Is exercise really good for COPD?

Chest and lungs
1

We are frequently told that for people with COPD exercise is important - it is supposed to strengthen the existing lung tissue - but I wonder, can it do more harm than good?

Damaged lungs, whatever the cause, do not repair themselves but why does COPD become worse?   No one seems to have the answer.

I was an asthmatic child and after smoking ten cigarettes a day in my twenties, was diagnosed with COPD.   I haven't touched a cigarette for over 40 years.   I am now in my late seventies.

Always active, I used to go ballroom dancing three or four nights a week; have always loved gardening and long walks.   I have also practised GENTLE yoga exercises and deep breathing.     Fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and wholewheat bread with some red meat  have been the basis of my diet.   

Now in my retirement years, living by the sea (pure air), I have walked along the beach every day, while trying to keep up the gardening etc.  This has all become more and more difficult and over the years, my lungs have become steadily worse, in spite of my efforts to do the right things.    

So have the experts got it wrong?    In the early stages of COPD, should we be resting more and cutting down the exercise, giving the lungs a chance to heal?        

 

2

I think you would be in a worse state of health if you had not exercised. Well done for doing so well

3

Hi Grete.  The principle behind exercise is the fitter we are the less oxygen our organs will need so there is more for breathing.  

The reasons for getting worse is with damaged lungs any exacerbation or lung related illness can leave scarring and accelerates the damage whereas it doesn't with 'normal' people.

Also apparently we lose around 0.2 lung capacity simply due to the aging process alone.  

I understand that you are having more problems with your breathing but I think you would be a whole lot worse if you didn't do all that you doing now.  So keep up the good work.  

Have you been back to your doctors coz maybe you have an undiagnosed infection which is making you worse at the moment?  x

4

The conventional wisdom is that exercise increases your exercise tolerance and at the same time enables your muscles to use oxygen more efficiently. Certainly exercise isn't easy but that old adage remains to "Use it or lose it". Without exercise muscles atrophy and without a "regular outing" it becomes harder and harder (well more hard, if you understand me). In any event we all lose a percentage of lung efficiency as we age - unfortunately us COPDers are starting with little lung efficiently in the first place.

5

Thanks for your comment. Maybe you are right. It has made me feel better about myself.

6

Thank you for your post. I usually only go back to the doctor if I feel I have a definite infection. Then its the usual prednisolone and antibiotics. Other than that, they don't seem interested. Until about three months ago, I could enjoy a walk but it has become a real effort. Stopping every so often to get my breath. I think you are right. I had forgotten that old age must play a part in this. Good wishes.

7

With all due respect Grete, you are 70 years old and this is a progressive disease. Sounds like u did all you could to stay as healthy as possible but you have to realize that it is gonna catch up with you at some point in spite of all your efforts. But I am sure you have prolonged it by being so health conscious...and you can still live several years even if u are on oxygen 24/7 like I am. Stay in prayer and God bless you. 

8

Yes I know what you are saying is true. I find it hard to accept that I am old and my lungs would deteriorate anyway, even if I didn't have COPD. Whatever I have tried to do couldn't change that.

I suppose, like many others with lung disease I always hope that a miracle will happen, my lungs will heal and I can live without inhalers. Not a chance though.

You sound a very positive person in spite of being on oxygen 24/7. Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. Good wishes.

9

lungs are resilient up to a point. you are doing all the right things by exercising and being in fresh sea air. Once damaged the lungs are difficult to repair unfortunately although inflammation of the bronchus will go down after giving your smoking up.

Richard

10

Oh I am surprised at that.  I am in the UK and go to the doctors as well if I have worsening of my symptoms even without an infection.  I still think you should go back anyway coz something else might be going on,  x

11

Oh my dear Grete....please don't say "not a chance"! 

