Prevention of respiratory disease

Facts about diet and respiratory disease

Food is the fuel that the body needs for everything it does, including breathing. The body takes food and the oxygen we breathe and converts it into energy and carbon dioxide, this process is called metabolism

A healthy diet is important in helping the body fight infections. Chest infections are dangerous for people with lung conditions, so it is particularly important to maintain a healthy diet

Some researchers have found a connection between the diet of a pregnant woman and her baby’s chances of developing wheezing, allergy and asthma. A maternal diet low in vitamins gives the baby little protection against sensitisation to allergens, a frequent cause of lung problems. Research is Scotland and Saudi Arabia showed a similar link between asthma and a low vitamin diet

When people with lung disease are unwell or feeling breathless, they will take less exercise which will result in a weakening of their muscles. Again a well balanced diet is needed with more high protein foods such as meat, fist, poultry and dairy products

During an infection and during hot weather, people with respiratory disease should increase their fluid intake as they often produce secretions/mucus which they need to cough-up. If a person with lung disease does not drink enough, their secretions will be thick and sticky and their chances of an infection will be increased. At least four pints of liquid should be consumed a day, preferably water. This will also help with digesting food and avoiding constipation

Facts about respiratory disease and the environment

One in five people is particularly at risk from air pollution. People who already have a lung disease, the elderly and children are likely to be especially affected by high levels of pollutants

Air pollution in the UK brings forward the deaths of between 12,000 to 24,000 people each year[i]

It is estimated that 1,600 accelerated deaths and 1,500 respiratory hospital admissions per year occur in London as a result of air pollution[ii]

In October 2001, scientists from University College London warned that air quality on the London underground was up to 73 times worse than at street level. Their research found that travelling for 20 minutes on the Northern Line had the same effect on the lungs as smoking a cigarette[iii]

Facts about outdoor air pollution

Millions of tons of harmful gases and particles are released in the air each year. Some of this pollution reaches our lungs with every breath we take

Power stations, factories, offices, traffic fumes and dust all help pollute the air we breathe and can irritate the lungs

Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution, both in towns and in the country

One of the most important factors affecting air pollution is the weather. In summer, pollution levels are higher when there is more sunlight to interact with a mixture of pollutants, especially on still days where there is insufficient wind to disperse them

[iii] British Lung Foundation (2003) Lung Report III