Reader Email: I wake up at 4:00 AM every day and work until 8:00 PM. I was worried about staying focused so I drank green tea, but right after drinking it, I experienced heart palpitations all morning. I’ve had sudden palpitations and a racing heartbeat before, which felt very uncomfortable, but it lasted even longer today. Could this be related to drinking green tea? I only drank about 400 cc, and I rarely drink it, but palpitations happened as soon as I had it today, which feels a bit strange.
Chang-Hsing Tea: There are many causes for heart palpitations, and it’s best to consult a specialist physician for details, as your health is always the most important thing. Palpitations after drinking green tea are also a common occurrence. This is because green tea contains caffeine, which increases heart activity and produces strong, forceful heartbeats, thereby causing palpitations.
If you rarely drink tea before and drank too much green tea all at once today, it’s very likely that the palpitations were caused by the green tea. If this is indeed the case, it is recommended to cut back on tea. Not just green tea, but black tea, oolong tea, and even coffee should be consumed as little as possible, since health comes first. Additionally, if you are overworked, it’s best to reduce your workload. If possible, take some time to visit a cardiologist for a check-up—that is the best course of action.
▲ If you experience heart palpitations, it’s best to consult a doctor to determine the exact cause. If it’s caused by drinking green tea, it’s best to avoid consuming it.