Respiratory symptoms

Breathing problems can make it more difficult to eat. You may not be able to eat enough food or limit the types of food you eat because of breathlessness. This can cause nutritional problems.
Some types of food or drink may make respiratory symptoms worse. For example, spicy foods, the texture of food or the amount eaten. Foods which are dry, crumbly, hard, stringy (e.g. melted cheese, stringy vegetables like celery) or sticky (e.g. mashed potato, fresh white bread, peanut butter) can sometimes be more difficult to eat.
Gulping air can happen while eating. This can make you feel full more quickly and so eat less food.
Respiratory symptoms, such as breathing through the mouth, can cause a dry mouth. This can make it harder to eat, with some textures, such as dry or crumbly food, more difficult to manage.

The NHS Inform website has information on Long Covid and breathlessness
NHS Scotland has a long Covid workbook to support symptoms and management. This has information on breathing difficulties (page 27)
The British Heart Foundation has information on coping with breathlessness
The Swansea Bay University Health Board has a Covid and Long Covid recovery – therapy information pack with advice on managing symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Leaflets for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cough
- Dry or sore mouth
- Moving and exercise

If you use inhalers or oxygen therapy speak to your health professional about feeling breathless.

For more information, please see our page on how COVID-19 can affect eating and nutrition, along with simple tips to help you manage these changes during recovery.