Unexplained weight loss
Well, I think weight loss is a good reason to celebrate for most of us, but if you didn’t do anything to achieve it, don’t celebrate “your victory,” at least not yet. Why? Because approximately a quarter of people with COPD experience unintentional weight loss.
People with COPD may also find it hard to maintain a healthy weight. Unexplained weight loss is more common in people with emphysema-type COPD. As doctors suggest, weight loss caused by COPD is a result of muscle atrophy and underlying depression, causing loss of appetite.
Increased energy expenditure associated with breathing is also a culprit. So, if you’re not on a weight loss diet, and yet you see smaller numbers on the scale, talk to your doctor ASAP.
