Exercise can benefit lung function among smokers

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Smokers who exercise have a slower decline in lung function and are less likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Smoking carries a high risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is marked by progressive destruction of lung tissue. In a new study, researchers in Barcelona show that smokers who exercise have a slower decline in lung function, which would make them less likely to develop COPD.

In the study, 928 participants developed COPD during 11 years of follow up. Those who reported moderate to high levels of physical activity had a 21 per cent reduced risk of getting COPD. The researchers point out that exercise reduces the production of inflammatory markers in the lung which, in turn, would reduce the development of COPD. Of course, giving up smoking would be a better way of avoiding COPD. But these new findings show that physical activity also has an important role to play.

Source
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine March 2007

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