Asthma and caffeine?

[Rajah]

I'm just curious, is there any truth to the rumor that caffeine helps minor asthma problems?

I'm having to go without my allergy medicine (since Thurs) because of fire-ant testing tomorrow, and my asthma's acting up a bit today. I *hate* using the inhaler because it always leaves me shaky and weak (and this was the one with the least side effects and which used to work the best ) so I was just suffering.

Well, I grabbed a diet RC at lunch, and now my asthma problems are vastly diminished.

I know hot tea helps (decaf or not), but I'm curious if the caffeine itself is helping?

 

[TheLionKing]

Caffeine is chemically related to Theophylline, which is used for asthma.

So it very well migh help with a mild exacerbation.

 

[Rajah]

Okay, cool! Thanks, Dave.

(and for those worried about me not using my inhaler -- when it gets to a certain level, I *do* use it. It's not at that level yet )

 

[Pam]

When I've been hit with a sudden asthma attack, I grab either a can of pop, or - and this works best for me - a candy bar, a Peppermint Patty usually does the trick.

Pam

 

[JeniC]

Rajah:
Caffine helps me tremendously with my asthma. I am 7 months preggo and can't use my asthma medicine so I asked my Dr if it was okay to have a cup of hot coffee when ever I my asthma acted up. He thought that was a better plan then me using the fast acting inhaler. So whenever I feel that tight breathing wheezing coming on I grab a cup of joe and feel better within minutes.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Yup, it's true, caffiene does help.

Anyone remember the tv show Quantum Leap? In one of the episodes, Sam gave a baby a tiny bit of coffee in order to help with an asthma episode! See what you can learn from tv?

 

[thelooneyhouse]

It has helped me a couple o ftimes aswell.
I always have my rescue inhaler with me but it makes me have palpitations so sometimes all I need is some coffee.

They do this in a scene in the movie Trapped with Kevin Bacon thats out right now on video.

 

[Jeafl]

Rajah, ask your doctor about Advair. (now I sound like a TV commercial!). It has been a HUGE improvement for me and I only need one puff once a day. It has replaced the two inhalers I used to take. Now I only use my fast acting inhaler maybe once every 2-3 months. It's a great product.

 

[Rajah]

I currently take Singulair once daily, and I think I use my inhaler... oh... once a year? I'm getting another breath-function test done tomorrow in addition to the fire-ant allergy test (which will be good because I'm at a much worse than usual level right now, so we're testing "current worst case") and I may ask my allergist about the adavair. My dad uses that.

But, honestly, when I can take my claritin regularly, I have next to no asthma problems that are noticable. I know I have some that are minor enough I just honestly don't notice, but it sure isn't this bad on a regular basis, and this isn't *as* bad as some people I know have it regularly.

It's every time I go off the claritin for a week or so (which is where I'm at right now), my asthma starts becoming noticable.