Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that reduces lung ventilation function. Due to constricted airways, patients often experience shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, leading many to limit exercise.

However, maintaining appropriate physical activity can alleviate COPD symptoms, enhance energy levels, boost endurance, and improve overall health. Both the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society highlight that physical activity can significantly improve the health of individuals with COPD.

With regular exercise, muscles become more efficient, requiring less oxygen and producing less carbon dioxide. This reduces the need for ventilation, allowing patients to breathe with less effort. Conversely, muscles weakened by inactivity demand more oxygen and blood flow, forcing the heart and lungs to work harder.

Exercise also strengthens respiratory muscles, including the diaphragm, chest muscles, and accessory breathing muscles, leading to more efficient respiration. Individuals with COPD experience less shortness of breath in daily activities and a reduced risk of acute exacerbations linked to prolonged physical decline.

These physiological adaptations contribute to improved lung capacity and respiratory function. Impaired lung capacity typically leads to breathlessness during exertion, fatigue, reduced endurance, and oxygen deficiency. With better lung capacity, the body uses oxygen more efficiently, enabling patients to breathe more easily during daily activities such as walking or climbing stairs.

Regular exercise further improves blood circulation, boosts cardiovascular health, enhances sleep quality, and aids weight management, thereby easing the burden on the respiratory system. Physical activity also stimulates the brain to release neurotransmitters like endorphins and serotonin, which elevate mood and reduce stress and anxiety. This helps individuals with COPD maintain a positive outlook and greater perseverance in managing their condition long-term.

Cycling is a beneficial exercise for individuals with COPD. Illustration. *Linh Nguyen*

The American Lung Association recommends that individuals with COPD engage in moderate exercise for approximately 20-30 minutes per session, 3-4 days per week.

Individuals with COPD can choose from various forms of exercise, including: walking, cycling, swimming, slow jogging, low-intensity aerobics, or strength training with dumbbells and resistance bands. Walking, cycling, and swimming are particularly encouraged due to their ease of execution and minimal strain on the respiratory system. Aerobic exercises enhance cardiorespiratory function, while strength training helps maintain muscle mass and strength, which often decline in people with COPD.

In addition to endurance and strength training, patients should perform daily stretching to improve flexibility, enhance chest expansion, and reduce the risk of injury.

Yoga and tai chi are also suitable for individuals with COPD, as they combine gentle movements with breath control, strengthen the diaphragm, and improve flexibility, balance, and muscle relaxation.

Before starting any new exercise regimen, individuals with COPD should consult a doctor. During physical activity, patients must warm up thoroughly, begin at a low intensity, gradually increase it as tolerated, and monitor their body for signs that indicate a need for rest.

Master, Doctor Dang Thanh Do

Department of Respiratory

Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi