Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Tips if you get tired when eating

If you are struggling with tiredness you may want to consider the following:

  • Choose foods that are easy to prepare, save your energy for eating.
  • Ask your family to help with meal preparations if possible.
  • Order ready meals to be delivered or order easy to make food on line for your freezer.
  • Think about smaller but nutritious meals.

Tips if you are breathless at mealtimes

If you are suffering from shortness of breath you may wish to consider the following:

  • Clear airways one hour before eating.
  • Take your inhaler before you eat.
  • Eat while sitting up to ease the pressure on your lungs and help them expand more easily.
  • Eat more slowly.
  • Finger foods can be a good alternative if low in salt, sugar and fat.
  • Take small bites and chew your food slowly.
  • Breathing deeply while chewing.
  • Try putting your cutlery down between bites.
  • Choose foods that are easy to eat.
  • Try eating five or six small but healthy meals a day instead of three large meals. Take care you are not putting on weight.
  • Try drinking liquids at end of meal.

Fortified Milk

Fortified milk recipe

Fortified milk recipe

 

This recipe for fortified milk is a simple way to help to boost your protein and calories if you are underweight and trying to gain or maintain your weight.

Fortified milk:

  • add 2-4 tablespoons of dried milk powder to one pint of milk and drink /use as normal throughout day.

Tips if you are trying to gain weight

If you are suffering from unintentional weight loss at any BMI and struggling to eat a normal diet then you may wish to consider the following:

  1. icon_diet_milke_145
    Choose full fat/ high energy options e.g. whole milk, avoid low fat options.
  2. icon_diet_butter_145
    Add cheese, cream, butter to meals where possible.
  3. icon_diet_mayonnaise_145
    Use mayonnaise/ dressings where possible.
  4. icon_diet_honey_145
    Add honey, syrup, jams where possible.
  5. icon_diet_fortfifiedmilk_145
    Make fortified milk (instructions on next page).
  6. icon_diet_milkshake_145
    Try to take nourishing drinks e.g. smoothies, fruit juice, milk shakes, hot chocolate, energy drinks.
  7. icon_diet_nodrinks_145
    Don’t fill up on drinks before a meal.
  8. icon_diet_6meals_145
    Try and eat little and often throughout day e.g. three small meals and two-three snacks per day.

Are finding it a struggle to eat enough or are losing weight? Have you noticed that you are losing strength in your muscles and your body shape is changing? You now need to approach your diet differently. You should discuss with a health professional how you can try to make the most of the nourishment in your food/ drink to help you regain weight and strength. Significant weight loss may indicate other illness in some people which should be discussed with your doctor.

Weight loss and healthy eating tips

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If you are trying to achieve a healthy diet and gradual weight loss you may wish to try the following:

  • Try to include protein foods with two meals per day e.g. meat, fish, eggs, beans etc for muscle strength
  • Starchy carbohydrates should be included with all meals e.g. potatoes, bread, pasta, cereals, rice etc for energy
  • Limit high energy foods e.g. cakes, biscuits, chocolate, sweets, fizzy drinks, chips, fried foods, pies which are high in calories and don’t provide important nutrients
  • Include plenty of fruits and vegetables, ideally five portions daily. Good source of essential vitamins and minerals to support your immune system. Fresh, tinned, frozen all count.
  • Dairy foods e.g. cheese, yoghurt, milk, yoghurt are encouraged up to three times per day for bone health (which can be affected in asthma due to medications). Try to choose low fat options where possible as lower calorie also.
  • Drink plenty fluids to keep you hydrated

 

To lose weight you need to reduce or restrict the amount of calories in your diet and increase your exercise and activity level. You may need to eat a little more of some things and less of others

Your Body Mass Index

The World Health Organisation definition of  Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres.

Your normal diet and your Body Mass Index.

  • If your Body Mass Index is 30 or more it would be helpful to aim for gradual weight loss.
  • If it is between 20-25 then carry on with a varied healthy balanced diet for weight stability.
  • If it is 20 or less you may want to increase your energy intake especially if you are keeping active to support weight stability/ weight gain. Some people with asthma may be under nourished as a result of the illness.

Use the BMI calculator to find out your own Body Mass.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is recommended. To assess your nutritional status it would be helpful to calculate your BMI and consider discussing with a health professional if you have had any recent weight changes. Use the BMI calculator to check if you are underweight, overweight or obese.

Why do we need food?

Why do you need food?

  • Food is converted by oxygen into energy for your body, A waste product of this process is carbon dioxide which you then breathe out. People with lung conditions can find breathing out harder to do. If carbon dioxide builds up in your body it can make you feel weaker.
  • A good balanced diet helps maintain your strength and fitness and promote a healthy immune system as well as helping you fight their severity if you do get an infection or flare up.

Why do you need energy?

  • For any activity, including breathing, even at rest.
  • Breathing requires more energy for people with lung conditions once damage has occurred.

Why is food and your diet important if you have asthma?

  • If you are overweight your heart and lungs have to work harder to supply oxygen to your body so keeping a steady weight can be important.
  • Having a good balanced diet helps maintain your strength and fitness and boost your immune system as well as fight infections.
  • Some of the asthma drug treatments can increase body weight and appetite. Ask your healthcare team if you think this is a problem for you.
  • Some people with asthma may also have food allergies and must be careful to avoid certain foods.

Diagram showing food and oxygen entering body, and carbon dioxide and energy being generated

Portable equipment you may need when flying

medication_1st_aidOften, the following items need to be approved in advance of flying:

  • Portable medical electronic devices i.e. Automated External Defibrillators.
  • Nebuliser.
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines (CPAP).
  • Pacemakers – you may have to declare if you have a pacemaker when going through airport security.

Remember:

  • You may not be guaranteed a power supply so ensure you have adequate battery life.
  • Your baggage allowance may be affected.
  • There may be a weight limit.
  • You may need a doctors letter.

Information

Check before booking to avoid problems down the line.
Be ready to provide details of the device i.e. the make and model, type of battery.

In-flight advice

in_flight
To have a comfortable flight you should:
Keep hydrated:

  • Drink plenty of fluids to ensure you stay well hydrated.
  • Try to avoid or limit your intake of alcohol and caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee or fizzy drinks, as these can make you more thirsty.

Move hourly:
Move around. Sitting still can increase your risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This is a blood clot and can lead to further complications.

Self management

Do some simple exercises as you fly:

  • Bend and straighten your legs.
  • Press the balls of your feet down hard against the floor.
  • Walk around the cabin when you can.
  • Avoid taking sleeping pills, as these can put you into a deep sleep so you won’t be moving for a long time.

Fitness to fly – medical forms

Different airlines will have their own paperwork and processes and will request different amounts of notice. Some will rely on your GP or Specialist’s assessment of your ‘fitness to fly’. If this is the case ask them what information or tests they require, and if they can supply a template letter for your GP to use. It is important to contact them as far in advance as possible and get a copy of the correct form.

These are some examples of the forms airlines may ask you and/or your GP to complete:

Important

Make sure you have the right forms for your airline.

Useful sources of information:

  • The airline website – look for a section on special travel assistance.
  • The airline helpline or customer care centre.
  • Some airlines have a separate department for people with medical conditions.