Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic and progressive disease that affects breathing in patients with serious consequences on their daily lives.
As explained by professor Giorgio Walter Canonica, Supervisor of the Center for Custom Medicine: Asthma and Allergology at Humanitas: “COPD seriously hinders the daily lives of patients early in the morning, during the day and in the night too: 57% of the patients have respiratory symptoms constantly during the day, while 90% of them experiences these symptoms at least in some situations. In the morning they have difficulties when taking a shower, drying off, getting dressed, wearing socks and shoes, making the bed, and going up or down the stairs. These common actions become difficult, opening the way for a sedentary lifestyle that alarms also those who care for the patient”.
The risk of a sedentary lifestyle is really high in patients who suffer from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, due both to the actual problems in breathing, and in the tendency to move less fearing a worsening of the respiratory failure.
A Campaign to Encourage Movement
However, movement is important, and patients are reminded by “GET Moving COPD – More steps, more breath”, a campaign devised by the Italian Society for Pneumology, in collaboration with the Italian Association of Hospital Pneumologists.
This campaign highlights that only 600 steps a day suffice to make breathing and lifestyle better in COPD patients.
Starting on April 26, 132 Specialist COPD Centers will provide patients with GET MOVING KITs, that contain a pedometer bracelet and a dedicated app.
