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Does caffeine increase the symptoms
of agoraphobia?
It can. According to a study that examined the symptom
history of 55 people with agoraphobia, caffeine consumption
exacerbated anxiety in 54% of subjects and triggered panic
attacks in 17%. (Breier, Charney, and Heninger, 1986).
Caffeine gives rise to a
variety of emotional states that can lead to an increase in
anxiety. It does this by increasing your brain’s level of
norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter), which arouses your
sympathetic nervous system and increases your adrenalin
levels. At the same time, caffeine suppresses your level of
Vitamin B1, which is a vitamin known for reducing stress.
These physiological changes predispose you to anxiety
and panic attacks.
So if you have
agoraphobia, drink coffee at your own risk.
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