While reaching for a cup of java may help keep you awake when you're feeling tired, research shows caffeinated beverages may also help prevent asthma associated with exercise or sports. Known as exercise-induced asthma, the condition can lead to trouble breathing, fatigue and poor athletic performance, even among people who don't otherwise have asthma.
Caffeine
An estimated 80 percent of adults in the United States have caffeine each day, according to the FDA. In moderate doses of 2 to 4 cups of coffee per day, caffeine is not harmful. As a central nervous system stimulant commonly found in coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks, caffeine helps improve energy levels, increase alertness and concentration, and reduce fatigue. In some people, even small amounts of caffeine can cause unwanted side effects. Too much caffeine can make you shaky or jittery, cause nervousness, insomnia, stomach upset, irritability, restlessness, anxiety and abnormal heart rhythms. Consuming caffeine when taking theophylline, a medication used to prevent symptoms of asthma, may boost side effects of the medication, including vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset and heart palpitations, MedlinePlus warns.
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Exercise-induced asthma is a condition that occurs when your airways narrow and tighten during or after exercise, causing an asthma attack. Symptoms, which may include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness, often occur within minutes of exercising or up to 15 minutes after you stop exercising, the MayoClinic.com reports. While the exact cause of the condition is unknown, experts believe cold, dry air may trigger the condition. During vigorous exercise when you are breathing heavy, you are likely to breathe through your mouth rather than your nose. Breathing through your nose helps warm and humidify air before it reaches your airways. Consequently, when you breathe through your mouth, cold, dry air fills your lungs, causing an asthma episode. Other triggers may include air pollution, high pollen levels, respiratory infections, and certain chemicals such as herbicides. If you smoke, already have asthma, a family history of the condition or play winter sports, you may be at greater risk of developing exercise-induced asthma.
Research
Scientific studies shows caffeine may provide a protective effect against exercise-induced asthma. A landmark study by Shmuel Kivity and colleagues in a May 1990 issue of the journal "Chest" found patients with exercise-induced asthma given caffeine in amounts equivalent to that in 3 strong cups of coffee two hours before exercise had improved lung function and symptoms of the condition. What's more, a study by T.A. VanHaitsma and colleagues in an April 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Sports Medicine" found caffeine equally as beneficial as allergy medication albuterol in preventing exercise-induced asthma. According to the authors, ingesting large doses of caffeine --- equal to that in 4 to 6 cups of coffee --- one hour before exercise was just as effective in helping loosen and relax airways to prevent symptoms of exercise-induced asthma as albuterol in athletes with the condition.
Suggested Sports
Certain types of exercise or sports that require you to breathe hard and fast for a prolonged period of time are more likely to cause exercise-induced asthma. Avoid exercises such as running, cycling, soccer, hockey or winter sports such as ice hockey and cross-country skiing. Instead, opt for lower intensity activities that involve short bursts of energy such as walking, football, baseball, jogging or golf, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology recommends. Prevent asthma attacks and keep symptoms under control by warming up and cooling down before and after exercising to prevent chest tightening. Breathe through your nose while exercising and cover your nose and mouth when exercising in cold weather.
References
- FDA; Medicines in My Home --- Caffeine in Your Body; 2007
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?; May 2011
- MedlinePlus: Theophylline
- MayoClinic.com; Exercise-Induced Asthma; March 2010
- "Chest"; The Effect of Caffeine on Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction; Shmuel Kivity, et al.; May 1990
- "International Journal of Sports Medicine"; Comparative Effects of Caffeine and Albuterol on the Bronchoconstrictor Response to Exercise in Asthmatic Athletes; T.A. VanHaitsma, et al.; April 2010
