Exercise and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Approximately 17 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the third leading cause of death in America with more females dying from COPD than males. Yet, despite the death rate due to COPD and the awareness of smoking as the primary risk factor, 80 to 90% of the patients with COPD smoked cigarettes. Because the shortness of breath increases the likelihood of a sedentary lifestyle with decreases in functional capacity, skeletal muscle mass, and quality of life, COPD patients should be encouraged to participate in an exercise medicine program that is safe and effective.