Asthma research -- Mountain Dew

[jerrie97]

A friend of mine mentioned that she goes to a pulmonologist at a Johns Hopkins University to me. He said that every time he goes, they have cups of Mountain Dew lined up, and the doctor encourages the asthmatics there to drink the Mountain Dew. There is some research being done about Mountain Dew possibly relieving some asthma symptoms...it has something to do with the caffeine I think. I just thought I'd share that with you all. Sounds interesting.

Edit: I looked this up on the internet and it did say that in the old days, when you had an asthma attack, they'd brew you a strong cup of coffee. (Actually, this kind of works for me if I inhale the steam from it) Caffeine has been proven to help bronchoconstriction. However, Mountain Dew contains tartrazine, and it's been estimated that 50,000-100,000 Americans are sensitive to it. So I'd think that Mountain Dew would cause asthma attacks, not relieve them.

I don't know.

[hc85]

Caffiene is a mild bronchodilator. That's why theophylline is still around because it is chemically related to caffiene, though I don't know how well it would work. An insanely large amount of caffiene would probably dispel a small inkling of tightness.

I find this interesting because I was once seen for a second opinion and the doctor required you drink Mountain Dew before spirometry to clear secretions. Funny, huh?

[monacks]

Yes, I've also heard that when you're in a pinch and don't have your medicine to drink caffeine. Its funny though, because my pulminologist always tells me to stop drinking caffeine. But when I'm sick, I drink extra caffeine. Anything to help make breathing easier!

[hc85]

Your doc tells you probably not to drink caffeine, because if you are going to use it in a pinch (hopefully you don't have to!) or when you're sick then if you drink it every day you'll become less sensative to it.

[bluebanana]

Have a look on [url removed] the bit on asthma past and present, that says about the caffine, there are also some other pretty weird ways thay used to treat asthma. purging, vomiting and blood letting was one of them, uurrgghhh!!
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