Can patients with emphysema drink tea?
Aug 24, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
Patients with emphysema may drink tea, but certain precautions should be observed. First, if the patient’s emphysema is relatively stable—i.e., mild—and there are no other complications, they may consume a moderate amount of weak, cool tea, preferably during the daytime. Tea should be avoided in the evening or before bedtime to prevent sleep disturbances. Second, if the patient has severe emphysema…
Currently, the incidence of emphysema is rising steadily due to multiple factors—especially severe air pollution. Additionally, many people habitually smoke to relieve various forms of stress when facing significant pressure in daily life. Prolonged smoking can cause extensive damage to the lungs, ultimately leading to emphysema. So, can individuals with emphysema drink tea?
Can individuals with emphysema drink tea?
Patients with emphysema may drink tea, but certain precautions must be observed. First, if the patient’s emphysema is relatively stable and classified as mild, with no other complications, they may consume moderate amounts of low-concentration, cool-brewed tea—preferably during daytime hours. Tea should be avoided in the evening or before bedtime to prevent sleep disturbances. Second, for patients with severe emphysema, pulmonary function is significantly impaired, which often adversely affects cardiac function and may lead to heart failure. In such cases, tea consumption is contraindicated, as it increases total body fluid volume, elevates effective circulating blood volume, and promotes water and sodium retention—potentially worsening the condition.
While tea consumption is permissible—and potentially beneficial—for some emphysema patients, it is not universally advisable. When clinical symptoms are mild, specific medical treatment may not be required. Patients should quit smoking, ensure adequate rest, avoid colds and respiratory infections, and maintain a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits—particularly those known for their lung-moistening and cough-suppressing properties, such as apples, pears, tangerines, and oranges. For more severe cases presenting with cough, sputum production, or wheezing, treatment may include anti-infective agents, expectorants, bronchodilators, and other symptom-targeted interventions based on disease severity.
Patients are advised to maintain regular sleep-wake cycles (going to bed early and rising early), engage in regular physical activity to enhance immune resistance, and practice good personal hygiene. We hope this information proves helpful.
