Previously, he was an associate professor of medicine as well as an associate professor of radiology at Emory University in Atlanta, where he also served as director of cardiac intensive care.

He attended medical school at the University of Missouri in Kansas City in its combined six-year BA/MD program. He then completed his internal medicine residency at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC; fellowship training at Rush University in Chicago; and advanced training in cardiac imaging and adult congenital heart disease at The Ohio State University in Columbus.

Dr. Sahu has published book chapters on cardiovascular imaging as well as a variety of journal articles in publications including The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplant, JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, and the Journal of Thoracic Imaging.

Among the places that his career has taken him, his favorite was Kauai, Hawaii, where he was the only cardiologist on the island.

See full bio
Jordan-m-davidson-bio

Jordan M. Davidson

Author

Jordan Davidson is a freelance health and science writer interested in everything from nutrition and fitness to hobby farming and medical breakthroughs. His work has appeared in many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, Men’s Health, Prevention, Science Friday, The Scientist, and General Surgery News. He is senior copywriter at FCB Health in New York.

Davidson spent years as an ESL teacher in New York City public schools before transitioning to journalism. He holds a bachelor's degree from Brown University and master’s degrees in education and journalism from The City College of New York and the School of Journalism at CUNY. Davidson is now based in upstate New York after living in Bali, Indonesia, and volunteering on farms in Australia and New Zealand. He’s always on the hunt for good pub trivia.

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Atrial Fibrillation. Mayo Clinic. March 2024.