Can you drink coffee with a cough?
Coughing is the body’s attempt to clear the airways of irritants such as smoke, dust and other pollutants. But can drinking coffee when you have a cough make the situation worse? The answer isn’t black and white, which is why it’s important to understand the potential risks before making a decision.
Coffee is known to be quite drying due its high diuretic effect. In general, it’s best to steer clear from diuretic drinks because they can make mucous membranes drier, resulting in a drier cough. A study published in the journal ‘Annals of Internal Medicine’, found that those who drank more than 4 cups of coffee daily had an increased risk of dry, prolonged coughing.
However, there is some evidence that suggests that coffee may be beneficial for those suffering from colds, as it helps reduce inflammation and serves as a bronchodilator, meaning it opens up the airways and can make it easier to breathe. A study conducted by Harvard Medical School, revealed that consuming a moderate amount of coffee regularly, could help reduce symptoms such as sore throat, chest congestion and wheezing.
It is important to note that the key is moderation. Too much coffee can lead to dehydration, which in turn can make your cough worse because dryness only increases mucous production. According to the National Institute of Health, the maximum amount of coffee an individual should consume daily should not exceed 4-5 cups.
Even though drinking coffee while coughing may or may not help, it’s a good idea to look for other ways of easing the symptom. Try some natural home remedies such as drinking warm water throughout the day and adding honey to your tea.
It’s also beneficial to seek out the advice of a medical professional, especially if symptoms don’t start to improve after a few days. While coffee can provide temporary symptomatic relief, it’s important to stay on top of your cough and make sure it isn’t something more serious.
Caffeine and Health Conditions
Apart from potential dryness, consuming coffee when one has a cough may result in further complications if the individual suffers from any pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, GERD, hypertension or diabetes.
For instance, if the individual suffers from asthma or GERD, the high acidity of coffee may worsen their reactions and/or symptoms, making it difficult to breathe. Similarly, those suffering from hypertension or diabetes should monitor their consumption of coffee accurately, as it can influence the regularity of their heart rate and have a long-term effect on their sugar levels.
Consuming caffeine in general, whether in coffee or other forms, can disrupt sleep patterns, cause anxiety and irritability, lead to headaches and even result in gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux.
Taking all these factors into consideration, it is advisable to practice caution when consuming coffee with a cough and ensure that consumption is monitored. If you feel that coffee is making your cough worse, then abstaining from consumption is most likely the best advice.
The Effect of Additives
Coffee that is consumed with a coughing spell can be adversely affected by the additives that may come with it. Since coughing can already cause discomfort, unnecessary added ingredients can make the situation much worse.
Sweeteners, like sugar and artificial sweeteners, can increase the odds of experiencing difficulty breathing and the production of thick, sticky mucus. Milk, cream, and milk substitutes, on the other hand, can result in further dehydration and further exacerbate the symptoms.
It’s best to opt for black coffee when experiencing a coughing spell, as it does not contain any added ingredients and is less likely to cause irritation. Alternatively, freshly brewed, organic herbal tea is an excellent option.
Coffee and Cough Medicines
Consuming coffee while using over-the-counter or prescribed cough medications is not recommended, as the combination of these two can result in serious health consequences. This is due to their conflicting effects; while coffee can cause increased respiration, the active ingredients in cough medicines are designed to slow down respiration.
The combination of the two can further induce feelings of nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, and agitation. In extreme cases, it can lead to extremely low blood pressure and can even cause seizures. It’s highly advisable to keep at least a two-hour gap between consuming your daily dose of caffeine and medicine.
Identifying the Cause of Cough
Whether or not you decide to drink coffee during a cough, it’s important to identify the underlying cause of the cough in order to get the best treatment. Coughs can range from mild to severe and can be caused by anything from allergies to infection, or even heartburn.
It’s important that you seek proper medical advice to ensure that your condition is monitored and treated as necessary. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get a better understanding of the cause of your cough before blindly relying on immune-boosting drinks or home remedies.
Other Tips for Cough Relief
Other ways to help reduce coughing include: limiting exposure to smoke and dust, keeping airways hydrated by regularly drinking fluids, lowering the amount of dairy food that you consume, using a humidifier to add moisture to the air, and regularly exercising to improve breathing and circulation.
All these practices have different effects on different people. However, it’s best to experiment and identify what works best for you and to determine the activities that help relieve your symptoms faster.
Medication and Self Care
If these measures don’t suffice, you may consider using prescribed medications or OTC cough medicines. It’s important to use medicine with caution and to be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any drugs.
Being prepared and taking necessary precautions can prevent a cough from developing into a more serious problem. Remember, the best way to handle a cough is to focus on self-care and to treat the symptoms effectively.
