Most people enjoy the effects of caffeine on the body, but if your throat begins to tighten, you may have to avoid consuming the substance. Throat swelling is a common sign of an allergic reaction that needs to be evaluated by your health-care provider. If your throat gets tight after consuming caffeine, you need to seek immediate emergency medical attention. If your throat swells too much, it can cut off your ability to breathe and swallow.
Caffeine Allergy
Many people consume caffeine on a daily basis and don’t’ experience any adverse reactions. If you’re allergic to the substance, your body will overreact when you ingest it. An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system mistakes caffeine as a harmful substance that it attacks to protect the body. This action causes the production of antibodies, histamine and other chemicals that cause common allergy symptoms. Caffeine is primarily consumed in coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks and certain over-the-counter medications.
Anaphylaxis
Throat closure after consuming caffeine may be a sign of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. During anaphylaxis, your blood vessels dilate so much that your entire body is affected, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This causes your blood pressure to drop and swelling to rapidly occur in various parts of the body. A severe allergic reaction can cause throat swelling within a matter of seconds after consuming caffeine. Other symptoms include sweating, pale skin, a racing heartbeat, severe stomach pain, mental confusion, lightheadedness, passing out and inflammation in the face. Ingesting even a small amount of caffeine can trigger anaphylaxis.
Overdose
The feeling of a lump or muscle tightening in the throat may be a sign of caffeine overdose. If you ingest too much caffeine in a 24-hour period, you may develop potential life-threatening symptoms. Caffeine overdose symptoms can include confusion, fast heart beat, headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, lightheadedness and swelling in the abdomen, according to Drugs.com. If you suspect that you’ve consumed too much caffeine, call Poison Control for further instructions. Drugs.com recommends not to consume more than 1,000 mg of caffeine daily. The average cup of coffee contains between 40 mg and 180 mg of caffeine.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with a severe allergy to caffeine, your doctor will recommend that you carry an epinephrine pen at all times. Epinephrine will cause your blood vessels to constrict, alleviating most symptoms, such as throat swelling from anaphylaxis.
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