Caffeine decreases wheezing, coughing, and other symptoms of exercise induced asthma (EIA) according to a study from the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University.

In a press release, the authors describe the effects of caffeine on EIA in 10 patients. A dose of 9 millogram per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight before exercising was equivalent to using an albuterol inhaler before exercising. Lower doses of 3 and 6 mg/kg, respectively, did not decrease symptoms as well as the albuterol inhaler, but decreased the symptoms compared to placebo. No additional benefit was seen when combining albuterol with caffeine.

What does this mean for me? One should not go out and ramp up their caffiene intake on this study. It will however guide further study as researchers begin to look at other treatments for EIA.

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