When you are suffering from a chronic illness like COPD every breath matters and so does every bite. Adequate nutrition is important for everyone but plays an especially critical role in your health and quality of life as you manage the challenges of lung disease.
Food is turned into energy by the body through a process called metabolism. In patients living with COPD breathing itself requires more energy and means your muscles may need up to 10 times the calories requirement.
Managing your diet when you need to deal with the day-to-day problems of COPD can be a real challenge. Symptoms such as abdominal bloating and shortness of breath during and after eating can make mealtime unpleasant and reduce dietary intake. Patients with COPD may not get enough fuel to take care of their caloric needs. Additionally, some medications can have side effects like dry mouth or changes in taste which may make eating for patients more difficult.
Everyone is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all nutrition plan but here are some strategies that may help at meal time. Sitting upright during meals can help your lungs and diaphragm work more freely. Pausing between bites and deep breathing can be useful as well. Eating more in the morning, when you have the most energy is better than waiting to eat later in the day. Smaller more frequent meals can make it easier for your diaphragm to move and fill your lungs. Talk to your doctor about other suggestions.
