Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss
In the early stage of COPD, patients are more likely to gain weight since they are less active. However, in advance stages, the patient may lose appetite, and, as such, struggle with weight loss.
If this symptom is not managed correctly, it results in malnutrition, which can be a severe condition posing a threat to life. Both weight loss and loss of appetite are symptoms that demand further evaluation, as they may point out other present diseases such as pulmonary tuberculosis, or lung cancer.
Proper nutrition is imperative if one must lead a healthy life, but of utmost importance to people dealing with COPD. Today, most pulmonologists now put their patients diagnosed with COPD under nutritional counseling. [6]
