Chocolate and other asthma tricks...

Specialties Pediatric

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Hi, I have been viewing the allnurses threads for a couple of months now and I have been highly encouraged by all of you! I am a second semester nursing student, and am currently on a pediatric rotation! I love peds.! A nursing professor brought up that chocolate (which has Theobromine-smooth muscle relaxant) can be given to asthmatics during an acute exacerbation if no treatment is available. I have also heard that coca-cola can also relieve acute bronchospasm. I am wondering if anyone else had heard about this, and what you thought? I am also curious about any other tricks like these that any of you have used in practice with asthmatic peds. patients? Thank you for your time and replies! Again, you all have really encouraged me that peds. is the place to be!!

Thanks,

mousesn:mad:

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.
Hi, I have been viewing the allnurses threads for a couple of months now and I have been highly encouraged by all of you! I am a second semester nursing student, and am currently on a pediatric rotation! I love peds.! A nursing professor brought up that chocolate (which has Theobromine-smooth muscle relaxant) can be given to asthmatics during an acute exacerbation if no treatment is available. I have also heard that coca-cola can also relieve acute bronchospasm. I am wondering if anyone else had heard about this, and what you thought? I am also curious about any other tricks like these that any of you have used in practice with asthmatic peds. patients? Thank you for your time and replies! Again, you all have really encouraged me that peds. is the place to be!!

Thanks,

mousesn:mad:

I have heard this before..go figure I heard it in a movie, but I dont remember which one. I did a little research online and found that it will work during an asthma attack as a last resort..it looks like coffee will work better then chocolate though..strong coffee..

I did want to say congrats on finding you niche in peds! I love peds, and cant imagine working with any other population.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Caffeine falls under a class of drungs known as xanthines. Another drug in that class is Theophylline. Theophylline has been used for some asthmatics in the past but is not used as often anymore. Theoretically, there would be some similarities.

Although similar, I would have to strongly caution against advising the use of cocoa or chocoalate as a treatment or preventative for asthma because dosing is not predicatible, the other ingredients could have negative effects and the time spent trying to second guess a "might work" home treatment would be better spent getting the child into an appropriate treatment channel that is tested, studied and supported by evidence.

Would I say don't give an asthmatic chocolate? Or not look at some anecdotal evidence that might support it? Nah - but to try to rely on it in a time of an acute attack is taking big risks.

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Interesting stuff!

The other thing you might want to consider though, is that an acute asthma/bronchospasm pt should probably be NPO to reduce the risk of choking and aspiration. If a kid is tachypneic, it's really hard to swallow adequately.

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The amount of caffeine in processed chocolate is so small I really don't think it would be of benefit in normal quantities. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1148.asp

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Specializes in Peds - playing with the kids.

Never heard that. IMO...if they are having an attack and not breathing right...I'm not giving them anything to eat.

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