Short of Breath After Eating

Dear COPD Coach,

Why do I feel so short of breath after eating? More than a few times after eating out, I was so short of breath I could barely walk to my car. I love good food, but I am beginning to feel that it isn’t worth the pain of not being able to breathe.

-Breathless

Dear Breathless,

Feeling bloated or out of breath after a large meal is not uncommon with people who have COPD. There are actually a couple reasons why this occurs. When we eat a large meal we require more energy to digest what we eat and experience more pressure on our chest and diaphragm. The result is we experience shortness of breath.

For many, COPD causes our lungs to become hyper-inflated, which means they take up more room in our chest. This results when air gets trapped in damaged areas of the lungs. When our stomach is filled, it can actually push against the lungs causing us to feel out of breath.

So, what is the answer? It is really quite sensible. Eat several small meals throughout the day. If you are at or below ideal body weight, eat foods that are high in calories. Avoid salt as much as possible since salt can cause you to retain fluid, feel bloated, and increase the workload on your heart. Avoid simple carbohydrates as these cause CO2 build-up in your blood causing less available oxygen. If you do eat foods containing carbohydrates, keep to complex carbohydrates like those found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grain bread.

For some individuals with COPD, the simple act of breathing takes more calories than what we are able to take in. The result of this is either chronic weight loss or the inability to gain weight. People experiencing this should eat snacks loaded in calories. While not considered healthy for “normal” people, these foods might be something like pudding made with whole milk, cheese that is not “reduced” or “low fat,” eggs, and buttered popcorn. If eating dairy foods (a problem for some with COPD as they can result in more mucus) drink plenty of water afterwards. Fried, greasy and spicy foods, carbonated soft drinks, and certain vegetables can also cause bloating.

If you require oxygen, be sure to use it while eating. This will help you get less short of breath and also aid digestion.

If you still want to go out and have a nice meal, here are some tips that will make your meal easier and more comfortable:

Restrict foods that can cause bloating like raw fruits and vegetables.
Try to eat foods that you don’t have to chew as much like mashed potatoes or soup.
Eat slowly, taking time between bites.
Don’t rush off after you eat. Take some time to not only digest, but also to enjoy the company and the experience.
Once again, if you use supplemental oxygen, make sure you use it when you are eating!

There is no reason a person with COPD cannot go out and enjoy a meal with family or friends. Be sensible, allow yourself plenty of time, and have a great time!

-The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice. If you would like to submit a question to the Coaches Corner email us at coachescorner@copdfoundation.org. We would love to hear your questions and comments. You can address your emails to The COPD Coach.

This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on January 23, 2020.

39 Comments

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LeanneS

This was very informative. I have always noticed that I feel short of breath after meals too and wondered if it was because I was not breathing while chewing, I have never really liked carbonated drinks so going to keep these tips in mind.
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I've been doing totally opposite of this article lately and feeling the effects. Im Going to follow some of this good advice!
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Whylene McCray

Thanks for the tip, I get bloated when I eat me. I feel great when I eat soup..It's music to the stomach.
Especially the creams..
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- RushMan
  
  Watch the salt. Canned soups have loads of salt.
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di545

Great advice. I have been struggling with this. I now wear 02 while eating and it helps. It seems like my food goes down easier too.
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Clamdigger1957

Good information..

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Joybhere

This information makes me feel better, I've been wondering why I can't seem to eat much anymore and this gives helpful information about what to eat

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- Whylene McCray
  
  Can anyone using Oxygen,please share your diets..e.g. I love sandwiches,with lettuce tomato,o noon,cheese,hot pepper,on toast with Mao& lime,or miracle whip..very filling,problem is bloating immediately after..
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- RushMan
  
  In answer to Whylene McCray's reply to Joybhere: I don't use oxygen, however, I found that eating sandwiches made with bread (doesn't matter what kind of bread - whole wheat, rye, etc.), is a cause of the bloated feeling. I now use flour or corn tortillas instead of bread for making sandwiches, even though I'm not fond of "sandwich wrap" style sandwiches. Alternately, if I do use bread for a sandwich, I only eat half of the sandwich, and save half for another meal.
  
