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Giving up caffeine and chocolate

Jen2505 profile image
12 Replies

I have just been advised that caffeine and chocolate do not suit panic attacks and I assume copd. Has anyone else been made aware of this?

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Jen2505 profile image
Jen2505
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12 Replies

No Jen I haven't. There is caffeine in lots of things including tea and soft drinks. I think giving up chocolate and coffee is quite extreme and I certainly wouldn't! COPD is a very different illness from anxiety and I can't see caffeine affecting us. In fact chocolate makes me happy so definitely not going to give it up :d x

huggs profile image
huggs

Hi Jen,

I think the giving up on caffeine and chocolate is more to do with panic attacks, rather than copd. I have never heard of a link between them and copd. If you are prone to panic attacks reducing your caffeine intake should help with that. Remember tea contains caffeine too, although not as much as coffee. However if you are a tea jenny then you would be consuming a fair amount of caffeine. If you are a coffee drinker then you can always go for de-caff. The chocolate is not so good! I could be wrong about these ingredients being linked with copd, its just that I have never heard of it. Sorry, I cannot be of more help. Huggs xx

coastal1 profile image
coastal1

Agree with the above.

I mentioned on a reply to your previous post that you had probably been advised to cut caffeine because of the panic attacks .....as it can increase the heart rate and cause palpitations in some people .

I have never heard of it being linked to copd. Don't think chocolate in moderation should be a problem. As coughalot says it makes her happy. I have heard it can produce a " feel good " factor. However in larger amounts it can result in weight gain.......think we all know this !!

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi Jen2505

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I have never heard of this before, and to be honest I love my chocolate too much to give it up for anything! I am lactose intolerant and have the lactose free chocolate and this does tend to have more coco mass in the product.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us all, it is really interesting.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

goldcrest profile image
goldcrest

certainly too much caffeine can cause panic attacks and I would think too much chocolate especially the ones that do not contain lots of cocoa as like all sweet things choc can cause high blood sugar levels which the body then use its insulin stores to restore blood sugar levels so can end up feeling jittery and I would think panic attacks in some cases whether it is linked to COPD I don't know I try to keep off chocolate and sweets etc and only drink de caff coffee but this was advised by hospital for another medical problem of mine

Eve3066 profile image
Eve3066

I think I have always known that chocolate causes a coughing fit, it goes back to having asthma. Don't know about caffeine

O2Trees profile image
O2Trees

Generally you need calming things for panic attacks, and caffeine which is also in chocolate revs you up, so definitely i can see reason for giving it up.

Just a thought: chocolate and caffeine are always on the "give up" list for reflux. Ive never seen them implicated in copd, but one in three people with copd do have reflux. And reflux is hugely worsened by any kind of stress. So a circular route to think whether it has any relevance to copd. Ignore if not :)

FarmerD profile image
FarmerD

I always think everything in moderation is ok ,just depends how moderate you are!

jenss profile image
jenss

livestrong.com/article/3538...

Interesting topic, seems like there are pros and cons either way, and it ultimately depends how the individual (including their medication) reacts to caffeine. It seems that it may even have a mild bronchodilator effect in some. Cheers,

Takelababy profile image
Takelababy

I was advised that caffeine can help with copd being a stimulant but I could see it might not be good for one with anxiety issues.

Mmm...have gave up quite a lot of 'unhealthy' things for one reason so I am NOT calling time on the scrumptious fondant mint creams or choccy marzipan bars that I occasionally buy.

More recently I've discovered M & S dark chocolate Cherry Liqueurs. Oh dear!

My saving grace is that I'm satisfied with just a few nibbles :)

helingmic profile image
helingmic

Jen2505, I have a friend at a coffee morning who pestered me each time I put some sugar in my tea, I decided ( hearing the news about Diabetes on the news) to have one cup of tea with sugar in the morning, all the rest without sugar. I hope I'll get a badge of honour from my friend!

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