Does Coffee Help to Relieve Asthma Symptoms of Make them Worse?

drinking coffeeMany people believe that drinking coffee can ward off an asthma attack. It is the caffeine in coffee that helps relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of asthma, because it is a bronchodilator. Coffee that you grind yourself is believed to be the most beneficial to stop an asthma attack in its tracks. For the price of a bag a gourmet coffee, and a coffee grinder could make a big difference in how you feel. For many, drinking coffee two or three times a day helps keep their airways open and prevent an asthma attacks. There are some side effects to caffeine that could make asthma symptoms worse for some people, so it is best that you ask your doctor before drinking coffee to stop an asthma attack.

It’s very easy to panic when you are having difficulty breathing, so try and stay calm. Drink down about a half cup of coffee and wait for about 10 minutes. You should begin to feel better in about 8 to 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes finish the cup of coffee and wait for your symptoms to subside. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to produce stress hormones; it is important that you do not drink too much coffee at one time. If you have medical conditions that would not allow you to drink coffee, you might need to ask your doctor before hand if coffee is a viable treatment for your asthma in an emergency.

coughingMany people cough and wheeze during asthma attacks. Irritants that hit your respiratory tract can make it almost impossible to take in a breath without coughing. While you drink your coffee, breathe through pursed lips. Hold your lips together while breathing out; this causes enough back pressure to hold open the small airways in your lungs. Pursed breathing allows you to breathe more comfortably while you are waiting for the caffeine to open up your airways. Remember that less is usually more. Too much coffee could make your asthma symptoms worse.

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Asthma is an inflammatory process that takes place in the airways. Coffee acts like an anti-inflammatory drug to counteract the inflammatory process. The caffeine molecule acts very much like the asthma drug, Theophylline, which is prescribed to treat bronchospasms. You should never substitute coffee for an asthma drug that is prescribed for you; however, if you don’t have any medicine to take for asthma, coffee could help until you can get to your doctor for a prescription. A 12 ounce mug of coffee might keep you out of the emergency room. Remember to drink just a few ounces and wait up to 10 minutes for an improvement in how you feel. If you don’t care for coffee, 12 ounces of cola or tea will do the same as a cup of coffee. Two chocolate bars, made with dark chocolate, are also a source of caffeine that may ward off an asthma attack. If your doctor warns you not to ingest caffeine, then do not eat or drink products containing caffeine without approval from your doctor.

effect of nervousnessBecause caffeine is a bronchodilator, as well as a vasodilator, you may experience a side effect of nervousness, and feel a little shaky. It is a similar side effect, according to the website statistics, that breathing treatments give you; the medication delivered in the treatments are bronchodilators. The effects of caffeine as a bronchodilator can be effective up to 4 hours at a time, because chemically it is related to the asthma drug, Theophylline. The body can’t really tell the difference between caffeine and Theophylline.

It is important to get medical care for your asthma; do not depend on the caffeine in coffee to treat asthma. Caffeine, over time may increase the stress hormone in your body, which could actually induce an asthma attack in some people. If coffee tends to make you jumpy, it is probably making your adrenal glands produce norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are two stress hormones. These hormones can cause your body to be under stress, which could very well make your asthma symptoms worse.

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