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
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robdonn
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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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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