Caffeine and spirometery tests

[robdonn]

Hi everyone. Ive just been reading about the effects caffeine apparently can have on spirometry tests. Quite suprised when it stated caffeine is a bronchodialator that can last up to 4 hours after having say, a cup of tea or coffee or a coke etc so it could lead to false spirometery readings and so the wrong / too weak a dose of medication been issued for the patients needs.

Quite interesting reading and am personally not going to have any caffeine at all the next time I have the dreaded test.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated

Thankyou and hope you are all well

[wheezyof]

Hi,

I was told to drink decaff tea or coffee because caffeine draws water away from the lungs, dries the mucus so makes it even stickier and more difficult to cough up.

[Superzob in reply to wheezyof]

I've heard that it's good for asthma but, from what you say, not necessarily for other lung complaints where mucous is a problem.

[Hidden]

Hi robdon, some years ago during a spirometry test at my hospital I was given an inhaler to test whether this made any difference to me ( I have bronchiectasis). During the waiting time I was told not to have tea or coffee as this could affect the next reading. Other than that I am one of those who can’t stick caffeine free coffee or tea but only have a few cups of tea each day. I suppose that caffeine free for everybody is the ideal but hey!

[anng1814 in reply to Hidden]

How strange, I was actually given a coffee by the nurses, before my spirometer test and in between two spirometer tests. I didn't realise that caffeine could affect your lungs!

[Hidden in reply to anng1814]

Not being an expert, I think that it affects the heart rate and that it is this that affects the lungs. Exactly how this happens I have not investigated. I bet that Stone will have something.

[anng1814 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, let's hope he responds!

[mskpjb]

Years ago when I was in a consultant's room waiting with his junior we got to talking and he told me that he once went home to India for a holiday and his uncle became ill (he has copd ) and very breathless. As it would take a while to get him to the nearest health centre, he made his uncle drink coffee. When I asked why he said because it contains theophylline. Now I've had Ivs of aminophylline when in hospital and also uniphyllin tablets. I now drink decaf tea and coffee but I don't know if that means the theophylline has been removed as well as the caffeine. Sheila x

[mskpjb]

I was once told by a consultant that coffee contains theophylline. Sheila x

[watergazer]

Very interesting I have a cappuccino (my caffeine hit of the day) with my breakfast and I had my review about 45 mins later. I had better spirometry results than last time though I have been healthier this year Will bear in mind for next year and have decaff or peppermint tea.

[kdr112]

I am not much of a coffee drinker. Maybe one cup a day but when I am having trouble with my asthma, I crave coffee and it does seem to help.

[Hidden]

Yes but a good size espresso I would say not a cup of Maxwells or a real mug of Yorkshire tea 😃

I have black coffee in the morning it helps before exercising etc

[santisuk]

A couple of years ago my Thai pulmonologist recommended coffee for the relatively mild bronchospasm I get with my bronchiectasis. I welcomed it as a replacement for my theophylline-style med and it works just as effectively. He said has to be at least 2 cups a day of 'real' coffee, so now I willingly drink 2 large mugs of filtered coffee - mix of Espresso and a medium roast Colombian or similar. Must get round to grinding beans and trying out different ones for taste. Might as well make a mini-gourmet hobby out of my affliction, now that coffee seems to be far from its pariah health status of yore!

[santisuk in reply to santisuk]

Meant to say "he said has to be at least 3 cups ...."

[Badbessie]

There are so many factors that can affect spirometry that I would not worry to much. I always do far better in the morning. Yes it is a bronchodilator but the affect percentage is not known as far as I can see. As the medications are broadly prescribed no matter what your result is I cannot see it having any great affect. When first diagnosed I was low 50,s now I am mid 60,s but I would still be on the same medications. I doubt that caffeine would affect the dose given as the same dose is given for a very broad range of results. I I cannot imagine the NHS tayloring the dose in every inhaler to match your result.

[diana-stoyanova]

Hey there! I suppose you learn something new everyday! A coffee lover myself, I never knew it was a bronchodilator! I have asthma, so it turns out caffeine is actually good for me! Will keep that in mind for sure.

-D