What Should Patients with COPD Absolutely Avoid Eating?
Sep 03, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
Generally speaking, there is no absolute rule about "foods that COPD patients must never eat." However, COPD patients should generally avoid foods such as chili peppers, fatty meats, pickled foods, strong alcoholic beverages, and ice cream, as well as medications including ipratropium bromide aerosol, morphine tablets, diazepam tablets, aspirin enteric-coated tablets, and propranolol tablets. If in doubt, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional in advance.
Generally speaking, there is no absolute rule of "foods that COPD patients must never eat." COPD patients should generally avoid foods such as chili peppers, fatty meats, pickled vegetables, strong alcohol, and ice cream, as well as medications such as ipratropium bromide aerosol, morphine tablets, diazepam tablets, aspirin enteric-coated tablets, and propranolol tablets. If in doubt, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance. Detailed explanations are as follows:
I. Foods
1. Chili Peppers: Spicy in nature, they can irritate the respiratory mucosa, induce bronchospasm, worsen cough and shortness of breath, and impair airway patency. COPD patients must strictly avoid them.
2. Fatty Meats: High in fat, they are difficult to digest and can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, possibly leading to elevated blood lipids, which may affect lung function and overall recovery. Consumption should be reduced.
3. Pickled Vegetables: Extremely high in salt content, which can easily lead to water and sodium retention, worsening pulmonary edema, exacerbating dyspnea, and increasing the burden on the cardiovascular system. Intake should be avoided.
4. Strong Alcohol: Alcohol can irritate the respiratory tract, reduce airway defense capability, and may suppress the respiratory center, increasing the risk of respiratory failure. COPD patients must abstain from alcohol completely.
5. Ice Cream: The low temperature can stimulate bronchial smooth muscle contraction, induce airway spasms, worsen symptoms such as coughing and chest tightness, and should especially be avoided during acute exacerbations.
II. Medications
1. Ipratropium Bromide Aerosol: Although it is a bronchodilator, some patients may experience dry mouth and increased viscosity of airway secretions after use, which can worsen airway obstruction. It should be used cautiously after physician evaluation.
2. Morphine Tablets: They have central nervous system depressant effects, can suppress the respiratory center, reduce respiratory rate and depth, and in severe cases, induce respiratory failure. COPD patients must not use them.
3. Diazepam Tablets: A sedative-hypnotic drug that can suppress the respiratory center, weaken respiratory drive, worsen dyspnea, and pose higher risks for patients with concurrent respiratory failure. Use should be avoided.
4. Aspirin Enteric-Coated Tablets: Some patients may experience bronchospasm after taking them, leading to asthma-like attacks and worsening COPD symptoms. They must be avoided or used under strict physician monitoring.
5. Propranolol Tablets: A β-receptor blocker that can block β2 receptors in bronchial smooth muscle, leading to bronchoconstriction and worsening airway narrowing. COPD patients should avoid using them.
In daily life, patients should keep warm to avoid respiratory infections, perform appropriate respiratory function exercises, have regular follow-up lung function tests, and seek timely medical attention if symptoms worsen.
