Is Coffee Good For The Lungs
Coffee is not only good for the heart, but also for the lungs. A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health observed that coffee drinkers were less likely to die of heart attacks and respiratory diseases than non coffee drinkers. For the study, over 40,000 men and women were followed for 20 years. The results revealed a lower risk of death among coffee drinkers than among those that did not consume coffee..
Coke Pumps From The Heart Of Mexico’s Former President
Before Vicente Fox rose to the height of political power in his country, he was a Harvard business school grad driving a Coke delivery truck. He stuck it out and rose through the ranks to run Coke in Mexico , presiding over the company at a time when it became Mexicos top-selling soft drink. He even married a Coke receptionist.
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Mike Jordan liked New Coke waaaay better than Crystal Pepsi. He also likes Coke floats, and hopes one day Coke will make beer. Tweet him at @michaelbjordan. Notice the profile pic.
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How To Use Coffee For Asthma
You dont want to rely on caffeine for asthma symptoms. However, studies have found that caffeine may help asthma patients. Caffeine also appears to help the airways function a little better, for up to four hours, in people with asthma. But neither of these suggest that caffeine should be used to treat asthma.
Think of it more like this coffee should not be treating your asthma, but rather it can be used to supplement your asthma treatment.
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Aafa Explains: Will Coffee Or Caffeinated Drinks Help My Asthma
This post discusses claims that caffeine can be used to treat asthma symptoms. It is part of our AAFA Explains series looking at complementary and alternative medicine aimed at asthma and allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America wants to guide you as you decide between choices that may be likely safe or potentially unsafe.
What is asthma?Asthma is a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe. There is no cure for asthma. The best way to manage asthma is to avoid triggers, take prescribed medicine to prevent symptoms, and be prepared to treat asthma episodes if they occur.
Common symptoms of asthma are coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. Asthma may lead to a medical emergency. It is important to know the signs of a severe asthma attack, and know how to treat it if it occurs.
What is caffeine?Caffeine is an ingredient found in coffee, tea, cola drinks and cocoa and in over 60 plants. Drinks that contain caffeine are called caffeinated or energy drinks.
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. It can temporarily make you feel more awake, energetic and focused.
What does science tell us about caffeinated drinks and asthma?Clinical studies have shown that caffeine is a weak bronchodilator, improving lung function for two to four hours after it is consumed. However, it is not as strong or fast acting as rescue bronchodilators like albuterol.
Key definitions:
Reference:
How Much Caffeine Is Good For Asthma
The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program recommends limiting caffeine intake to less than 400 milligrams per day . This includes caffeinated coffee, tea, or chocolate beverages.- If you have symptoms like wheezing and coughing then stop drinking all sources of caffeine until those symptoms disappear.
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Caffeine Myth No : Caffeine Has A Dehydrating Effect
Caffeine can make you need to urinate. However, the fluid you consume in caffeinated beverages tends to offset the effects of fluid loss when you urinate. The bottom line is that although caffeine does act as a mild diuretic, studies show drinking caffeinated drinks in moderation doesn’t actually cause dehydration.
Does Caffeine Affect Airways
Yes, caffeine does affect airways. Caffeine is a drug that has negative effects on your airways. Its negative effects on airways can be witnessed in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and other respiratory conditions. The negative effect of caffeine on airways is that it tends to narrow the airways, besides causing inflammation. That is why it causes breathing difficulties in asthma and COPD..
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Coffee May Help With Asthma Symptoms
Listen, heres the deal. If you arent bathing yourself in coffee for health reasons at this point, then you just arent reading enough Sprudge. Because we are on a weekly basis reporting on new and different studies showing that coffee is good for you. And todays news is for the asthmatics, with research finding that moderate coffee consumption can lower the frequency of symptoms associated with asthma.
Per Very Well Health, the study was the combined effort of medical professionals from Koreas Hallym University, Hanyang University, and Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital. For their work, researchers examined coffee consumption habits of over 160,000 participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study3,146 with asthma and 158,902 with no history of asthma. When comparing consumption habits with instances of asthma, the researchers found that drinking one cup of coffee once or twice a day was associated with protective effects against asthma in a Korean population. The same results could not be found with green tea or soda.
One explanation proffered for the phenomena is the presence of Methylxanthines in coffee. Methylxanthines are a group of naturally occurring compounds that can be found in coffee, tea, and chocolate that act as weak bronchodilators, providing protective effects against asthma. Caffeine is a Methylxanthine, but is not the only one present in coffee. In essence, coffee acts as a very, very low dose asthma inhaler.
