Eating and Breathing

[Guest guest]

Thought I pass along this bit of information....

Many patients with severe lung disease are clearly aware that there is a relationship between their breathing symptoms and what they eat. Why is this? One of the most important muscles that powers the lungs from breath to breath is our diaphragm. This is also the anatomic structure that physically separates the lungs on top from the stomach and intestines just below. When the stomach or intestines get upset with bloating, too much gas and distention or with pain, the efficiency and power of the diaphragm is diminished. This immediately results in worsening shortness of breath. If gluten sensitivity causes intestinal irritation or if lactose intolerance causes gastric distention, we can now understand how this affects the diaphragm.

Those with advanced lung disease are often hyper-metabolic due to the increased work of breathing. They need extra energy to power the muscles of respiration that are working overtime. These patients have a tenfold increase in energy expenditure over baseline compared to patients with normal lung function. Some patients may have significant protein calorie malnutrition.

Patients need to eat frequent small meals, up to six times a day, rather than one or two really big meals. Good nutrition is especially important in those with lung disease. Hopefully, for most of us eating is a pleasure. As in many things in our lives, everything in moderation. For those with bad lung disease, a few bites of pizza are probably fine, but a few slices with a can of soda pop will probably get you in trouble!

[Dr. Bauer at The Pulmonary Paper]

C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington

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