Key points on COPD: avoid losing weight
Some people with the severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - especially those who have emphysema - can have a reduced body weight and inadequately eat.
Patients with COPD often lose weight, and when losing weight a person loses muscle mass, including the muscles involved in the process of breathing. This makes breathing difficult.
Approximately every 4 patients with COPD weigh less than normal.
To avoid weight loss, eat more foods that contain fat and protein. Because large amounts of fat can be hazardous to health, consult your doctor or dietitian.
Although the causes of weight loss in COPD are not fully understood, experts believe that this is due to a combination of factors, which include:
- The need for more energy.
- Consuming more energy with physical activity.
- Dyspnea.
- The use of corticosteroids, which accelerate the breakdown of muscle tissue in the body.
- Side effects of some drugs include a decrease in appetite.
- COPD can reduce the level of oxygen in the blood.
[caption id="attachment_578" align="aligncenter" width="356"]
COPD: avoid losing weight[/caption]Why weight loss is dangerous in COPD?
Weight loss is dangerous in COPD, due to loss of muscle tissue, which leads to a feeling of weakness and difficulty breathing. Weakness in turn leads to a greater risk of developing infections, such as pneumonia. Approximately every 4 patients with COPD weigh less than the norm and are at risk of death.
How to avoid weight loss in COPD?
If you start to lose weight, then you should eat more protein and get more calories. This means that you need to eat more foods that contain fat and protein. Since such food is a health hazard, consult a therapist or a nutritionist before starting a new diet.
High-calorie, nutritious snacks
Foods that contain many calories include:
- Ice cream.
- Pudding.
- Cheese.
- Bars of muesli.
- Custard.
- Corn chips with cheese.
- Eggs.
- Crackers with peanut butter.
- Buns with peanut butter or cream cheese.
- Pop corn with parmesan cheese.
- High-calorie food additives.
Add calories to snacks
To add calories to snacks, try:
- Add egg or egg yolk to meat, pasta, cheese and similar products.
- Add the powdered milk to the soup, scrambled eggs, pudding, potatoes and yogurt.
- Add cheese to sandwiches, crackers, casseroles, soups, toast and pasta.
- Add an extra tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil, mayonnaise, butter, margarine or sour cream to sandwiches, bread, casseroles, soups, pasta, potatoes, rice and vegetables.
- Add crushed nuts in pudding, sauce, mashed potatoes, casserole, salad and yogurt.
Add protein to your diet
Dairy and meat products contain a large number of proteins. Try to use more of these foods or:
- Add the milk powder to the scrambled eggs, soup and meat.
- Add cheese or butter to appetizers.
- Choose desserts made with eggs - biscuit, custard and rice pudding.
- Use food supplements that are high in protein.
If you have COPD and you are worried about weight loss, consult a therapist or a nutritionist. It will help you to create a balanced, high-calorie and high-protein diet. If you consume more calories, but continue to lose weight, consult a doctor.