Are There Other Issues To Be Aware Of Regarding Caffeine And Asthma
Managing asthma includes testing your lung function routinely. Remember, your lung function may improve for up to four hours after drinking coffee. If you do drink it in the hours before testing, it may show better lung function than it actually is. This could cause your doctor to not prescribe the right medications or the right doses to adequately treat your asthma.
The takeaway is dont drink caffeine for at least four hours prior to lung function testing to avoid any misinterpretation of the results. Caffeine does not appear to affect the level of exhaled nitric oxide, but more research is needed. A good rule of thumb would be to simply not drink caffeine before seeing your doctor.
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My Caffeine Substitution: Tea
Yes, with all due respect, I still get a small dose of caffeine by drinking tea. It just brings so much joy to the morning that I can’t seem to completely cut myself off. Of course, I can’t help thinking it might have something to do with the fact I’ve been consuming methylxanthines since I was six or seven.
Caffeine is not considered a top-line treatment for asthma. In fact, I have no memory of it ever being brought up seriously in any discussion between my physicians and either my parents or myself. I do not ever remember my mom giving me a cup of coffee during asthma attacks.
However, in the days before rescue inhalers, it probably would have been a viable option. For those with very mild asthma, or for the many people who cant gain access for whatever reason to the many wonderful asthma medicines now available, perhaps coffee would prove useful. But it will never be a first-line asthma treatment, not like theophylline once was, anyway.
Does caffeine help you with your asthma symptoms? .
Caffeine Myth No : Caffeine Is Likely To Cause Insomnia
Your body quickly absorbs caffeine. But it also gets rid of it quickly. Processed mainly through the liver, some caffeine does stick around in the body for several hours. But for most people, a cup of coffee or two in the morning won’t interfere with sleep at night.
Consuming caffeine later in the day, however, can interfere with sleep. If you’re like most people, your sleep won’t be affected if you don’t consume caffeine at least six hours before going to bed. Your sensitivity may vary, though, depending on your metabolism and the amount of caffeine you regularly get. People who are more sensitive may not only experience insomnia but also have caffeine side effects of nervousness and gastrointestinal upset.
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Caffeine Myth No : Caffeine Is Harmful For Women Trying To Get Pregnant
Many studies show no links between low amounts of caffeine and any of the following:
- trouble conceiving
- premature birth
At the same time, for pregnant women or those attempting pregnancy, the March of Dimes suggests fewer than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day. This is equal to one large cup of coffee per day. This recommendation comes because, in limited studies, women consuming higher amounts of caffeine had an increased risk for miscarriage.
Are Any Alcoholic Beverages Safe To Drink
Its important to remember that not everyone with asthma experiences the onset or worsening of an attack when drinking alcohol. In one study, about 33 percent of participants said alcohol was associated with an asthmatic event at least two times.
Wine, which contains both sulfites and histamines, was the number one culprit when it came to inducing symptoms. White wine typically contains less histamines than a heartier red wine or a sparkling white. Wines that are 100 percent organic have no added sulfates or are free of sulfates.
The same study also found that out of the subjects who had reactions, 40 percent of those reactions were caused by wine. Overall, red wine was said to be the most common inducer.
Research also shows that wine brought on a relatively quick start to asthma complications. These complications usually start within less than an hour.
There are options available that are low in sulfites and histamines or are completely free of these components. Spirits tend to be better bets than beer, hard ciders, and wines. Its worth noting that many drink mixers may also contain sulfites because they have preservatives in them.
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The Bottom Line On Bubbles
Beyond the impact those bubbles you sip have on your lungs as a result of gas, bloating, inflammation and caffeine, their effect on your weight is another aspect that can potentially affect your lung health.
Explains Browns Mills, New Jersey-based Andrew Martin, MD, chair of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center: “Carbonated beverages, in addition to the effects of caffeine, would exert their effect on lung health mainly through weight gain.”
While carbonated beverages do appear to pose some mild risks to lung health and respiratory function, particularly for people with asthma or COPD, Dr. Mercado says the reality is that they don’t seem to be a major lung risk factor for most people.
Overall, on the list of lifestyle changes you should make to take care of your lungs, carbonated beverages fall well below important steps such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and managing your weight, Dr. Mercado says.
How Does Asthma Affect The Body
Although doctors still dont fully understand asthma, its clear its severity falls on a spectrum. Because of this, the way youre affected by asthma may not be the same way that someone else is affected by asthma.
For some people, asthma is fairly easy to manage. The symptoms may be considered inconvenient. These could include coughing, wheezing, and general shortness of breath a few times during the week or month. Symptoms may get worse when exercising or during any type of physical exertion.
For some people, though, attacks occur more frequently. They can also happen when youre sleeping. If this sounds familiar, your asthma may make it harder for you to participate in a significant amount of physical activity. You may be able to participate with the help of a medicated inhaler.