There is a 100% chance that a miracle will happen and God will heal you...you just need to pray about it and claim that He will heal you and have faith that He will. And He will! But it will be in His time...not our time. We have to remember that. I don't know where you are spiritually but I hope you know Him and do believe. We have to have hope. I'm only 54 and my grandkids are young and there is so much I haven't done in life. I have to have faith or my life will be over much too soon. I will say...since I've been on oxygen and quit smoking, so many things have improved about my skin and circulation..I had been compensating for shallow breathing for a long time and didn't realize it. And I'm finding my blood oxygen levels are maintaining themselves around 92 without the oxygen for moderate periods of time now so the medicine really helps with that too. Pray for me sister, and I will pray for you! Have faith!

12

I wish I had your faith and strong belief in God working miracles. Yes, I might pray but the result is up to Him and as you say, 'in His time' and then only if He wishes..

I am glad that you have told a little more about yourself because I had been thinking about you and your courage. It's inspiring that your blood oxygen levels are maintaining themselves for short periods. You have hope. I will be inspired by that.

Thank you.

13

Aawww...you seem very sweet Grete. Please talk to me any time. I mean that. I'm sure you could teach me a thing or 2 as well!  (Smile)

Gina

14

please go see your doctor - it does sound like an infection and can be sorted.....Pat

15

Hi Grete, Ask your doctor to refer you for pulmonary rehab and they will access you to exercises that will suit you and they also will gve you loads of advice. I've already done my pulmonary rehab and now I go to an exercise group once a week for an hour,nothing strenous but I've never felt better,my last check up showed my lung function had gone up a bit, i've not needed my ventolin in months now, You need help with what exercises you can do as maybe you are trying too hard but please don't give up as that's the worse thing you can do. Here's a video on pulmonary rehab: Keep me posted how you get on. Keep positive and take care.

http://youtu.be/4GyFnei_A24

16

Thanks for your concern and your helpful reply, also for being so kind as to add a video. I have watched this with interest. I am tempted to go back to my doctor but he (they) never seem interested and simply hand out an extra inhaler. Some years ago I asked about Pulmonary Rehabilitation and my doctor pulled a wry face and said, "You're not bad enough." He also told me that even in a healthy person, lungs begin to deteriorate after the age of thirty. (Cheerful Charly) At the moment I think I have lost confidence. I may see if I can have a word with the COPD nurse. You may be right - perhaps I have tried too hard and am disappointed with the outcome.

There is nothing so exhilarating as when one's lung function goes up. It makes you feel so positive and hopeful. Good wishes and thank you again.

17

Hi again Grete, I think that's the best thing to do is speak to your pulmonary nurse as it was mine that got me there. I'm very lucky as the doc I see knows everything about COPD and he gives you straight answers. You should change your doctor as that's a load of rubbish saying your not bad enough.I hope your nurse will listen to you.Good Luck and keep me posted on how it goes for you.

18

Hello Grete...I have spent so much time researching alternative therapies because of my own health challenges with copd.  One important thing to look for is the possibility of mold toxicity. This problem is almost never diagnosed by doctors,  but is responsible for many very serious respiratory illnesses. Mold is often hidden behind drywall(sheetrock) and since it cannot be seen, it continues to grow. It actually penetrates through drywall (sheetrock) and reacts with paint and wallpapaper paste. Mold releases a deadly aflatoxin into the air. Even though you cannot see it, it finds its way into the rooms of your home or office. You can obtain mold test kits. Do that first.  Next, as we get older, and more sensitive, and immune systems less powerful, and our female hormones no longer helping us, we have to be more careful about what we eat. Anything that is non-organic can pose a problem, even if we think we are eating healthy foods. GMO foods have been directly linked to allergies & asthma. Wheat is sprayed with chemicals before harvest to make it dry out more quickly. We are eating those chemicals. Only eat ORGANIC, NON-GMO foods. Yes, this is a real challenge, but you can make the changes gradually.  REFINED WHITE SUGAR...another problem. I am addicted to sugar like so many others. But, it is very damaging to our bodies is too many ways to list here. Start reducing your sugar consumption a little more each day. Eat no foods containing MSG, food dyes, preservatives, or anything on the label that you don't know what it is. NEVER eat fast foods....never.   I found a brand of air purifier developed by NASA for the space stations. It is called Air Oasis. I have 2 of these units in my home to purify the air. SLEEP is important...the body needs to rest and heal itself between 10pm and 5am...so getting to bed too late, and not getting enough rest is damaging.  Food supplements: Omega 3 helps reduce inflammation, as does GLA. Beta Carotene is essential for mucosal linings in all our organs including the bronchi / lungs. The quality of supplements is EXTREMELY important. Too many brands today have been recalled because of contaminants found in the vitamin pills. Too many brands print ingredient labels which do not accurately describe what is in the pills. There is too much junk on the market. You must use the highest quality supplements with clinical research published in medical journals.

