The first thing that crossed my mind when I read about this today was: OMG, I am going to die! Why? As a clinical supervisor for a busy home health agency, I spend most of my day sitting -- in fact, probably more than 8 hours a day. Why does this matter?
Results from a 14-year study conducted by the American Cancer Society conclude that people who spend 6 hours or more per day sitting die faster than those who sit for less than 3 hours per day. What's even worse -- those who sit too long and exercise too little are at even greater risk of premature death. While the effects are more apparent in women than in men, both sexes are at significant risk.
What does this mean for COPD patients? Study results conclude that it is beneficial for sedentary individuals to get up off the couch or chair and walk around throughout the day, as well as participate in some type of exercise program. Walking -- swimming -- chair exercises -- yoga -- dancing -- whatever it is that makes you want to get up and move is going to increase your lifespan and make you feel better.
Here are some exercise tips to get you started:
Exercise Basics for COPD Patients
