The study into alcohol, carried out on 8,830 men and women in Britain, Scandinavia and the United States, found that those who drank the equivalent of ten standard drinks — about 15 units a week — had an 80 per cent increased risk of being diagnosed with the condition within five years.

The Department of Health advises that men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol a week, and women no more than 14. A 125ml glass of red or white wine or half a pint of 5 per cent lager contain about 1.5 units. A standard large glass of wine in a bar is 250ml.

The patients in the study had an average age of 67 and were already receiving treatment for high blood pressure but had no previous signs of atrial fibrillation. They were followed up for an average of 4.8 years, during which time heart scans revealed atrial fibrillation in 5.7 per cent of patients who reported drinking more than ten units a week, compared to 3.9 per cent of patients who drank less or no alcohol at all.

Inger Ariansen, who led the study at Oslo University Hospital, suggested that ten standard drinks could be regarded as a threshold for increased risk of atrial fibrillation, although she pointed out that different countries defined the amount of alcohol contained in a typical drink differently.

The second study, by researchers at the University of Modena, found that drinking more than the equivalent of four espresso shots a day could increase the risk of arrhythmias in people without known heart disease, even if they otherwise had a healthy diet.

Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said that the recommended limits for drinking alcohol a week were formulated to avoid the risk of liver disease and other drink-related health problems. "But there is no doubt that some patients are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol on the heart and it may be that a subset of people who metabolise alcohol differently are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation."

He added that he was not aware of any direct evidence that drinking caffeine increased the risk of atrial fibrillation, "but it wouldn't be surprising if you found that".

I dont consume any of these two so frequently... :lol: so no problem..

I too don't consume any of these too.Thanks for the information,Abhishek. :) :)

Drinking more than ten alcoholic drinks a week or four cups of strong coffee each day can increase the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat, new research suggests.

Caffeine, alcohol a deadly mix

A new research suggests that caffeine and alcohol taken together can have dangerous repercussions.

The growing popularity of mixed drinks like the “Jager Bomb” (Jagermeister and Red Bull) or “Vodka and Red Bull” can have implications on road safety, according to the study.

The field study of over 800 young drinkers by the University of Florida found that those who consumed caffeine-alcohol mixed drinks were often in a drunker state when they left the bar than those who consumed only alcohol-based drinks.

Those who had caffeine-alcohol mixed drinks were also much more likely to say they intended to drive home.

The problem arises from consuming a stimulant alongside an intoxicant, which, clinical studies show, can reduce the perception of being drunk but not the impairment.

For the study, researchers wandered on the streets outside bars and clubs, from 10pm to 3am, to quiz young drinkers on what they had been drinking and assess their sobriety, reports News.com.au.

According to the study: “Patrons who had consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks were at a three-fold increased risk of leaving a bar highly intoxicated.

“… As well as a four-fold increased risk of intending to drive on leaving the bar district, compared to other drinking patrons who did not consume alcoholic beverages mixed with energy drinks.”

Consuming these drinks with alcohol was emerging as a cause of “elevated involvement in night-time risk-taking behaviour”

The study has appeared in the journal of Addictive Behaviors. (ANI)

High caffeine energy ’shots’ harmful for youngsters

Energy ’shots’ and drinks containing high levels of caffeine are unsuitable for youngsters, especially teenagers, pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine, food safety officials say.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) warned that when consumed in high doses, caffeine could lead to irritability, anxiety, tremors, dizziness and insomnia and some people may experience short-term anxiety effects if consuming more than 3mg of caffeine daily for each kilogram of body weight.

This means that an adult should not drink more than two standard cups a day and for most healthy adults, up to 400mg of caffeine in total a day.

However, there were no studies for chronic effects of caffeine consumption by children.

Lack of awareness is also a reason for the health effects of frequent high caffeine intakes for children and adults. Baseline intakes calculated from dietary surveys show that 73 percent of children consumed caffeine through tea and cola-type drinks.

“The adverse effects of caffeine under these circumstances can be a serious problem,” he said.