And EXERCISE...I have found from my own experience that exercise is so important for my lungs to clear out mucus. When I am more idle, more congestion accumulates in my lungs and is difficult to get out. When I exercise more, my lungs clear out much more easily. I also learned recently that as fitness increases a greater percentage of alveoli open up...this is SO CRITICAL because it is the alveoli, (which are the little sacs at the ends of the brochi branches) that are responsible for the exchange of oxygen into the bloodstream..So, clogged bronchi mean alveoli cannot do their job...resulting in fatigue, difficulty thinking, and all body functions that rely on oxygen. I was so worried that too many of my alveoli were functionless until I learned that by increasing my exercise and fitness, I can cause more alveoli to open up and increase the capacity for this essential gaseous exchange to take place. Build up gradually in your exercise program. It is so essential to good health and longevity. Try to live in an area where the air is clean. I am having to move from Louisville, KY area in the USA because it is the worst city in America for allergies, asthma, mold & pollens. Sometimes we have to make drastic changes to save our lives. But we only get one life. It's worth the effort to preserve it!

Best of health to you! Jan 

19

Hello Jan

I have just re-read your post and I agree with everything you say.  However, we do live in the 'modern' world and try as we might it is not easy to avoid chemicals in our environment.   That is, unless we are able to detach ourselves from everyday life and virtually live in a bubble.    

I discovered years ago when I was a child  that mould spores brought on asthma attacks,  especially when we used to holiday in a caravan.  The damp wood exuded the spores and I suffered really badly.  Also, there was no treatment for asthma then and no inhalers, so I simply had to gasp for breath through the attacks.  So on the theory of mould causing lung complaints, well I can certainly vouch for that.  How we avoid this now in every day life is another question.   Do we not enter certain buildings for example?   Or obsessively carry test kits around?

I have now started to buy more organic foods but here in the UK they are much more expensive than mass produced foods.  Also, I eat gluten free, so no wheat.   However, that doesn't stop me from having a chocolate biscuit if I am offered one by a friend.    With regard to your comments about supplements, I am not so sure.  We should obtain all our needs from a good, natural diet.  

I was a child during World War Two in the UK.   Dad grew all our vegetables, so no additives.   We kept chickens for fresh eggs. All food was rationed or unobtainable.   Sugar was scarce - so no sweets or chocolate.  Ready prepared meals were unknown.  There were no soft drinks or colas.   Apart from being mentally stressed, you could say we had a very healthy diet.  However, I still had asthma every summer and there was much serious illness, chest complaints included.    Antibiotics were only just being introduced so many people simply died of infections.

I also agree with you that where you live is important.   If you read my original post I live by the sea.   Traffic fumes and polluted air all contribute to having lung complaints.

With regard to exercise - from the helpful and encouraging posts I have received - the census of opinion is that exercise is good for the lungs.   (I continue my daily walks etc.)

Having said all that, I feel that while we each do what we can to help ourselves, there is a danger of becoming paranoid and anxiety taking over, which in itself can be harmful to breathing.  

Good luck with your positive and practical approach to your illness.

Grete. 

20

It is true, mirricals can happen. I mannaged to do what I was told would not be possible and have reduced my lung age from 59 to 37 and efficiancy from 76 to 93%! meaning im no longer technicaly in a COPD category although there is still some permanant dammage due to smoking.

Im 33yo so age has really been on my side. I smoked vewry heavily from age 14 until about 7 weeks ago when i turned to ecigs and not touched tobacco since.

THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE!!