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Activity
May Slow Rate of Lung Function Decline
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Physical activity appears to reduce the
age-related decline in lung function and cut death rates in men, according
to a new report by Finnish and US researchers. Dr. Margit Pelkonen
of the University of Kuopio and colleagues note that although physical
activity is recognized as being important for health, little is known
about its effect on lung function. To investigate, the
researchers studied a group of men, mainly farmers, who lived in a rural
area of Finland. Physical activity levels were estimated based on daily
levels of walking, cycling and skiing. In all, 429 men were
followed for 10 years, 275 for 20 years and 186 for 25 years. In the first decade,
the annual decline in lung function, as measured by forced expiratory
volume (FEV), was 9.8 milliliters less in men with the highest level of
activity compared to men with the lowest level. After up to 25
years, men with the highest activity levels also lost significantly less
lung function than those who had less activity, the researchers in report
in of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. In
addition, men with high levels of physical activity also had lower death
rates. Thus, Pelkonen told
Reuters Health, "People should be more encouraged to enjoy physical
exercise." Furthermore,
although the investigators point out that stopping smoking is an important
way of reducing the decline of lung function, "physical activity
appears to be beneficial in smokers and nonsmokers." For example, in
patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Pelkonen
added, "exercise training could be used to delay further
deterioration in (lung) function." Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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