Posted 6/6/2021 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
I wanted to relate a solution to a long-standing breathing problem I have had.
I am 69YO, smoked for 43 years (quit 10 years ago) and [possibly] as a consequence, I have emphysema. On numerous MRI/CT scans over the years, my emphysema has been characterized as mild to moderate centrilobular. However, I do not require oxygen and can exercise robustly.
I keep detailed health records and as far back as 2005, I have notes of breathing issues involving shortness of breath and a feeling of constriction in my right lung. My left lung never seemed to experience this constriction. I have had all the possible lung tests and scans over the years and all MD's could only say that my complaint was due to my emphysema but they couldn't explain why the right lung would be worse than the left lung.
I even had extensive heart testing, including echocardiograms, stress tests and a CT angiogram. But nothing was found wrong with my heart. In fact, my heart is doing quite well with a zero calcium score and a resting BPM of 51.
But I just couldn't accept that with no difference in emphysema seen from one lung to another, that one lung (the right) could consistently have these feelings of constriction and breath shortness while the left lung did not.
Then, about 6 moths ago, while working with another MD for another health issue, he suggested that I remove all caffeine from my diet.
I have never been a fan of coffee and never thought I had a caffeine dependency. However, I did drink Arizona Unsweet tea with dinner at night and often followed that with an ounce of 85% dark chocolate. I did not think that these items had much, if any caffeine in them but the MD disagreed. He was correct when I researched this online.
So I gave up the nightly Arizona tea and the chocolate.
Surprisingly, within about three weeks, my breathing improved tremendously! The right lung constriction began to disappear and bonus, minor headaches I had regularly also went away and have not returned. Six months later, I still have mild shortness of breath from the emphysema damage but no longer experience the unusual constriction in my right lung!
In researching the issue of caffeine allergy, breath shortness is one of symptoms. It's sad that of at least 10 lung specialist MD's that I saw over the years, NOT ONE considered or suggested the possibility that I might have a caffeine allergy or hypersensitivity!
Looking back, around the 2005 time frame, I was working at a job that required long hours in the office. Again, not enjoying coffee, I discovered something called guarana, a caffeine analog often used in energy drinks to boost the caffeine amount. I started using these pills as way to get caffeine and stay alert. And around that time is when I began noticing breathing issues. I am now left to wonder if my emphysema might have actually been caused by the guarana or caffeine I was taking and not my tobacco smoking? There has apparently been little research on caffeine allergies/hypersensitivity, so I have not been able to find anything that would scientifically support this possibility.
Regardless, I post this for others with potential breathing issues that are not or do not seem to be diagnosed adequately. Perhaps like me, your problems are related to caffeine.
Caffeine is the most popular drug in the world with something like 90% of people consuming/depending on it on a daily basis. It is difficult to completely eliminate caffeine but it can be done. Also note that decaffeinated tea STILL contains some caffeine, sometimes up to 20mg.