Just think about how great a juicy, ripe tomato tastes. This delicacy is especially tasty during their normal summertime harvest period. You may not know that tomatoes are a food that can help your lung health. One study reported that each extra daily serving of fruit and vegetables could reduce the risk of chronic obstructive … Read more
In the spring, the temperature rises, and the sun starts to shine more. However, these pleasant occurrences tend to lead to higher levels of pollen, mold and other allergens, and higher levels of allergens can cause issues for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Most people reach for an inhaler or oral allergy medications to combat … Read more
Many people enjoy juice or jam made with sambucus nigra or black elderberry, and you may have heard that this fruit has many properties that can help keep you healthy. For instance, it has plentiful antioxidants that help your body fight inflammation. However, its most important benefit for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other … Read more
A few things to remember when you just don’t feel like cooking. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a degenerative lung disease that slowly wears away a patient’s breathing ability and quality of life. Although difficulty breathing can often be the biggest concern for this group, the day-to-day fatigue that comes with it can be … Read more
The prickly pear cactus (also called the nopal cactus) is traditionally used in Mexico to treat several ills, including high blood sugar, high cholesterol and wounds. The fruit of the prickly pear cactus can be used to make cactus juice — also known as prickly pear juice or nopal juice. Limited research has suggested cactus … Read more
For people dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), doing simple tasks can be difficult. Simple tasks such as standing or cooking for long periods of time can be strenuous, so having a few quick cooking recipes handy can be quite helpful for COPD sufferers. Each recipe below takes less than a half hour and relatively little energy to … Read more
There’s been a growing trend in people seeking natural remedies to relieve illness symptoms over the last few years. For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma or other lung diseases, any natural remedy that can help manage symptoms or flare-ups sounds appealing. One of the more talked about items is apple cider vinegar. So what is the connection between Apple … Read more
After a chronic lung disease diagnosis, it’s important to make lifestyle modifications to prevent symptom flare-ups. One of the most important areas to examine when finding ways to improve breathing is your diet. Oxygen is a main ingredient in the process of changing food into fuel in your body. A quick understanding of the science … Read more
Like the heart, the respiratory system is at work every moment of our lives. The lungs can also be the entry point for pollutants, irritants, dust, mold, fungus, harmful organisms, and other toxins. The constant onslaught of impurities can take a harsh toll on people with COPD. People want to ensure their lungs function at … Read more
Looking for something tasty that won’t add another notch to the belt? As we’ve mentioned before finding a recipe that is healthy for those who suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can be elusive. For those with COPD, there seems to be a grocery list of foods and ingredients that cause exacerbations (symptoms flare-up). Foods that fit within one’s diet while … Read more
Having the energy and time to cook a healthy meal can be challenging for anyone, especially someone with a chronic lung disease. Learning about preparing meals ahead of time and meal size can help you have more energy to enjoy your favorite activities. Also, healthy recipes for lung disease can help you keep fit and feel better. Smart … Read more
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive form of lung disease ranging from mild to severe. It is characterized by a restriction of airflow into and out of the lungs that makes breathing difficult. The term COPD encompasses emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis. As more people suffer from chronic lung disease and more studies are conducted to find ways … Read more
Taking medications according to schedule, getting enough exercise, and following doctor’s orders are imperatives for people with chronic lung disease, but there is another, often overlooked question regarding self-care—Are You Eating a Healthy Diet? It’s possible to think of what we eat as separate from treating lung disease. In fact, diet is as important as … Read more
The recommended daily intake of water is 6 to 8 glasses a day. But you probably already know that, though. Drinking water is vital to our health and well-being, and for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), staying hydrated is doubly important. Water helps to thin mucus in the lungs. The question then becomes, … Read more
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which your lung tissue becomes scarred, making it difficult to breathe. While smoking cigarettes or environmental irritants can increase the likelihood of developing the disease, in most cases, the cause is unknown. Symptoms vary from person to person, but often include the following: coughing, weakness, fatigue, achy joints and weight … Read more
Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is difficult because it causes shortness of breath that can make even the simplest of tasks more physically demanding. There is no cure for COPD, but people with the disease can receive treatments that may help reduce the progression and severity of the disease. Since COPD makes life so challenging, most people … Read more
For people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), staying properly hydrated can be challenging but is an important part of managing COPD. For example, many people with COPD experience increased mucus production. The excess mucus becomes thick, sticky and difficult to cough up. However, drinking enough water can thin mucus and make mucus easier to clear out from … Read more
