Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or what is commonly known as COPD, is a chronic condition that leads to inflammation of the tissue in the lung. This inflammation leads to an obstructed airway, which can cause cough, mucus, difficulty breathing, and other severe symptoms. This disease progresses in four stages – mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. Upon diagnosis, the doctor will classify the stage of the disease based on the symptoms and suggest medication and lifestyle changes, including a dietary change.

How can diet affect COPD patients?

COPD can have devastating effects on the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing and pain. But, this pain can be lessened with small yet effective changes in the diet. Many studies support the fact that individuals with COPD who follow a healthier lifestyle and a better and cleaner diet experience the following improvements.

• Reduced inflammation in lung tissue
• Improved lung function
• Better muscle strength
• Lowered risk of heart diseases

Despite the positive effects of diet, many individuals tend to overlook or make common dietary mistakes, which can be easily avoided.

Common mistakes made by patients of COPD

One of the most common diet mistakes COPD patients make is not immediately switching to a healthy diet.

Many individuals who suffer from COPD often find it difficult to follow a proper diet. Most of them tend to be either underweight or overweight. Either way, not having a proper diet or maintaining the right body weight can cause trouble with breathing and further worsen symptoms of COPD.

Along with dietary mistakes, patients with COPD also tend to avoid physical activity due to their breathing issues. But, this has a very devastating effect on their overall health as it contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. Those who do not follow an active lifestyle tend to suffer from worsening of symptoms leading to hospitalizations.

Another diet mistake made by those who suffer from COPD is not learning to avoid certain foods that could trigger or worsen their symptoms. Items such as salt, certain fruits such as apples, peaches, and melons, vegetables like beans, Brussel sprouts, corn and more, dairy products, chocolate, and even fried foods could trigger a bad reaction.

Individuals with COPD also need to pay attention to what they drink. A common mistake that is made is they do not drink plenty of water. It is recommended that individuals drink around 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day.

Overall, to reduce the effects of COPD, individuals need to follow a healthy diet, keep off certain foods that could trigger a bad reaction, and have a regular fitness routine. An individual with COPD should plan their meals in advance and keep track of all that they consume – be it high amounts of fats, low level of carbohydrates, and even proteins.