Recommended Drinks
Hydration is important to help maintain body functions and temperature, lubricate and protect joints and spinal cord, and eliminate waste through urine, feces, and sweat. Ensuring proper hydration is essential for asthma patients, as it aims to thin mucus.
1. Water
The human body consists of 55 to 60% water and plays a role in ensuring normal bodily functions. Meanwhile, dehydration is more likely to cause someone to experience asthma symptoms, such as when engaging in heavy physical activity that results in significant fluid loss through sweat. Asthma symptoms that occur are estimated because dehydration reduces blood flow to the skin and affects heart efficiency.
Maintain body hydration by consuming plain water.
2. Caffeinated Drinks
Several studies suggest that consumption of caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, can reduce the risk of asthma and recurrent asthma symptoms. This occurs because caffeine affects the lungs temporarily (4 hours) and acts as a weak bronchodilator (a medication that widens airways).
It should be noted that airway widening for breathing is only temporary, not to mention for those who have problems with their stomachs, such as GERD. This must be considered to avoid other unwanted symptoms. Therefore, caffeinated drinks should not be used as the main method of asthma treatment.
3. Drinks with Vitamin D
Vitamin D can help reduce inflammation of the airways. Vitamin D supplementation has also been shown to reduce asthma attack rates in individuals taking corticosteroids. However, with the caveat that the beneficial effects of drinking vitamin D-enriched drinks (cow's milk or plant-based milk) only occur in asthma patients with vitamin D deficiency.
Drinks to Avoid
Most drinks are not related to respiratory disease risks. However, there are certain drinks that can worsen asthma symptoms or increase the risk of asthma, so they need to be avoided or their consumption controlled. Although, consuming the following drinks does not necessarily mean you will get asthma.
1. Sweetened Drinks
The habit of consuming sweetened drinks, such as soda or packaged beverages, during childhood, pregnancy, and adulthood is associated with an increased risk of asthma. Additionally, these types of drinks can also lead to weight gain if consumed over the long term, while overweight is one of the risk factors for asthma.
The mechanism by which sweetened drinks are related to asthma is not yet known for certain. However, it is believed that this occurs because sugar affects the airways. If consumption is excessive and continuous, the airways can become inflamed. As a result, asthma symptoms may appear.
Sweetened drinks may trigger inflammation in the airways.
2. Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can cause dehydration. There are several alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine, that contain sulfites and histamines. Sulfite content can increase asthma symptoms in sensitive or allergic individuals, while histamine is a chemical in the body and is contained in food that can worsen asthma symptoms.
3. Cold Drinks
Based on research results, cold drinks do not affect asthma, but can cause coughing in some people. This occurs because cold drinks cause bronchospasm, which is temporary narrowing of the airways. This is actually a natural body reaction to cold air entering the lungs, but can cause discomfort for asthma patients.
Examples of drinks that are good for asthma patients are plain water, caffeinated drinks (only temporary), and drinks with vitamin D (cow's milk, plant-based milk, or other enriched drinks). On the other hand, types of drinks that should be avoided or their consumption reduced are sweetened drinks, alcohol, and cold drinks.
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