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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Diet for COPD
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
Some people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are overweight. This can increase shortness of breath. A good weight loss plan would be an appropriate diet.
Some people with COPD are underweight because the effort of breathing takes extra energy. This can lead to muscle loss and weaken your ability to fight infection. An increased calorie plan would be an appropriate diet.
Eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day to avoid over filling your stomach. When your stomach gets too full your lungs get crowded. This may make you feel more short of breath, which can make eating hard work. Eating less of the foods that cause gas will also help you to avoid feeling too full.
When you feel tired or have a loss of appetite you may eat less at your meals. Snacks will help to replace the calories that you miss during your meals. Ask your doctor or dietitian about calorie boosters and high calorie drinks.
Calorie boosters will allow you to eat more calories while eating the same amount of food. Some calorie boosters are butter, margarine, cream cheese, dried fruit, dry milk powder, granola, honey, sugar, peanut butter, nuts, and vegetable oils.
Non-alcoholic and decaffeinated drinks that are high in calories will give you extra calories to stop weight loss or improve weight gain. Some high calorie drinks are juice, milk, and nutritional supplements.
For more information about a diet that is appropriate for people with COPD, please contact LUNG LINE® and request the Understanding Exercise, Diet, and Lung Disease booklet.
Some people with COPD are underweight because the effort of breathing takes extra energy. This can lead to muscle loss and weaken your ability to fight infection. An increased calorie plan would be an appropriate diet.
Eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day to avoid over filling your stomach. When your stomach gets too full your lungs get crowded. This may make you feel more short of breath, which can make eating hard work. Eating less of the foods that cause gas will also help you to avoid feeling too full.
When you feel tired or have a loss of appetite you may eat less at your meals. Snacks will help to replace the calories that you miss during your meals. Ask your doctor or dietitian about calorie boosters and high calorie drinks.
Calorie boosters will allow you to eat more calories while eating the same amount of food. Some calorie boosters are butter, margarine, cream cheese, dried fruit, dry milk powder, granola, honey, sugar, peanut butter, nuts, and vegetable oils.
Non-alcoholic and decaffeinated drinks that are high in calories will give you extra calories to stop weight loss or improve weight gain. Some high calorie drinks are juice, milk, and nutritional supplements.
For more information about a diet that is appropriate for people with COPD, please contact LUNG LINE® and request the Understanding Exercise, Diet, and Lung Disease booklet.
JCI, BS RRT
You don't actually GET bronchitis from emphysema, though you are more susceptible to lung infections when you have a chronic lung condition like emphysema. Also, many primary care physicians are able to help patients manage emphysema very well and do not refer their patients to lung specialists (called pulmonologists in the US & respirologists elsewhere) until the patient's symptoms are difficult for the primary care physician to manage. (For example, patients who require supplemental oxygen, patients whose condition is worsening despite optimal medical management, patients who need Prolastin for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, etc.) Having the primary care physician handle the patient's general needs and lung care needs makes the care of the patient less confusing for everyone, until more specialized care is needed; it's also less expensive for the patient & insurer.
Aloha,
Starion