Russian physician and professor of pulmonary diseases Alexander Sinopalnikov warned of a common mistake made by many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients that could worsen their condition.
In an interview with the Russian newspaper Gazeta.ru, the doctor said: "Some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease believe that reducing movement and physical activity may alleviate the severity of the disease's symptoms, but the opposite is true. The less the patient moves and is active, the more he experiences shortness of breath with the least effort he makes, and this puts him in a vicious cycle that leads to a worsening of his health condition."
The professor stressed that the way out of this "vicious cycle" lies in engaging in scientifically designed physical activity under close medical supervision, warning that a lack of movement also increases the risk of acute episodes of worsening symptoms, which are the leading cause of death among these patients.
Sinopalnikov concluded his statement by conveying an important message to patients: that if symptoms continue to worsen or acute attacks recur despite treatment, it is a clear indication that the disease is still out of control and that the treatment plan needs a thorough review by the treating physician.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that obstructs airflow and includes two main conditions: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In these cases, the patient suffers from difficulty breathing, frequent coughing with mucus secretions in the respiratory system, wheezing, chest pain, and a chronic feeling of tiredness and fatigue.
The most important causes of the disease are genetic factors, smoking, continuous exposure to polluted air, chronic respiratory infections, and some diseases such as asthma and tuberculosis.
