If you or your loved one is living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), scientists have proven that there is a link between exercise and longevity—especially for people who have IPF.
The clinical trial involved 34 patients (diagnosed with lung fibrosis) whom scientists followed for 40 months. Of those patients, approximately 11 died within the time frame of the study. These patients had not been diagnosed with additional acute chronic illnesses.
It brought to light that lung fibrosis, combined with inactivity and low oxygen saturation levels during exertion, might be an indicator of early mortality. The findings also lead researchers to believe that increased exercise and activity along with intervention programs to rehabilitate lung function, could potentially impact the progression of the lung fibrosis.
You can read more about these findings here.
What it all boils down to is this: People who have lung fibrosis, who remain inactive and have low oxygen saturation levels tend to die prematurely.
But what I’d like to know is: Does increased physical activity somehow improve lung function in people with IPF? Or is it more likely that the rest of body becomes less dependent for oxygen, relying on the lungs less?
It’s no secret that exercise improves pulmonary and cardiac function. I’d just like to know the mechanism that takes place.
Along with that, I’d like to know how someone with IPF can get over the mental as well as the physical hurdles to begin a doctor-approved exercise program? When lung function is limited, how do you mentally push through that?
