In 2007 Judith Garcia-Aymerich and coworkers (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 175:458-463) shared their results from a population-based study to estimate the longitudinal correlation between activity and lung function decline as well as COPD risk in more than 6000 patients.
Studying smokers and their activity level
After assessing the population in terms of physical activity, smoking behavior, lung function, etc, they looked for the association between physical activity (classified as low, moderate, and high) and FEV1 and FVC decline as well as COPD occurrence in the sample of active smokers.
For many years, researchers have been trying to find out any other element that, being modified, could stop the accelerated rate of FEV1 decline. Of course, the smoking behavior has been the best informed: the most effective way to decrease the rate of decline of lung function in susceptible smokers is quitting smoking. However, investigators have been trying to find out any other measure that might help.
Smoking and physical attitude
It has been said previously here, that smoking is more than a habit or a simple behavior. It’s more complicated and perhaps based on individual reasons (an addiction?, a perversion?, a compulsion?) that Psychiatrists help to treat.
Smokers may be always looking for breaks, for a dining table, for a bench, or a corner to quit activity. Then the spiral starts with the deconditioning and eventual disability described by Cooper et al., Decramer et al, and Reardon et al.
Now, Garcia-Aymerich et al. seems to be finding out one of the lost links between the accelerated lung function and smoking (in susceptible subjects): reduced physical activity.
Active smokers with moderate and high levels of physical activity show slower lung function decline compared with those less physical activity.
What to do?
The issue now could be if recommending smokers to do more physical work or use their smoking time in physical activity. A new subject for consideration with patients in the intent to protect their lung health.
According to Garcia Aymerich: “It is plausible that regular physical activity counteract the smoking effects through an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant mechanism” because it has been shown that regular physical activity inhibits the production of inflammatory markers, potentiate the effects of anti-inflammatory markers as well as other protective mechanisms of the body (Athletes look younger and healthier).
Of course quitting smoking is the path and regular exercise should be added to the therapy of most smokers in way to become healthier human beings. Smokers: start moving and stop smoking.
In 2007 Judith Garcia-Aymerich and coworkers (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 175:458-463) shared their results from a population-based study to estimate the longitudinal correlation between activity and lung function decline as well as COPD risk in more than 6000 patients.
Studying smokers and their activity level
After assessing the population in terms of physical activity, smoking behavior, lung function, etc, they looked for the association between physical activity (classified as low, moderate, and high) and FEV1 and FVC decline as well as COPD occurrence in the sample of active smokers.
For many years, researchers have been trying to find out any other element that, being modified, could stop the accelerated rate of FEV1 decline. Of course, the smoking behavior has been the best informed: the most effective way to decrease the rate of decline of lung function in susceptible smokers is quitting smoking. However, investigators have been trying to find out any other measure that might help.
Smoking and physical attitude
It has been said previously here, that smoking is more than a habit or a simple behavior. It’s more complicated and perhaps based on individual reasons (an addiction?, a perversion?, a compulsion?) that Psychiatrists help to treat.
Smokers may be always looking for breaks, for a dining table, for a bench, or a corner to quit activity. Then the spiral starts with the deconditioning and eventual disability described by Cooper et al., Decramer et al, and Reardon et al.
Now, Garcia-Aymerich et al. seems to be finding out one of the lost links between the accelerated lung function and smoking (in susceptible subjects): reduced physical activity.
Active smokers with moderate and high levels of physical activity show slower lung function decline compared with those less physical activity.
What to do?
The issue now could be if recommending smokers to do more physical work or use their smoking time in physical activity. A new subject for consideration with patients in the intent to protect their lung health.
According to Garcia Aymerich: “It is plausible that regular physical activity counteract the smoking effects through an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant mechanism” because it has been shown that regular physical activity inhibits the production of inflammatory markers, potentiate the effects of anti-inflammatory markers as well as other protective mechanisms of the body (Athletes look younger and healthier).
Of course quitting smoking is the path and regular exercise should be added to the therapy of most smokers in way to become healthier human beings. Smokers: start moving and stop smoking.