Actionsets help people take an active role in managing a health condition.  COPD: Avoiding weight loss

Why? - Why the action is important? Why is weight loss a concern in COPD?

Weight loss is a concern in COPD because as you lose weight, you lose muscle mass. Muscle loss may result in feeling weaker and makes it more difficult to breathe (the muscles that help you breathe also weaken). Weakness can also lead to a greater chance of infections, such as pneumonia.

About 1 out of 4 people with COPD weighs too little for good health, and those who are very underweight, especially those with emphysema, are at higher risk of death than are people with COPD who have a normal weight.1

Test Your Knowledge

  1. Weight loss in COPD can make breathing more difficult.

    1. True
    2. False

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Author: Maria G. Essig, MS, ELSLast Updated: May 8, 2008
Medical Review: Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology

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