The health benefits of exercise are indisputable. Regular exercise will help your body's cardiorespiratory system to function at a more efficient level, causing oxygen to be transported through the bloodstream to the muscles more effectively. It's a logical assumption that exercise would also assist lung function, although the way this occurs varies depending on the circumstances.
Exercise and Lung Function
Writing for "Scientific American" in 2005, Dr. Jeremy Barnes explained that the improved cardiorespiratory function we experience from regular exercise comes from the body's heightened proficiency at transporting oxygen, not from improved lung function. In fact, Barnes points to a study that compared the total lung capacity and forced vital capacity — the volume of air blown out after drawing in the largest possible breath — in those who exercised and those who didn't. The results demonstrated little difference between regular exercisers and non-exercisers.
COPD
Exercise can be beneficial for those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, a chronic lung disease caused by smoking. According to the Canadian Lung Association, exercise is particularly important to people suffering from COPD. Although exercise won't reverse lung disease or improve lung capacity in those with COPD, it can be effective in strengthening the muscles involved in breathing. In addition, exercise can help those with COPD to have a better quality of life.
Exercise-Induced Asthma
The KidsHealth website notes that 80 percent of children with asthma can suffer asthmatic effects caused by exercise, a condition known as exercise-induced asthma. If this is a problem with your child, most doctors recommend that the child take asthma medication prior to exercising, which will prevent the airway from narrowing during exercise. Exercise is actually beneficial to children with asthma, as it can improve lung function by strengthening the chest muscles used in breathing.
Cystic Fibrosis
A study undertaken at Johns Hopkins Children's Center demonstrated the effectiveness of exercise in improving the lung function of children with cystic fibrosis. Decreased lung function and chronic lung problems are typical in those suffering from cystic fibrosis, but even small amounts of exercise brought about noticeable improvements in the lung function of children with this genetic disorder. "Exercise, even when informal and unstructured, not only appears to improve lung status in children with CF, but goes a long way toward benefiting their overall health, self-perception and emotional well-being," Dr. Shruti Paranjape, the Johns Hopkins physician who led the study, told the ScienceDaily website in 2011.
References
- ScienceDaily; Simple Exercise Improves Lung Function in Children With Cystic Fibrosis; May 9, 2011
- "Scientific American" magazine; If a Person's Lung Size Cannot Increase, How Does Exercise Serve to Improve Lung Function?; Jeremy Barnes, Ph.D.; May 16, 2005
- KidsHealth: Exercise-Induced Asthma
- Canadian Lung Association: Living With COPD
