Shortness of Breath and Eating

Shortness of breath can make eating hard work. If you use all your energy preparing a healthy meal, you may find yourself unable to eat and/or enjoy what you have prepared. Here are a few practical suggestions on how to conserve energy and get the most from your meals.

• Eat six smaller meals instead of three big meals. Smaller, more frequent meals are recommended since many people with chronic lung disease feel more short of breath when their stomach is full. This is because the diaphragm can not work as well when the stomach is full. You can satisfy your nutritional needs, keep your stomach comfortable and help your diaphragm to work better by eating smaller, more frequent meals.

• Another way to avoid that "too full" feeling is to eat less of the foods that cause gas. Keep a food diary to find out if they are a problem for you. The follow­ing foods are common offenders.

Foods That Commonly Cause Gas

• Plan to eat before you are too hungry or tired.

• Refuel before you hit empty.

• Breathe evenly while you are chewing and eating.

• Stop eating if you need to catch your breath.

• Relax at mealtime.

• When cooking or baking, double or triple your favorite recipes to keep your freezer full for times when you do not feel like cooking.

• Freeze foods in small portions for when you do not feel like cooking.

• Use prepared foods to save time and energy in the kitchen. Frozen meals, prepared foods or take-out meals from a restaurant can make your life easier. Remember, the sugar, salt, or fat content of these foods may be higher than homemade.

• Do the tasks that require the most effort when you have the most energy. For example, many people would agree that grocery shopping is a tiring task. This chore can be done when you feel freshest, in the morning or after a rest. Better yet, make a list and have a friend or family member pick up your groceries for you!

• Don't stand in the kitchen when you can sit. Bring your chopping, cutting and mixing projects over to the kitchen table and sit while you prepare the food or keep a barstool by the kitchen counter.

• Smaller, more frequent meals are recommended for people with chronic lung disease.

This information has been approved by Katie Warren, M.S., R.D. (October 2006).