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GinaW

Very informative article, thank you. My husband's appetite has been decreasing over the past year, I thought it might be partly his age (76) but now I can see it isn't just that. He has been asking for soup for dinner recently, followed by a cup of tea. He used to eat 3 rounds (six slices) of sandwiches until a few months ago, but now can barely get through 2 rounds.
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- imdaughter
  
  thank you for this information. my mom is around 71 and stage 4 COPD. and she doesn't eat as much in one meal due to what im guessing from the chat is the energy on chewing, swallowing, and my mom's full stomach feeling. but my mom's stomach has been like this for mths(still doing tests on her). glad I read that carbs will slow the oxygen down so if she eats cake, bread, it is not good for her. will slow the oxygen down (?)
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I would just like to say that eating and swallowing uses muscles that need oxygen so >>> Once again, if you use supplemental oxygen, make sure you use it when you are eating! >>> and try raising you O2 to a higher dose before starting your food to compensate the O2 you need when chewing and swallowing etc >>>> it works for my wife on Stage 4 COPD >>> UK Mike
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- Sharo
  
  Mike , I keep mine on 2, Again I am going to listen to you and move it up when I eat to . Give your wife my best. You two are so blessed to have each other. I have a new prescription of Anora, it has never been used, I had tried it up North and for me my digestive system didn't seem to agree with it. After 2 weeks of nothing moving out of my Intestine track , I am not going to use it. Is their a place that could take it and give to someone who needs it?
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- imdaughter
  
  thank you for posting. I gave this info to my father and mother(COPD stage 4). my mother has problems with chewing swallowing and teeth etc, but I didn't know it was because of energy to chew and swallow and using oxygen of those muscles. it makes sense after I read this. I also read COPD patients can't eat fast. Also i read their hot meal can go cold, because they can't eat fast. so it is common to reheat or keep food on a hot plate, for any COPD patient or elderly person, who has to take time in chewing and swallowing. I've been looking for a oroduct that can keep meal hot in her room, instead of using a harmful microwave(radiation and carcinogenic to food). I read that microwave oven is really bad to use for food and takes nutrients out and
  can make you tired, and known to release certain carcinogen into the food! we use microwave for reheating sometimes with coffee tea meal, but not good, trying to use it less. it's better to reheat on stove or oven.
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GinaW

My husband's appetite has returned which is just as well, as he has lost 10 kg in six months. We've been told that emphysema will do that in its final stages, the weight just drops off. It is a waiting game now.
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- imdaughter
  
  sorry to hear the weight loss. my mother loss slot of weight, and at one point was told underweight malnutrition. We got her weight back up to a better number, with a hospital stay and time. As well as then certain small meals, protein drinks, at home. nursing services at home during week, COPD stage 4. she also had pneumonia few times past 3 years so not sure if that added to the drop of weight loss. also the breathing takes up energy in everything, breathing, eating, talking, etc.
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Miranda M

Great info, everyday is a learning experience and this site is so wonderful!
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RushMan

One thing to avoid is carbonated beverages, like soda and adult beverages like beer. Doing that not only avoids that bloated feeling, but is probably good for overall health, IMO.
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- imdaughter
  
  true. told mother to not drink ginger ale like she used to. it has high fructose corn syrup in it, which gives mucus. on the news it showed companies have been making food with no high fructose corn syrup, past few years, due to finding out it causes cancer over time! please be aware that ensure drink has high fructose corn syrup and my mother doesn't drink as much now because of the mucus build up and milk in it. milk for some can make more mucus. I don't know how doctors can give ensure drink to COPD and elderly with the high fructose, sucrolose, carrageenan-all bade for you! high fructose and carrageenan-all known to cause cancer. you can find carageenan in certain brands of cottage cheese, yogurt, butter, soda, etc. they make high protein shakes, nutritional shakes without the high fructose, sucralose carageenan. you have to look at ingredients.
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imdaughter

