A new study has found that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee may actually have a heart-healthy effect. Researchers say enjoying a few cups of "joe" each day may help individuals avoid being hospitalized for heart rhythm problems.

Researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program conducted a large, long-term study that included more than 130,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 90, with the majority under the age of 50 years old.

They found that men and women who reported drinking four or more cups of coffee each day had an 18 percent lower risk of hospitalization for heart rhythm disturbances. Those who reported drinking one to three cups each day had a 7 percent reduction in risk.

"This study does not mean that people should drink coffee to prevent rhythm problems," said the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Arthur Klatsky. "It supports the idea that people who are at risk for rhythm problems or who have rhythm problems do not need to abstain from coffee."

Because patients frequently report palpitations after drinking coffee, the public may be surprised at the study findings, according to Klatsky.

According to the American Heart Association, about 2.2 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, which is the most common heart rhythm problem. About 15 percent of those who suffer a stroke have the disorder.