“The NZFSA should … seek ways to persuade industry to modify the marketing and even the composition of these drinks”, Stuff.co.nz quoted Professor John Birkbeck, adjunct professor of nutrition at Massey University, as saying.

Energy drinks are covered by a trans-Tasman food standard, but the “shots” had since become widely available and on this side of the Tasman are sold under the NZ supplemented food standard and have to be labelled with how much caffeine they contain, and advice the product is not recommended for children, lactating women, or people sensitive to caffeine. (ANI)

Is Coffee Harmful to Your Health?

Coffee drinking increases the risk for a number of medical problems in susceptible individuals, as well as sabotaging efforts to maintain a healthy body weight.

Drinking coffee is associated with a number of health benefits, including reduced risk for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, colon cancer and even suicide. However, on the negative side, coffee can cause a number of problems for susceptible individuals, particularly in large doses.
Coffee and Hypoglycemia

Caffeine causes a release of glycogen by the liver, which can generate wild swings in blood sugar, causing attacks of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypoglycemia has a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including weakness, nervousness, sweating and heart palpitations.

Coffee and Cholesterol:

In some individuals, coffee can raise cholesterol, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Coffee and Fertility:

Women who are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant should avoid excess caffeine consumption, which may increase the risk for a variety of fertility problems. Research into caffeine's effects on fertility has yielded mixed results, though a recent study found that the risk of miscarriage doubled with the consumption of 2 or more cups of coffee per day, and others have linked high caffeine consumption with reduced fertility. Numerous studies have also found caffeine consumption by pregnant women to be associated with low birth weight. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women consume no more than 1 to 2 cups of coffee per day.

Coffee and Anxiety Symptoms:

Caffeine can overstimulate the central nervous system. This not only causes anxiety in susceptible individuals, but can also exhaust the adrenal glands over time, decreasing resistance to stress and thus increasing vulnerability to disease pathogens and other health hazards (see the Caffeine page for a comparison of caffeine levels in popular foods and beverages).

Coffee and Osteoporosis:

Because excess coffee consumption may prevent the full absorption of necessary minerals, it increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. A study of nearly 1,000 postmenopausal women found that long-term consumption of 2 or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day was associated with decreased bone density, regardless of age, alcohol and tobacco consumption, hormone use, and other factors. However, there are indications that these negative effects can be mitigated by adding milk.

Coffee Addiction:

People who quit coffee often experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headache, decreased energy and alertness, difficulty concentrating, and even irritability and depression. These symptoms usually begin within 12-24 hours of quitting caffeine and hit a peak within 20-51 hours. Overall, symptoms tend to last anywhere from 2-9 days.

Coffee and Stretch Marks:

Dry skin is more prone to developing stretch marks. Coffee consumption increases the risk of stretch marks because it has a dehydrating effect.
Coffee and Weight Gain

Caffeine increases the risk of long-term weight gain by increasing stress hormones and creating a greater risk for hypoglycemia, which stimulates appetite. Although caffeine can assist with short-term weight loss, in the longer term, heavy consumption is more likely to lead to weight gain. Also, studies have indicated that green tea is better for maintaining a healthy weight than coffee.

Should You Drink Coffee?

People with any of the following conditions should avoid coffee altogether:

* Bladder or kidney problems
* Bowel problems such as colitis and diverticulitis
* Chronic fatigue syndrome
* Diabetes
* Fibrocystic breast disease
* Generalized anxiety and/or panic attacks
* Heart problems
* Hiatal hernia
* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
* Hypoglycemia
* Indigestion
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Liver disease
* Menopause
* Osteoporosis or family history of osteoporosis
* PMS
* Prostate problems
* Skin irritations
* Ulcers
* Urinary tract irritation

Overall, the decision to consume coffee should be based on your personal health profile. If you suffer or are at risk for the conditions that coffee can aggravate, it is better to avoid it. If you are not at risk for these conditions, coffee consumption is unlikely to cause problems, and you may even realize a number of the health benefits associated with coffee.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your health or whether coffee could aggravate any pre-existing medical condition, you should consult your doctor.