thank you.
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imdaughter

some people can have gluten sensitivity and soy sensitivity. you can be allergic when eating wheat, gluten, white flour bread, rye, soy beans, soy bread, soy sauce, soy yogurt, etc. you can only eat gluten free bread( made of rice, corn, millet, barley, etc). the "gluten" can make you feel really bloated, full, nausea, and even a slight temperature. also a person can have Celiac disease, which is gluten sensitive and soy sensitive. soy can make you feel bloated, full stomach. I think anyone with COPD having stomach problems aside from eating small meals vs large, that they should try not eating gluten for a few days to see if it helps. unfortunately many soups have gluten and soy, but they make ones that are gluten free. they make yogurt with almond milk, coconut, cashew, as alternatives to soy and regular milk. I had my mother try a vanilla almond milk yogurt and she liked it, with no bloated feeling. some seniors are very used to eating certain foods and don't want to try something new or different from their routine. Or eating organic. Some seniors say the taste for some organic food is not as good as the unhealthy, fructose food item. I think organic is better than non organic for food, because of pesticides. This is another reason a COPD person could have a stomach problem. The foods today" have pesticides" on them, that will affect the stomach to react, and can cause full, bloated, nausea too, and can create other health problems. Also allergies to food. Good to get allergy test for foods. In my opinion, trying organic is better for your health, and they have same prices as non. And the water you drink also important. glass bottle better than plastic. getting a filter on faucet. Dr Mercola uses and recommends a home filter system, to connect under your kitchen sink from Costco, that filters chemicals, bacteria, and does "reverse osmosis" to clean water. he said he saves money vs buying bottled water. I started trying mineral water which has high calcium , magnesium, and other minerals that bottled water and tap water doesn't have . mineral water comes in still or carbonated. there are many from Italy , France, Germany, Spain, etc. they supposedly come from natural springs and flow on rocks from under the ground. Gerolsteiner I think has the highest of minerals and calcium/magnesium. they make flavored also. I read its healthier than water. Also bottled water with high PH level andr electrolytes is good for hydration. coconut water has higher hydration than water. And watermelon is made up of 90%water and is good aganist prostate cancer.
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JimmyCricket

I have dealt with the breathlessness after eating. But, lately when I eat, about 15 minutes afterwards I get extremely weak and fatigued. I hardly have enough energy to do anything. I first thought it was from eating too much, but it happens just the same when I eat a simple sandwich.
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- Olivia159
  
  My Mom was facing the same problem months back. But now she is doing pretty fine. She has been exercising daily and that has really helped her to get better.
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My solution to this problem what ever you are going to eat once your plate is made get another plate and cut the amount of food in half. Eat plate 1. Wait 1 hour eat plate 2. The food you consumed has time to digest before the second portion
I experienced this all the time till I started this method
Try it. It works
✌️💛🎸
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- James G
  
  👍
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JolieZooms

I read this a week ago and have cut back on the amount I eat per meal. This alone has made a huge difference in my comfort level following meals. Thank you so much!
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Gordon Brigham

Thanks for all the tips! This has been happening to me and I am having trouble keeping weight on. I'll try these ideas!
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Jane M. Martin

It's great to hear that these tips are helping some of you breathe better!

Something that hasn't been mentioned is that for some people with COPD, talking while doing any other activity that takes our energy can also cause more shortness of breath. Walking and talking can be a lot for some of you. So when walking with a friend or family member, don't be afraid to say that you will breathe better if you don't talk. (For some of our loved ones, mine included, this might be a welcome change! :-))

Anyway... it's the same with eating and talking. And when you're eating out, or with a group, it is hard to not join in the conversation. Consider taking a few easy breaths after chewing and swallowing a bite and then jumping in with a few words. You are still getting out there, sharing a meal, and enjoying the food and atmosphere. You're just doing it a little more slowly.
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- Sfina001
  
  I wondered if it was just me. Hate that this happens to a lot of us. I got so upset I was angry, worried and just gave it up. I was diagnosed with COPD about 2 months ago. That made me angrier and now determined to stay around. I started by walking around the perimeter of our yard which is pretty big - we have 3 1/2 acres. My dog goes with me. I walked a little farther each few days. Today I was able to take my dog on leash in our road and was able to walk much further than been able to in long time. I was even able to talk to my dog and walk. Felt good to do normal things without breathlessness all the time. I'm sure will go up and down, been doing a lot of reading on it. But my takeaway was how so important to do some sort of exercise each day to help with the breathing. Currently only on Spriva. After reading stories on this site and literature on COPD I am a lot more hopeful for my future.
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Richard DJ

