Aging and COPD: Importance of Being Active
Dear Dr. Mahler,
I am 71 years old and understand that my COPD of four years may or may not progress based on one of your previous posts. I don’t smoke anymore, try to stay active, and am using Trelegy inhaler. This was prescribed when I was discharged from the hospital after a flare-up two years ago.
However, as I get older, I recognize both physical and mental changes that are occurring that do not appear to have anything related to my COPD. My question relates to aging with COPD - is there any information to guide or reassure me about this process. What can I expect?
Thanks,
Tomoko from Osaka, Japan
Dear Tomoko,
You ask an interesting question that affects all of us as we age. Certainly, we do not all age at the same rate. Being old (defined as over 65 years of age) is a unique and very personal experience. Some of us may be lucky while others are not. Remember that “Old age is not a disease.” Our thoughts, behaviour, genetics, culture, social identities, and class are major denterminants of our health and the aging process.
In the United States, older age is divided into three life stages: Young-old (65-74 years); Middle-old (75-84 years); and old-old (over age 85 years). Have you heard of super agers? These are men and women over the age of 80 years with the mental abilities of people decades younger. Super agers are estimated to be fewer than 10% of the population.
Group doing a brisk walk
Comorbities with COPD
Comorbidities may affect how you feel and your health. A comorbidity is the presence of two or more medical conditions or diseases in an individual. For example, someone can develop coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries in the heart) along with COPD due to the same risk factor - cigarrete smoking. The following list of comorbidities are commonly in those with COPD.
Coronary artery disease (heart disease)
Lung cancer
Diabetes
Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
Anxiety and depression
Sleep disorders
Muscle weakness
Obesity
Tomoko - if you have any of the above conditions along with your COPD, make sure to discuss appropriate evaluation/monitoring along with treatment with you health care professional.
The Aging Process
If we pay attention, most of use are aware of what happens as we get older - we slow down, our muscles tighten, our range of movement deceases, we get tired more easily, while strength and stamina diminish. In daily life, we tend to remain within a familiar but limited comfort zone by avoiding both physical and mental edges - things that make us “stretch” out of what is comfortable. This if fine except that as aging occurs these limits close in considerably. Simple tasks that used to be easy are now harder and more challenging.
In general, the media portrays two ways to get old. In one scenario, you become frail, lonely, have memeory problems, be invisible, possibly be depressed, gain weight, avoid technology, and tend to wear loose baggy clothes. In the other possibility, you keep physically and mentally active, eat healthy foods, keep working (if you enjoy it and are able to), plan trips and travel, do activities with family and friends, and interact with grandhcildren as much as possible.
In addition, the physical changes that occur in your lungs with aging can make it harder to breathe. And as you become less active (to avoid unplesant shortness of breath), it is common to become de-conditioned (“out of shape”) especially during an illness or the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tomoko – Regular physical activity in one of the most important things that you can do for your health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following for adults aged 65 and older:
At least 150 minutes a week (for example, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) of moderate intensity activity such as walking
At least 2 days a week of activities that strengthen muscles (light weights or stretch bands)
Activities that improve balance such as standing on one foot
One super-ager in Japan advised, “Eat less, move more, and sit up straight!”
Please note, the advice provided is not a substitute for asking your health care professional about your specific situation.
Sincerely,
Donald A. Mahler, M.D.