Caffeine’s Effect on the Body
Coffee contains a substance called caffeine, a stimulant that can increase the activity of your body. Caffeine affects your central nervous system and your heart, making it possible to wake you up, help you focus, improve your metabolism and even lead to a mild euphoria in the right dose. It can also cause coughing, however, sometimes when we consume coffee.
A number of factors can lead to this reaction, from underlying medical conditions to sensitivity to the taste or texture of coffee. Caffeine itself, however, has not been identified as a primary cause for this specific symptom. Instead, the consumption of coffee may initiate other physiological responses that lead to coughing.
Airway Irritation
One physiological mechanism that can induce coughing when you drink coffee is bronchoconstriction. Bronchoconstriction occurs when the bronchi, the tubes that connect the windpipe to the lungs, swell, leading to difficulty breathing. If a person is predisposed to this, the presence of hot coffee in the bronchi could trigger a coughing fit as the airways become irritated.
The presence of other substances, such as cream or sugar, in the drink might also affect the body’s response, making the reaction to the coffee more severe. In these cases, the individual might benefit from avoiding these additives altogether, or drinking a more diluted beverage.
Caffeine Intolerance
Coffee intolerance, a more severe form of caffeine sensitivity, can also lead to coughing while drinking coffee. Caffeine intolerance is usually caused by the body’s lack of the enzyme necessary to process caffeine, or by an excessive presence of it in the body.
In this situation, the body won’t be able to tolerate the effects of the stimulant contained in coffee, and might respond with a cough. If this is the case, the individual might want to consider switching to a different type of beverage, such as tea.
Allergies and Asthma
If you also suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies, drinking coffee might also trigger coughing, in this case due to an allergic reaction. These conditions often cause inner inflammation that could be exacerbated by the consumption of coffee, leading to further irritation.
If this is the case, staying away from coffee might be the most effective solution to avoid coughing fits. To make sure this is the cause, however, you might want to talk to a doctor in order to assess your affected respiratory system, and better understand the body’s reaction to the beverage.
Health Risks
Constant coughing can damage the body in different ways, as coughing is a reflex triggered by the presence of foreign substances or irritations in the body. A long-term coughing fit could affect the respiratory system, leading to possible infections while also causing difficulty breathing and chest pain.
Coffee-induced coughing is usually a minor problem, however, long-term episodes could lead to such effects, so it is important to take proper measurements to avoid them.
Alternative Treatment Options
Coffee-induced coughing doesn’t have to lead to a life without coffee. As seen above, the best way to continue consuming it is to identify the cause of the problem, and tailor the treatment accordingly.
If the cause is caffeine intolerance or allergies, choosing alternative drinks such as tea, mate, or decaffeinated coffee could help reduce the coughing episodes. Additionally, reducing the amount of coffee consumed, or replacing some of it with healthier options such as herbal teas, might also reduce the symptom, as well as reducing the risk of other types of diseases.
Preventative Measures
In some cases, coughing when drinking coffee cannot be avoided, and will occur regardless of the established treatment. If this is the case, people might want to consider taking preventative measures while drinking, such as consciously controlling your breathing and the speed at which you ingest your beverage.
This simple behavior can help reduce the coughing episode, or at least make it more bearable. It might also be beneficial to drink the beverage through a straw, as this can help reduce the amount of air entering the body, and thus the possibility of a coughing fit.
Dietary Changes
If the coughing episodes appear every time you drink coffee, changing your diet could be beneficial. Eating an overall healthy and balanced diet and keeping your body hydrated is essential to reduce any kind of inflammatory reaction that could be triggered by the consumption of coffee.
Additionally, adding foods high in natural enzymes can help reduce the sensitivity of the body to caffeine, making it easier to drink coffee without any problems.
Medication and Supplements
In some cases, it might also be beneficial to seek medical help, as there are a number of medications and supplements that could help reduce the effects of coffee on the body and make it easier to drink without coughing.
These medications or supplements are usually prescribed by doctors, and could help balance the intake of caffeine or control the airways. The medical staff can provide further information and guidance on the best solution according to each individual’s particular case.
Medical Check-up
Finally, it is important to get a medical check-up. If you are experiencing coughing while drinking coffee, it is possible that there is an underlying medical condition that has not been diagnosed yet.
Going to the doctor is sometimes the best option to identify any medical condition that could lead to this symptom, and to establish a tailored treatment for it. In some cases, the outcome can be positive, and allow the individual to resume their coffee-drinking habits symptom free.
