Exercise Helps COPD

DANBURY — While there’s no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sufferers can learn to breathe better and live a healthier life by managing their condition.

That was the message from a team of pulmonary experts at Danbury Hospital, speaking at a recent Medical Town Meeting, “Live & Breathe Better: Managing COPD.”

Medical Town Meetings are sponsored by Danbury Hospital and the Danbury Office of Physicians Services.

Patients can help themselves by taking medications, as well as exercising to make their lungs stronger and learning ways to breathe easier. Danbury Hospital sponsors exercise programs and support groups for patients with COPD.

COPD is any nonreversible air-flow obstruction, often caused by several factors, according to Terence Trow, MD, of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. COPD patients have an impaired ability to take in air either because of an excess of mucous in their airways, chronic bronchitis, injury or scarring, emphysema, or a combination of several problems. All these problems cause lung tissue to be destroyed.

Approximately 16 to 20 million people have COPD, and the problem is expected to grow as people age. COPD worsens with age, making it the fourth greatest cause of death in the United States.

“Most cases of COPD come from smoking,” said Dr Trow, “caused by chemical reactions created when smoke enters the lungs.”

In this chemical reaction, the body makes white cells to fight the enemy – smoke – which go to the lungs and make an enzyme that causes destruction of the lung. COPD then develops.

“Some smokers aren’t affected, but about 20 percent of smokers get COPD. These people will lose lung function more quickly than others.”

The first line of defense in COPD is to quit smoking. If damage is already done, several good medications exist to help COPD sufferers breathe better. Research also holds hope for even better medications, according to Dr. Trow, especially for a drug that may regenerate lung tissue.

Marianne Mitchell, APRN, NP, strongly urges COPD sufferers to get involved in an exercise program, especially those coordinated at Danbury Hospital. Exercise, she says, conditions the body so the lungs do not have to do as much.

She says that many times a person with shortness of breath or breathing problems may be inclined to take it easy.

“But the less you do, the more breath you’ll lose. It’s a gradual progression.” She encourages COPD patients to begin a gradual, consistent exercise program in an activity like walking. She also encouraged COPD sufferers to join the Better Breathers Support Group, sponsored by Danbury Hospital.

For more information on any of the COPD services at Danbury Hospital, call the Department of Respiratory Services at 797-7331.