Your comments are all very helpful. What I personally have noticed for a long time is that within about a half hour after eating I get a lot of phlegm. Seems eating creates a lot more mucus that I have to cough up to clear the lungs for air. And it is thick mucus. Sometimes it takes a lot of coughing to get it all up, then I am okay breathing easily for hours. I found that if I take 100 mg of Fisetin before eating it cuts down a lot on the phlegm. After some meals I get none. I have read that it is stopping some kind of action on the epithelia of the lungs. It would be great to have the Foundation run some simple studies to see if it helps a significant number of others. Mayo Clinic was running some trials to remove senescent cells, and Salk Institute, who told me about it, is running trials on modified versions for a different reason. I doubt there is enough money to run a full FDA Clinical Trial on Fisetin or other flavonoids. Doctors don't seem to know about it.
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OceanRich

Thanks for the info regarding shortness of breath and eating. It is something I've been dealing with for some time.
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Read the content. Thank you for sharing the topic. I find it very helpful.
I collected some details on the same.
https://www.fundangotraveltech.com/why-do-we-feel-drowsy-after-lunch/

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barbee789

This is very interesting as I wondered why I had difficulty breathing after eating a heavier meal. Now it makes sense. Thank you for the information.

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Richard DJ

A little while after I eat, within an hour and sometimes almost immediately, I get short of breath and start to get a lot of phlegm building up causing significant coughing to remove the inflammation. There certainly must be some form of cytokine pathway directly from the gut to my lungs. Based on suggestions from the researchers at Salk Institute I started taking Fisetin before meals (when I remember) and that does seem to help a lot, but it certainly is not perfect. Some people say it is dependent on what I eat, but I don't seem to find any significant difference on content. If I have taken the Fisetin and still cough up some gobs of phlegm I can breath easily, usually until the next meal or I drink something like a carbonated beverage. If I forget to take it before the meal I still take it and it just takes longer to get some relief. I am not trying to take a lot like Mayo Clinic is doing in their trials for COVID. I am using 100 mg at each meal using Doctors Best brand as suggested by the Dr. Maher at Salk Institute. I do get a lot less phlegm when I use it, and there have been some technical papers saying how it is helping, but trials are limited apparently due to attitudes at the FDA.
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Irene Ireland

Thanks for this explanation. I was eating a steak sandwich and had a hard time eating and breathing. Now I understand what was happening.

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Irene Ireland

How do you know when you are in stage 4? I am now using 4 liters of oxygen.

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- Jean IA State Captain
  
  It depends on which "staging" system you're using, the GOLD or the COPDF. Both of them include your FEV1 and how many exacerbations (usually ones that put you in the hospital) you've had in the last year. Both also look at your activity level and basically what you're able to do on your own. So there are some objective measures and some not so objective. In my book the most important thing about stages is that it provides docs who aren't pulmonologists guidance on medications that might work best for you, given these things. That's not to say that you couldn't be given triple therapy at stage 2 if that works for you and your doc, although it's usually reserved for those in stage 3 and 4.
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Rahly

This info is very important for those with COPD. The dietician at the hospital last year suggested I eat high-calorie foods to gain weight. She did not stress avoiding carbohydrates, probably because I weighed only 76 pounds so I needed to simply eat more. I now weigh about 82, and I eat slowly, and enjoy desserts of ice cream and cream pies. Whole milk does not bother me. Fresh veggies, steak, chops, etc. are always on the menu here at home, and spaghetti, meatballs. Olive Garden salad dressing as a dipping sauce for fresh baked rolls. I just eat moderate portions so I don’t get stomach pressing on my diaphragm. I eat three times per day, plus snacks.
I am on 2L oxygen 24/7, and 3L when doing pulmonary exercise.
Thank you for advise for others who may not know about affects of eating too much at one time.
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PatO State Captain Arizona

Thank you for this article and all the wonderful despondences. You all have answered my questions as I have the same problems. I will be more aware of how and what I eat. I eat on a saucer so that way I'm not tempted to over eat. Have a blessed day.
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