Question

I have AF (atrial fibrillation). I'm 45 and lead a fairly hectic business life. A friend told me it was because I drink alcohol, but I'm not a heavy drinker.

Is there a connection?
 

Answer

It's often said that there's an association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk for AF or another disturbance of heart rhythm, atrial flutter. However, it's only recently that a big study has been done to test this assumption (see reference below).
 

Almost 48,000 healthy 40 to 50-year-old people in Denmark were followed for nearly 6 years. There was a slightly increased risk of developing AF with increased alcohol consumption in men, but not in women. The risk in men was only slightly increased - there was a 1.45-times likelihood of AF developing at the highest level of alcohol consumption.
 

This increased risk is pretty low, considering the average daily consumption of alcohol was 28 grams for men, and 14 grams/day for women - which corresponds to 2-3 drinks for men, and 1 drink for women. This quantity is the maximum "recommended daily intake" level for you to get the maximum benefit for cardiovascular and mental health, if you do drink alcohol.
 

We suggest that the possible effect of moderate drinking on your AF is slight. However, consult your cardiologist to make sure, and find out the other, possibly more important, risk factors.

Related Links
St Jude Medical: Preventing AF