5 things that could be making your COPD worse

smartfutureAdmin 09 February, 2022

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. According to WHO, COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Although, there is currently no cure for COPD, do you know that the following 5 misconceptions could be making your COPD worse?

If you have COPD, you cannot exercise
Moderate exercise has been shown to be safe and beneficial for most people with COPD. Particularly, management of COPD symptoms with pulmonary rehabilitation has proven to improve the quality of life for patients.

There is no point in quitting smoking if you already have COPD
Smoking cessation is one of the most effective treatment for COPD. Preliminary studies have shown that smoking cessation can reduce the rate of COPD progression for at risk patients. Therefore, it is still imperative to quit smoking even if you are already diagnosed with COPD.

There are no treatments for COPD
While there is currently no cure for COPD, treatments can help to regulate the symptoms and progression of the disease.

Body weight does not affect COPD
Numerous studies have suggested that COPD is related to Body Mass Index (BMI). Particularly, underweight patients are associated with poorer prognosis. Thus, maintaining a healthy BMI is important for COPD patients.

Diet does not affect COPD
A healthy and balanced diet can help you to breathe easier and improve COPD symptoms. Therefore, food rich in simple carbohydrates such as soft drinks; food rich in trans fats and saturated fats such as fried food, should be limited.