Does Coffee Help Wheezing?

Does coffee help wheezing? Some studies have shown that in some cases, a cup of coffee can help control problems with wheezing (caused by asthma, illness, or other issues that may restrict breathing). Some people consider this a home remedy that is hit-or-miss, and it will not work in every situation – a large part will depend on what is causing the wheezing and how severe it is. However, in a situation where you need some relief and anything is worth a shot, try a cup of coffee.

So, now that you know that it is possible that coffee will help wheezing, you may wonder why and what the science is behind this phenomenon.

• The reasoning behind this “strange but true” solution lies in the caffeine.
• When a person is wheezing, what is happening is that something in their respiratory system is not opening wide enough.
• Whether this is caused by the bronchial tubes constricting, or caused by build-up of mucus from illness, it leads to less space for air to travel through.
• The wheezing is created by the body naturally trying to take in enough air. It's uncomfortable, inconvenient, and in many situations, it can be dangerous.
• Caffeine is known to be a natural dilator, and its effect on the bronchial tubes and the respiratory system is no exception.

What this means to you is that caffeine helps relax, open up, and dilate the bronchial tubes, thus giving you more space to breathe, loosening mucus, and possibly eliminating (or at least improving upon) wheezing by allowing more air to pass through. Thus, odd though it may seem, it is possible that coffee may help wheezing, and there's actually some scientific basis to suggest that this home remedy can work.

Other Uses for Caffeine

Incidentally, it's not just the bronchial tubes that dilate with the use of caffeine. This is the same science behind the fact that caffeine helps with headaches, and is often found in headache medications. It's also part of why people going through caffeine withdrawal experience headaches. Quite simply, a headache is caused by constricted blood vessels in the head, and caffeine will get them loosened and get things moving again. It does the same for your respiratory system.

Worth a Try?

So, now that you know that it is possible that coffee may help wheezing, you may wonder if this is something you ought to think about doing next time you are having a hard time breathing. In cases of illness, where mucus is built up, this may be less successful – and most importantly, it's not a method to rely upon if a person has a serious breathing problem such as asthma or bronchitis. But in a pinch, to ease symptoms and maybe bring some relief, it may be a viable option.

Finally, what to do if you don't like coffee? Any caffeinated drink will actually have a similar effect, since it's the caffeine that counts. However, the heat of the coffee helps loosen things up too, so if you can't drink coffee, choose tea over caffeinated soda.