What to Avoid
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, affects the lungs and makes breathing difficult. While many things can impact COPD, what you drink can either help or worsen your symptoms. To also help, there's Stiolto Respimat, a prescription inhaler used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Worst Drinks for COPD
1. Soda
Soda is filled with sugar and carbonation. The bubbles in carbonated drinks like soda can make you feel bloated. This extra pressure on your diaphragm can make it harder to breathe. The high sugar content in soda can also lead to weight gain, which can worsen COPD symptoms over time.
What are the worst foods for PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension)? Read on to learn the foods you should avoid.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol can relax the muscles in your body, including those in your respiratory system. This can make it harder to breathe, especially if you already have trouble due to COPD. Alcohol can also interact poorly with medications often prescribed for COPD, making them less effective or causing side effects.
3. Caffeinated Drinks (Coffee, Energy Drinks)
Caffeine can cause dehydration, and staying hydrated is important for people with COPD. Dehydration can thicken the mucus in your lungs, making it harder to clear out. Also, caffeine can cause jitters and an increased heart rate, which may make it more difficult to manage COPD symptoms.
4. Milk and Dairy Products
Milk and dairy drinks can make mucus thicker, leading to increased coughing and congestion. Some people with COPD feel that their symptoms get worse when they consume a lot of dairy. This may not affect everyone, but it’s good to be cautious with milkshakes, smoothies made with milk or other dairy-heavy drinks.
5. Sugary Drinks (Juices, Sweet Teas)
Like soda, sugary drinks can cause weight gain, which makes it harder to breathe. Juices and sweet teas often contain more sugar than people realize. Excess sugar can also lead to inflammation in the body, which can worsen COPD symptoms.
Treatment Options for COPD
While avoiding certain drinks can help manage COPD, there are also treatments available to improve your quality of life:
- Medication: Inhalers and other medications can help open airways and reduce lung inflammation.
- Oxygen therapy: For some people, supplemental oxygen can help them breathe easier.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation: This program includes exercise, education and support to help you manage COPD.
- Healthy diet and hydration: Eating healthy foods and staying hydrated can improve lung function. Water and non-caffeinated herbal teas are good choices.
- Quit smoking: If you smoke, quitting is the most important step to take. It can slow down the progression of COPD and improve your symptoms.
Stiolto Respimat
Stiolto Respimat is a prescription inhaler used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It helps people with COPD breathe more easily by relaxing the muscles around the airways. The inhaler delivers a mist that contains two active ingredients:
- Tiotropium: A long-acting anticholinergic that helps open up the airways by relaxing the muscles.
- Olodaterol: A long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) that also relaxes the airway muscles and helps prevent tightness in the chest.
Managing COPD
By making smart choices about what you drink and following a good treatment plan, you can better manage COPD and improve your lung health.
