Lungs, the diet that contributes to the holistic treatment of COPD

2024-02-27 09:09:00, Shëndeti CNA

Most of us may not realize how our daily diet can affect our respiratory function. The surprise is even greater when they realize that the daily way we choose to eat is responsible for both the state of our defense system and the possible appearance of respiratory-related diseases.

According to medical studies, the human body uses food as fuel for all its daily activities. No single food can provide all the necessary nutrients, so a healthy and balanced diet is recommended, with most data agreeing that the Mediterranean diet excels in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory elements.

However, there are also special categories of patients where food intake is vital and is not characterized as a typical biological need for survival. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) belong to this category of patients, due to the increased energy they require every day to maintain the breathing cycle.

COPD is one of the most common chronic diseases, which is characterized by inflammation in the lungs and narrowing of the airways, as a result of which every breath becomes difficult. The disease presents permanent symptoms, as well as episodes of temporary worsening, known as exacerbations.

During exacerbations, the patient experiences even more difficulty in breathing, ie shortness of breath, while many times additional oxygen therapy may be needed. Patients are more often obese, with a feeling of early satiety, which significantly limits food intake.

In the holistic treatment of COPD, feeding the patient with the consumption of Ω3 fatty acids, avoiding excessive food intake, as well as taking small meals rich in plant fibers is of key importance. In addition, adequate hydration, avoiding salt and increasing potassium intake, if there is diuretic treatment, are issues that the patient should seriously consider in his weekly diet plan.

In addition, increasing the intake of fruits and more specifically those that are good sources of vitamin C, combined with the restriction of caffeine and total abstinence from alcohol, are considered the "golden rules" to improve the level of respiratory capacity and muscle function. respiratory muscles, as well as the quality of life of patients with COPD./ CNA