In researching articles for our current e-letter editions, we ran across an interesting snippet in Respiratory Report (an e-letter targeted at pulmonology professionals) regarding a new study that shows that maintaining an ongoing regular exercise program late into life provides significant conditioning benefits.
Quoting the Respiratory Report article, “In looking at seniors who ski well into the so-called "golden years," investigators discovered they have twice the oxygen-uptake capacity of same-aged adults who do not exercise.
The research, conducted at Mid Sweden University, was presented at last week's American College of Sports Medicine: Integrative Physiology of Exercise conference.
The results for the active seniors are comparable to values for men who are 40 to 50 years younger but do not exercise to improve their stamina. Analyses of muscle samples at the molecular and cell level reveal a profile similar to what is found in younger men.”
Pretty amazing to discover that in your 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, you can exhibit stamina and strength of non-exercising adults who are 40 and 50 years younger so long as you keep physically active! Not only that, as we previously reported, other studies have shown that starting and maintaining an active exercise program in your 50’s and 60’s, doubles the odds of you reaching age 85! Click here to read the article.
While the study referenced in the Respiratory Report is not specifically related to COPD patients, we thought it worth sharing because we often run into reports of COPD patients and smokers feeling like, “why start an exercise program now. It’s too late.”
Au contraire mon amis! (sorry if that’s improper French diction for…on the contrary my friends). Beginning and maintaining an exercise program for smokers and COPD patients at any age and at any stage of disease is HIGHLY beneficial. Many COPD and smoker research studies prove it. Not only does it improve physical & cardiovascular conditioning, it strengthens muscles, improves balance/coordination, reduces shortness of breath, reduces hospitalizations related to COPD exacerbations, and improves sense of well being/quality of life.
True, exercise will NOT reverse the damage done to your lungs from prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke (nothing can unfortunately) but it can make you feel significantly better nonetheless and help you become more mobile and active and thereby enjoy a more fulfilling life.
To get started, for COPD patients who have been diagnosed with Stage II or Stage III COPD, ask your doctor for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation program in your area. The cornerstone element of these programs is guided/observed exercise in which therapists adjust your starting point based on their assessment of your physical condition at admission, and then increase the duration/intensity of your exercise program based on your progress on specific diagnostic measures.
Unfortunately, for Stage I and Stage IV COPD patients, and others concerned with persistent shortness of breath who have not been diagnosed with COPD (such as current/former smokers), entry into an outpatient pulmonary rehab program is next to impossible.
If you fall into this latter category (or if you are Stage II or Stage III and can’t/won’t go to a pulmonary rehab program), we recommend you consider purchasing our Breathe Better for Life guide/CD, www.breathebetterforlife.com. We’ve created a home-based or fitness-center based exercise program based on the same principles and practices that respiratory care professionals use in pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Of course, if you do decide to purchase and follow our exercise program, we recommend you first discuss your exercise plan with your physician to ensure the program is appropriate for your particular circumstance.
The point is – whatever exercise program you follow – start one and keep it going. Next to smoking cessation, it’s the very best thing you can do on your own to improve how you feel and breathe no matter what age you are!
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