Dietary Changes may Help Reduce Breathing Problems in COPD Patients

A recent study shows that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can greatly benefit from changes in diet. For those suffering from the lung disease, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, eating certain healthy foods can reduce the risk of breathing problems.

For the study, researchers recruited about 2,200 adults with COPD and examined the effects of eating certain healthy foods. Participants were enrolled in a larger project in which researchers followed them for three years. All involved were asked at eight different times whether or not they had consumed bananas, cheese, fish or grapefruit within the past 24 hours.

Findings showed that patients who consumed these four food items had fewer symptoms and better lung function performance on standardized tests compared to those who did not make any dietary changes, based on blood samples that measured inflammation.

"We think that diet as a whole is important," Dr. Carlos Camargo, a professor at Harvard Medical School who was not involved in the new study, said according to WebMD. "A trial like that is hard to do. But it can be done."

As this health issue affects around 15 million as the United State's third leading cause of death in the nation, researchers hope this could provide potential relief for the future. However, they also note that the study results did not point out a cause-and-effect relationship, but a correlation.

More information regarding the findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society's annual meeting in San Diego, Calif.