Nutrition tips for mild to severe COPD

When you have COPD, it is especially important to pay attention to what you’re eating.  Having mild, moderate or severe COPD makes it difficult to breathe and get oxygen through your body. Since your body needs to work harder just to breathe, people with COPD can use up to ten times more energy than people with healthy lungs.  You need to make sure you are getting enough calories and vitamins in your diet to be able to sustain yourself when your body is working at this level.
 
Getting enough nutrients in your diet can be difficult because COPD can suppress your appetite making it difficult for you to obtain enough calories and nutrients. People with COPD, especially those with emphysema and severe COPD, are often underweight. Many people with COPD feel like they don’t have the energy to prepare meals and even if they do manage to prepare one, they might not feel like they have the energy to eat it.  Other people might be afraid of eating because it may trigger a coughing fit or something might go  down the wrong way. Whatever the reason, being underweight weakens your immune system, making it more likely that you’ll get sick or catch a respiratory infection. These infections can make your COPD symptoms worse. Being underweight with COPD also makes you physically weaker due to loss of muscle mass, which makes getting around independently even more difficult.
 
Being overweight with COPD can be a health concern as well. Being overweight with mild to severe COPD puts more stress on your lungs and heart and may complicate your treatment by putting you at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes. Those extra pounds may also compress your chest wall and crowd your diaphragm, making it more difficult to breathe because your lungs can’t properly expand. Fortunately, even losing a little bit of weight is beneficial. A little weight loss will make it easier for the muscles in your chest and abdomen to do their job, which can improve your respiratory system function.

For each individual, there are many different factors to consider in planning a healthy diet. If you are overweight, underweight, or even normal weight, talk to your healthcare provider or nutritionist to make sure you are eating a healthy diet that is appropriate for you.  Although some modifications may need to be made to suite your specific condition, the Canadian Food Guide can give you an idea of what a healthy diet typically looks like.