When it comes to eating food for pulmonary fibrosis, diet really is everything. Let’s start here: if you’ve been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), finding relief for your symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue) can be an all-encompassing desire. Although you may currently be on a short-acting or long-acting bronchodilator (inhaler), or perhaps even supplemental oxygen, the … Read more
Many people consider nuts to be a part of a healthy diet. However, the Lung Institute wants you to know there are certain types of nuts you should limit if you have a chronic lung disease. 3 types of nuts chronic lung disease patients should limit If you have a chronic lung disease, there are three … Read more
For people with chronic lung disease, finding nutritious foods can be challenging and discouraging. Many people want to enjoy eating their favorite foods while following their specific diets, avoiding options which could trigger symptom flare-ups. To aid in healthier lung function, we previously discussed foods you might want to avoid, but fear not — we have compiled … Read more
When someone is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), many aspects of that person’s life change. Doctors will recommend several lifestyle modifications to help prevent symptoms flare-ups and other complications. One of the most important areas to modify is something most people do three times a day – eat. With your health in mind, here are … Read more
Diet is key in addressing COPD symptoms. Here’s how to set up a COPD diet plan that works. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can make life for those who have it very difficult. And in short, to say that the diseases’ symptoms can have a significant effect on the quality of life for a patient is … Read more
An apple a day… For those living with a chronic respiratory disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis (PF) , and interstitial lung disease (ILD), the symptoms can be hard to ignore. As these diseases cause a steady drop in quality of life for those affected by them—whether you’re on medication or not—any form of treatment, natural substance … Read more
Looking to boost your lung health? Time to break out the blender. For anyone suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, maintaining proper nutrition can be a difficult task. Given limited mobility in some cases, even the effort of cooking can be physically draining. However, there are alternative options to promote healthy nutrient intake while minimizing the stress … Read more
Natural treatments are something that many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung conditions are interested in exploring. Spices in food are a natural treatment that can work great for lung patients. They’re easy to add to your lung-healthy diet, and certain spices, such as turmeric, offer many benefits to COPD … Read more
People with lung disease go down many roads looking for a way to help treat their condition. Some turn to acupuncture or even yoga in hopes of breathing just a little easier. One avenue that is showing a lot of interest is the potential of supplements. There is increased curiosity and hope in emerging data that supplements … Read more
When diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), many aspects of a person’s life change. Doctors recommend certain lifestyle modifications to help prevent symptom flare-ups and other complications. One of the most common areas doctors recommend their patients modify involves something nearly everyone does three times a day – eating. Anyone can change bad eating habits, given … Read more
According to the American Lung Association, the average adult takes 20,000 breaths each day. If you have been diagnosed with lung disease, these breaths will be harder for you, so it is particularly important to eat healthy foods so that your body is nourished and has the energy to support your breathing. You can eat many foods to … Read more
Eating healthy can be difficult. However, when people suffer from illnesses adversely affected by diet, finding something nutritious that’s “allowed” can be discouraging. Certain foods can trigger symptom flare-ups for people with chronic lung diseases, so before reaching for whatever looks tasty, you might want to avoid these foods with lung disease. 1. Cold Cuts Most cured … Read more
We all eat–some much better than others–yet those who live with the ever-looming concerns about symptom flare-ups and oxygen therapy management that accompany a COPD diagnosis need to be extra cautious about food choices. Certain diets made up of COPD-friendly foods can help improve blood oxygen levels, yet others can cause excessive boating and compress the chest. This makes … Read more
There is a growing number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung diseases. This makes for an excellent reason to pay more attention to your lung health. One way you may be able to improve the health of your lungs is with vitamins, and in this article, we two of the … Read more
Many people know the benefits proper levels of vitamins and minerals in the body may offer. However, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung diseases may benefit from vitamins to a greater degree than other people. In fact, our health care team at Lung Institute can tell you there are 2 vitamins that … Read more
Our body’s mucus production is meant to keep us healthy as it serves as a sort of sticky tape that collects dust, bacteria, and other potentially harmful airborne particles. This is so our body can get rid of these things more easily before they have a chance to settle into our lungs. However, if you … Read more
People living with chronic lung diseases often have trouble with increased mucus production. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis tend to cause more increased mucus production than other types of chronic lung diseases. Otherwise known as phlegm or sputum, mucus traps debris and other organisms, so they can be cleared from the lungs when you cough. … Read more