Why should patients with hyperthyroidism avoid coffee?

Why do patients with hyperthyroidism need to quit coffee?

Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disease, mainly caused by hyperthyroidism. During treatment, doctors usually recommend patients to quit coffee. So why do patients with hyperthyroidism need to quit coffee? This article will analyze it from several aspects.

1. Effects of Caffeine on the Thyroid

First, let's look at the effects of caffeine on the thyroid gland. Caffeine is a stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system and speeds up metabolic processes. However, in patients with hyperthyroidism, this stimulatory effect may lead to more serious metabolic disorders.

Under normal circumstances, the human body has a negative feedback mechanism to regulate thyroid hormone levels. However, during hyperthyroidism, this mechanism fails, resulting in excessive production of metabolic substances in the body. Caffeine will further accelerate this process and increase physiological indicators such as heart rate and blood pressure.

2. Effects of caffeine on hyperthyroidism symptoms

Secondly, caffeine will also have a certain impact on the symptoms of hyperthyroidism patients. Hyperthyroidism patients often experience anxiety, irritability, insomnia, etc., and caffeine is a stimulant that will further aggravate these discomforts.

In addition, caffeine may also cause problems such as arrhythmia and angina pectoris. Since hyperthyroidism itself has increased the burden on the heart, coupled with the stimulating effect of caffeine, it may cause serious cardiovascular events.

3. Coffee interferes with the effects of drug treatment

In addition to directly affecting body functions, coffee may also interfere with drug treatment. Currently, the main drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism are drugs that inhibit the synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (such as thiamin), while coffee contains a large number of nutrients needed to promote metabolic processes.

This means that the ingredients in coffee may interact with drugs and reduce the efficacy of drugs. Therefore, quitting coffee during drug treatment for hyperthyroidism can improve the treatment effect.

4. Effect of coffee on calcium absorption

The last aspect is the effect of coffee on calcium absorption. Hyperthyroidism patients are often accompanied by problems such as osteoporosis, and caffeine will further aggravate this problem.

Excessive intake of caffeine will increase the amount of sodium excreted in urine and inhibit the reabsorption of sodium ions and water by the renal tubules. In this case, electrolyte disorders are likely to occur in the body and lead to bone loss.

in conclusion

In summary, it is very necessary for patients with hyperthyroidism to quit drinking coffee. First, caffeine has a direct effect on thyroid function; second, it may aggravate the discomfort that already exists in patients with hyperthyroidism; third, it may interfere with the effect of drug treatment; and finally, it affects osteoporosis.

Therefore, patients with hyperthyroidism should avoid caffeine, including coffee, tea, and chocolate containing cocoa ingredients. During treatment, a reasonable diet and regular living habits are also very important.