“I have COPD, why is my stomach always bloated?”
I was asked this question in a wonderful Facebook group, and I would like to share it with our audience too. This is an excellent question!
Let’s jump right in. We get asked this question in our Pulmonary Rehab office quite frequently, so please know that you are not alone. There is not one simple answer to this question so I have broken it up into 4 parts.
Some of the reasons could be:
1. Swallowing air in general, simply due to shortness of breath. Shortness of breath leads to increased number of breaths that you take per minute (your respiratory rate) which may make you swallow lots of air throughout the day.
2. Swallowing air during eating. You’re already short of breath and now you’re trying to eat, you may be unknowingly gulping air along with the food.
3. Eating gassy foods that over expand your stomach.
4. Last but certainly not least, air trapping from COPD leading to flattened diaphragms pushing down on the top of your stomach causing the front of your stomach to stick out and feel bloated.
I found this picture on the web to help you visualize what’s happening:
This the same thing that happens when you bend over to tie your shoes but in reverse order. You bend over, your belly pushes in and up on your diaphragms and squeezes your lungs smaller, making it harder to breathe.
What tips can help lessen the bloating?
- Smaller, more frequent food portions is one of the best ways to help with this
- Slow down and take your time when you eat
- Avoid foods that make you gassy, which will cause excessive expansion of the stomach
What foods to try and avoid:
- Carbonated beverages
- Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts etc.)
I hoped you found my explanation easy to understand as well as helpful. Please try these tips and see if it reduces your COPD stomach bloat. Lastly, if you have any concerns please discuss them with your Doctor.
Have a great day!
David
About the author:
David Junga, RRT is a Nationally Board Certified Registered Respiratory Therapist and Program Director at Pulmonary Rehabilitation Associates, LLC and PulmonaryRehab.com. David has been in private practice since 1999 and loves teaching patients how to overcome their shortness of breath.
https://pulmonaryrehab.com
David is also a Postural Alignment Specialist certified by the Egoscue University and Program Director at CtPainFree. His other passion is teaching people how to eliminate chronic pain through simple yet powerful corrective exercises.
http://ctpainfree.com
What foods should I be eating. Missing upper teeth and hard to eat.
Hello, sorry for the delay we are just receiving this now.
We would really like the opportunity to help you.
Please schedule a free consultation with David so he can assist you.
Here is the link:
https://calendly.com/pulmonaryrehab/15min
Thank you!
Ty so so much that as made me feel alot better ,should your stomach be really hard though ?
Hi Joan,
I am so glad you found this post helpful! Let’s see how I can help you further. We offer Pulmonary Rehab sessions via TeleMedicine to help you breathe better, get stronger and have less shortness of breath. Please use this link to schedule a free Zoom consultation to see how we can help you.
Free Zoom Consultation
I look forward to meeting you!
I would be interested thanks
Hello,
We would really like the opportunity to help you.
Please schedule a free consultation with David so he can assist you.
Here is the link:
https://calendly.com/pulmonaryrehab/15min
Thank you!
I have a swollen stomach & it shortness my breathing also
Hi Jaa,
I am so glad you found this post helpful! Let’s see how I can help you further. We offer Pulmonary Rehab sessions via TeleMedicine to help you breathe better, get stronger and have less shortness of breath. Please use this link to schedule a free Zoom consultation to see how we can help you.
Free Zoom Consultation
I look forward to meeting you!
I am a nonsmoker who has recently been diagnosed with asthma and COPD stage 2. I am having a great deal of trouble taking and using the prescribed medications due to hoarseness from inhalers and other reactions to Accolate. To make things worse, I am having terrible upper abdominal bloating. By the end of the day, my bra is cutting me and my pants no longer fasten. The bloating never goes away completely and gets worse as he day goes on. I teach school, and am not ready to retire, but this uncontrollable bloating is making me miserable and ruining the quality of my life. Is there anything I can do to get rid of it?
Hello, sorry for the delay we are just receiving this now.
We would really like the opportunity to help you.
Please schedule a free consultation with David so he can assist you.
Here is the link:
https://calendly.com/pulmonaryrehab/15min
Thank you!
Well this explains a lot ! Could have days where looked pregnant so swollen and uncomfortable !
It was confusing how could clothes fit one day yet not the next ? Lol .
Thanks for posting this info !
You’re welcome Christine, very happy to help!