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Research suggests regular walking is good for people with COPD, even in areas with higher air pollution

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Research suggests regular walking is good for people with COPD, even in areas with higher air pollution

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Regular walking reduces symptom flare-ups for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even if they live in an area with poor air quality, according to a study published in ERJ Open Research.

COPD is a common, long-term lung condition. It cannot be cured; however, plenty of research shows that regular physical activity, such as walking, can help manage symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and feeling short of breath.

Until now, doctors have been concerned about recommending walking if they know their patients live in areas with high levels of air pollution. The new research suggests walking is beneficial, regardless of air quality.

The research was led by Dr. Alícia Josa-Culleré and professor Judith Garcia-Aymerich from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) in Spain. Garcia-Aymerich said, "In people who already have COPD, walking in a traffic-polluted area may increase their daily respiratory symptoms. But, until now, there has been no research on whether physical activity practiced in air-polluted settings could have any harmful effects over the longer term.

"The purpose of this research was to find an answer to a very simple question that health professionals face every day: Can we recommend physical activity for people with COPD living in polluted environments?"

To answer this question, the researchers carried out a study with 262 COPD patients from five European countries: the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Greece.


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