More than 25 million Americans are diagnosed with asthma while another 16 million have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD). Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs that causes the airwaves to become inflamed and narrow. COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms for both of these breathing issues can include shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing.
Many patients get prescribed medications and learn about shot registrations and information (like the Novavax booster shot), clinical trials, and medical trials, yet they don’t know that what an individual eats can play a major role in the management of chronic breathing issues, such as asthma or COPD. For instance, here are some trigger foods that can negatively affect asthma and COPD symptoms:
1. Dairy products
Some asthma or COPD patients report an increase in mucus from consuming dairy. Casomorphine is created in the breakdown of dairy and it’s a chemical that increases mucus production in the intestine. The primary way the body gets rid of mucus is by coughing it out. Extra coughing and wheezing dramatically impacts a patient with a breathing issue. The high-fat content of dairy can cause bloating, worsening respiratory symptoms, and lower lung function.
2. Fried foods
Recent studies have shown lung function declines after a high-fat meal. Studies have also found fried fatty foods can reduce asthma and breathing medication effectiveness. These foods can cause inflammation and the muscles lining the air passages to constrict. Fried foods are tied to weight gain, which puts pressure on the diaphragm. This causes discomfort in breathing.
3. Cruciferous vegetables
The high fiber in cruciferous vegetables is great for many diets, but not for someone with a breathing issue. The extra fiber gives patients with COPD or asthma indigestion and bloating. Both of which cause difficulty breathing.
4. Soda or carbonated drinks
Carbonated beverages are not only overloaded with sugar, but also cause bloating and gas. They are high in calories and salt which can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. All of these things put extra strain on your lungs making it more difficult to breathe. Added ingredients and caffeine also contribute to weight gain putting more strain on the heart and lungs.
5. Salty foods
Too much salt in your diet is not only bad for your heart, but also bad for your breathing. It can make you retain extra water and cause bloating which could worsen your COPD or asthma symptoms. The excess water forms around the diaphragm similar to fat and makes it difficult to breathe.
6. Cured meats and cold cuts
A recent study showed that 76 percent of patients who heavily ate cured and processed meats saw their asthma symptoms worsen over time. Cured meats are high in nitrates and are linked to a higher risk of many chronic diseases due to the salt and preservatives used in processing. Nitrates could possibly lead to lung damage and due to oxidative stress.
Diet can play a major role in triggering asthma and COPD. A healthy diet along with traditional treatments helps reduce these symptoms for those who have a breathing issue. Eosinophilic asthma treatments include fast-acting inhalers and corticosteroids. The latest treatment COPD includes stem cell therapy, targeted lung denervation, valve surgery, bronchial rheoplasty, and more.