Why coffee with every meal?

queenjean · Jan 27, 2009

My husband can't sleep WITHOUT coffee before bed. It makes no sense to me, but that's how it is!

Perhaps my husband has a long lost twin?

My husband makes some kind of espresso that is thick--it's turkish/eastern style. The kind that is so strong that it actually leaves a layer of sludge in the bottom of the cup, and you have to sip it. If you drink too fast, you get the sludge. He makes one before bed (in addition to the 2-3 that he drinks during the day). He claims to sleep better after having it. He rides his bike a 16 mile commute every day, and runs several times a week. Each time, before exercising, he has a cup of coffee.

Here's the deal; he's got quite a severe case of asthma. While he is well controlled with medication (thank ye gods for advair!), I think he still probably gets a little kick from the coffee. He really feels that he can breathe better after a cup.

He is also an OCD type of person. I wonder if there is some connection there. You know how we treat add with amphetamines sometimes? You know how with certain ADD kids, you give them a cola and they actually calm down? I have a (totally unproven) theory that my OCD husband is able to be calmer and focus on one thing better when he has coffee running in his veins. Without it, he can't do his grading because the kitchen needs cleaned, and then he has to do a load of laundry, and then he has to sweep the floor....with the coffee, he seems better able to let those household tasks go, and focus on what he WANTS to do.

MatRNstudent · Jan 27, 2009

Mmmm, coffee:rollI love coffee, but it is addictive so I only have a few cups a day at most. I prefer dunkin donuts blueberry coffee with cream and splenda, but I will drink it black if I have to. It really helps me get through the day, but more than 2 cups makes me irritable and unable to sleep come bedtime.

If I was being cared for and didn't have to get up early for school/work I would definitely drink coffee at every meal :)

allnurses Guide · Jan 27, 2009

Without it, he can't do his grading because the kitchen needs cleaned, and then he has to do a load of laundry, and then he has to sweep the floor....

Oh my gosh - Can I borrow your husband?????????

steph

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2009

Do people really drink coffee at every meal? I can see breakfast, but dinner? How many people drink coffee at dinner? Anyone?

:sofahider (sheepishy raises hand)...ummmm I do.

I have coffee all day long, from the minute I open my eyes until nighttime. I love the taste of coffee. I don't need it for the "jolt" of caffine. I can drink a cup of coffee 5 minutes before bed and have no trouble sleeping or falling asleep.

And QueenJean, I read at one time that a cup of black coffee, does indeed, help people with asthma and I had an instructor in school who had terrible asthma and she brought in the literature on it. For the life of me I cannot find it (I saved it).

Of my 33 LTC residents almost all of them with freak out and push the call bell insestenly if they don't have a cup of coffee on each meal tray! (I have to admit, if I ever have the misfortune of being in an LTC..I'll be the same way..and don't be giving me any whole milk for my coffee..I WANT half and half!!)

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2009

I read at one time that a cup of black coffee, does indeed, help people with asthma and I had an instructor in school who had terrible asthma and she brought in the literature on it. For the life of me I cannot find it (I saved it).

Any substance, like coffee, containing caffeine can help asthma because caffeine is in a chemical family called xanthine substances that have a stimulant effect and dilate the airways. Anyone remember theophylline? Theophylline is a stimulant and xanthine chemical that dilates the airways, too. Albuterol, theophylline, caffeine in coffee, they are all in the same chemical family of xanthines.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18592