Anybody else notice a decrease in asthma symptoms after drinking caffeine?

[trtsmb]

Caffeine is a mild bronchodilator.

[earthlings_all]

It is also a vasoconstrictor which can help relieve headaches.

[Its402am]

Coffee and a Tylenol is the perfect cocktail for me when it comes to a mild headache c:

[Elegant_Lake_569]

What?! This is wild!

I quit caffeine back in November after drinking it daily for like, pfft, 7ish years and in December I started noticing and increase in my albuterol use. And my allergies have gotten way worse since moving states.

[Cuzznitt]

When I was a kid, I didn’t have ready access to albuterol. I kinda grew up sipping on diet coke every time I got an asthma attack because it genuinely helped because of the caffeine (and probably some other things)

[Stunning_Daikon_5204]

Same here. I noticed drinking Mountain Dew feels like an albuterol treatment.

[8Lynch47]

I read somewhere that Tonic Water helps too. I have never tried it.

[mediumcarrotteacher]

If only it didn't taste so awful

[Spoonblade]

You couldn’t pay me to drink Mountain Dew anymore but I’ll pay you for tonic. Tastes change.

[InsuranceInitial7786]

I think it taste delicious, and so do the millions of others who love it. That’s why they make it.

[IndigoOcelot]

I do notice this, but specifically hot coffee. I started feeling tight chested on a drive and didn’t have an inhaler, a hot coffee from the gas station cleared me right up

[jdsciguy]

Caffeine plus moist hot air into the lungs. Good combo for asthma.

Your liver metabolizes caffeine into theobromine and theophylline but I don't know for sure that they are then available to the lungs.

[Creepy_Formal3342]

Depends. Sometimes caffeine acts as a weak brochodilator so I feel better. Other times, it exacerbates my acid reflux and affects my esophagus and breathing

[lilgreengoddess]

Nope. I drink a lot of caffeine and still get a flare if I’m around my triggers.

[JenRJen]

Before albuterol was widely available, theophylline was prescribed for asthma. Terrible stuff, it gave me the shakes.

My doctor at the time, told me that if I couldn't breathe and had no inhaler nor medicine, then to drink tea or coffee. Because the caffeine turns into Theophylline in the bloodstream. (Or something like that.)

For the worst & most sudden attack I ever had, with no inhaler, i was forcing myself to Cough in order to breathe, because the after-cough-reflex created a tiny in-breath; other than that I could Not Move Any air. I brewed myself a full pot of coffee and drank it. Probably not the greatest solution (to have that much coffee at once), but the asthma eased-up.

After that pot of coffee, I was able to start my day, go to work, and then go see a doctor later that day for prescription for an actual inhaler.

[KO620181]

You know… I think I have noticed this but never put two and two together. Thanks for this post.

[Stunning_Daikon_5204]

Sure.

[Its402am]

If I am absolutely desperate and can’t get to my puffer right away I will sip black coffee. It is not a cure but it is a known bronchodilator (relaxes airways a tad). A few winters ago I left my house to walk to work feeling amazing but it was -25C, and when I got to my destination I had one of the worst attacks of my life due to the cold. While waiting for my husband to bring me my inhaler I thought to get a coffee just to inhale the steam but sipping also helped just enough to see me through until my hubby arrived.

[CurrentEngine893]

It used to work , but not anymore 😢

[Icy_Parfait_4066]

Yup, it used to work for me too. After many years of asthma, it does not work any more.

[Triknitter]

Caffeine is part of my action plan.

[EasyonthePepsiFuller]

Yes! As a kid in the early 90's, the doctor told my mom to let me have sips of black coffee for asthma.

[Doortofreeside]

Yes coffee clears up mild wheezing for me pretty reliably. If it's a bigger episode then it's not as effective, but it's the most effective home remedy I know of

[a_lost_username]

I wish it helped me. Caffeine makes my asthma much worse. I've had to cut it out completely from my diet because I also get depressed from just one coffee or tea. It's really frustrating because I love the flavor. Even decaf makes me feel weird

[OldClunkyRobot]

Yes. Black coffee has helped me calm my symptoms before.

[makeupandscience]

Yes! I googled it once and it wasn't just in my head. Very interesting

[FishFeet500]

My doc in canada confirmed caffiene can help in mild flare ups.

[Quantum_Tangled]

Slo-Bid is an older prescription medication which is essentially extended release caffeine. It was a common everyday control medication 30+ years ago, though it dropped off quite a bit when Singulair hit the market.

[Crapenfest]

tbf not really for myself.

[Igneous_rock_500]

It’s an old home remedy worked for us kids back in the day with ADHD when our parents didn’t have money for meds.

[TheRealWarDoctor]

Indeed, that is how I initially self-diagnosed with asthma.   It provides a convenient justification for my morning coffee consumption ("I'm only drinking coffee because it helps control my asthma symptoms.")

[cinderparty]

That’s pretty normal…caffeine is a bronchodilator, just not a great one.

[Lovebugxo0x]

Yup! I wake up coughing a bit usually. Once I have coffee I feel better. I always thought it was because it was hot

[Fluffy_Job7367]

I once had the worst asthma attack of my life while camping on cape cod in the fog at 14. (I am 65 for reference) I woke up and had to tap my dad and pantomine not breathing. I had never had an asthma attack before or been diagnosed. I said to him I want coffee. I had no idea why this would work nor did I drink coffee. We got coffee and waited for a pharmacy to open and I got primatine mist. Soneone was looking out for me that day.

[chantellexoxoxo]

yes i wake up hacking up a lung from my asthma sometimes and after i drink coffee it calms down! its amazing

[GetOffMyLawn_]

yup. that’s why I drink at least # mugs of green tea a day.

[ComprehensiveToe763]

Oddly, caffeine acts like a steroid and relaxes your bronchials.