Regardless of how severe your asthma is, an attack will appear the same internally. Your airways will have a bronchospasm. This is a tightening around your airways. The mucus in the inflamed airways will also thicken, which can make it difficult to breathe.
Although theres a lot that researchers are still figuring out about the connection between alcohol and asthma, studies show that alcohol can make symptoms worse. It can also trigger a full-blown asthma attack.
Histamines and sulfites, two ingredients in various types of alcohol, tend to be the culprit.
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How Can Caffeine Affect Asthma
Caffeine has a protective effect against asthma by relaxing the airways and reducing inflammation in the lungs, kind of like the asthma medication theophylline. It has also been shown to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.One study found that caffeine before exercise reduced shortness of breath in people with asthma . In one trial, participants who drank caffeinated coffee were less likely to have an attack than those who had decaffeinated coffee or no caffeine at all. Those drinking a moderate amount also reported improved lung function and slept better during the night after consuming caffeine.
Caffeine Is A Mild Bronchodilator
Modern evidence suggests that caffeine, when it is metabolized by the liver, forms low doses of theophylline. This might help explain the benefits of caffeine for asthma.3-5
As a side note here, caffeine is also metabolized into theobromine, a component of cocoa and chocolate. Its also a member of the methylxanthine family. This would explain why chocolate tends to make people happy. It has been shown to be an equal bronchodilator to caffeine, although not quite as strong as theophylline. Theobromine has actually been shown to be a good cough suppressant, too.6
One study showed that 5 mg/kg of caffeine reached a peak bronchodilator effect in 2 hours and lasted for six hours. This means that a 200-pound man like myself would require 450 mg of caffeine.7
To put this into perspective, two tablespoons of Folgers ground coffee contains 60-80 mg of coffee. This makes two 8 ounce cups of coffee.8
So, we would have to consume 5-8 cups of coffee at breakfast time to achieve the desired bronchodilator effect for the first six hours of your day. Then around 2 or 3 p.m., wed have to drink up again.
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What Should Asthmatics Avoid
Asthmatics should avoid things that cause flare-ups such as smoke, exhaust, dust, pollen and other triggers. It is vital to carry your inhaler with you at all times. If you are having trouble breathing and are not having any relief from your medicine, then it may be time to go to the ER..
Caffeine Myth No : Caffeine Harms Children Who Today Consume Even More Than Adults
As of 2004, children ages 6 to 9 consumed about 22 milligrams of caffeine per day. This is well within the recommended limit. However, energy drinks that contain a lot of caffeine are becoming increasingly popular, so this number may go up.
Some kids are sensitive to caffeine, developing temporary anxiety or irritability, with a “crash” afterwards. Also, most caffeine that kids drink is in sodas, energy drinks, or sweetened teas, all of which have high sugar content. These empty calories put kids at higher risk for obesity.
Even if the caffeine itself isn’t harmful, caffeinated drinks are generally not good for kids.
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Why Do Recreational Drugs Trigger Asthma
You cannot be sure how youll react to drugs, even if you have taken them before.
Most recreational drugs are unregulated, so you will never know whats really in them or how strong they are. Misusing prescription medicines can also be very dangerous.
Most recreational drugs can be addictive, and they can all cause a wide range of side effects that impact your physical and mental health.
If your asthma’s not well managed
youre more at risk from asthma triggers. Find out what to do if your symptoms are getting worse.
When your asthma is well managed, you should be symptom free, and wont need to use your reliever inhaler often .
Abusing recreational drugs can also trigger your asthma symptoms, increasing your risk of having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack. Below we have listed some of the side effects of commonly used recreational drugs and explain how they might impact your asthma.
Slow/shallow breathing
These recreational drugs can reduce how well we breathe:
This can be dangerous, especially if you have also drunk alcohol.
Emotional changes
Any intense emotions good or bad can impact your breathing and cause your asthma symptoms to worsen. Recreational drugs can seriously affect your emotions:
Increased physical activity
Cocaine, ecstasy , and speed can cause you to feel energetic, alert, and restless. Any increase in physical activity may trigger your asthma if it isnt well controlled.
Worse asthma management
Chest infections
Lung damage
Does Coffee Affect Breathing
Coffee does not directly affect breathing, but caffeine does. Caffeine is a stimulant, which is why it wakes you up and energizes you. Just ask anyone thats ever had a cup of coffee too many in one day. The stimulant effect causes the user to develop a caffeine addiction. In time, the body starts to lose its ability to function normally without the caffeine. That is when breathing starts to be affected. A cup of coffee may not seem to have much caffeine, but the amount of caffeine in two cups can cause some breathing difficulties..
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