If you feel short of breath after consuming caffeine, you may have sensitivity to caffeine, you may have overdosed or you may have an allergy to the substance. Caffeine is commonly perceived as a safe substance because it's consumed daily by millions of people in chocolate, coffee and tea, but caffeine is a drug. Shortness of breath is a concerning symptom from ingesting caffeine that needs to be evaluated by your doctor. Stop using caffeine until you can see your health-care provider.
Sensitivity
Caffeine affects your central nervous system within minutes of ingesting the drug. Caffeine quickly enters the blood stream and passes through the brain, increasing mental awareness and wakefulness. Every person has a different level of sensitivity to caffeine. If you consume caffeine on a regular basis, you have a higher tolerance to the substance compared to someone who rarely ingests caffeine, according to MayoClinic.com. If your body cannot tolerate caffeine, you may develop shortness of breath, jitters and a minor stomach discomfort.
Overdose
Shortness of breath accompanied with chest pain may be a sign of an overdose. Caffeine overdose can lead to serious medical complications and may cause death if not treated. Caffeine overdose may result in accidentally ingesting too much caffeine. Because the substance is found in various products, you overdose from ingesting coffee, eating chocolate, taking pills to stay awake and taking certain pain-relieving medications. Other symptoms associated with caffeine overdose include diarrhea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, sleeping trouble, hallucinations, fever, mental confusion and muscle twitching, according to National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus.
Allergic Reaction
As with any medication, ingesting a foreign substance may cause an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions to caffeine are the result of your immune system overreacting to the presence of the substance in your body. The immune system reacts and treats caffeine as if it were a harmful substance, attacking it with immunoglobulin E antibodies, histamine and other chemicals, according to MayoClinic.com. This causes adverse reactions throughout your body, such as asthma, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pain resulting from inflammation in your airways. Contact emergency medical personnel if you suspect that you're experiencing an allergic reaction.
Consideration
Caffeine may interact with certain medications and should be ingested under the oversight of a doctor. Disclose the amount of caffeine you consume daily to your pharmacist and doctor before taking any new medications.
