FOOD INTOLERANCE/CAFFEINE: KEN’S STORY
Ken was in his forties when he was first found to have high blood-pressure. He was given drugs which controlled this well and had no more health problems for the next four years. Then he experienced pains in the chest, faintness, sickness and sweating. Suspecting a mild heart attack, his doctor had him admitted to hospital but tests were negative and he was discharged after a few days. This seemed to be a turning point for Ken. After leaving hospital he was tired, anxious and depressed, apparently losing all interest in life. He also experienced panic attacks from time to time. Hypnosis and electroconvulsive therapy were tried but had no effect, and he became heavily dependent on tranquillizers.
Eventually Ken was referred to a doctor who had an interest in dietary factors in disease, and asked him about his diet. It emerged that Ken drank 20 cups of tea or coffee, both very strong, in the course of the average day. He was told to gradually cut these out, along with all other drinks containing caffeine. Within a few weeks he began to feel better, and his depression, anxiety, tiredness, panic attacks, fainting and sweating are now a thing of the past. Problems due to too much caffeine are fairly common, but not everyone has the sort of symptoms that Ken experienced. Some suffer severe headaches, others abdominal pain or vomiting, or a variety of other symptoms).
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