$Unique_ID{BRK01304}
$Pretitle{Respiratory System}
$Title{Can Exercise Help Correct Breathlessness?}
$Subject{breathless winded exercise}
$Volume{H-5}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Can Exercise Help Correct Breathlessness?


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QUESTION:  Our apartment requires us to climb a single flight of steps.  They
are not overly steep, but as time has gone past, my husband has had more
trouble reaching the top without being a bit breathless.  His doctor has found
nothing physically wrong, and claims that it is normal with advancing age.
But some of our more athletic friends have no difficulty whatsoever.  Does
this mean that my spouse should get off his but and begin moving it a bit?
Can exercise help even at his age (he is 69)?

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ANSWER:  It may well indeed indicate that a bit of exercise can correct the
problem, at any age.  It is true that it is felt that with increasing age,
that endurance and the ability to utilize our oxygen intake may diminish, but
with ever increasing numbers of citizens making into the retirement years, new
studies have shown that a bit of regular exercise can slow down the losses
previously thought to be inevitable.  There is a bit of a mental block though
for many people who have not indulged in athletics during or through their
lifetime, a block that fails to consider that a brisk walk may be all that is
needed to get on the right "track" (I just couldn't resist the pun).  It
doesn't require participation in an athletic sport, but merely a regularly
scheduled activity that gets the hear to beating a bit more rapidly than
usual, and a duration of 30 minute or better.  You may be the key to the
solution if you are inclined to accompany your "spouse" for it is much more
rewarding and fun, when done with some else along.  Start a diary, and keep
track of the time spent each week in your exercise walk.  You can plan walks
into new areas, making it a bit of an adventure, or include it as part of
other routine activities, such as food shopping.  Besides the benefit to heart
and lungs, these extra activities can burn extra calorie, and either help shed
unneeded extra weight, or keep off unwanted pounds.  You see it isn't
"exercise" that seems to be the needed solution here, but a bit of extra
physical "activity".  Once you embrace that philosophy, you will many ways of
adding a little extra healthful occupations that help get the "wind" back into
older lungs.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
