Walking can help improve the quality of life and control asthma in patients suffering from this disease. Researchers, by examining 52 patients with uncontrolled asthma, found that this simple activity can also lead to a reduction in depression and anxiety.
Benefits of Walking for Asthmatic Patients
“David Halen Araujo Pinheiro,” a senior researcher and physiotherapist at the University of São Paulo in Brazil, stated that by increasing the number of daily steps, patients gain better ability to manage their condition. He added that simple walking allows patients to benefit from other advantages such as improved quality of life and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.
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Previous studies show that asthma patients who walk 7,500 steps daily have better control over their asthma. For this study, researchers formed two groups of patients; half engaged in supervised aerobic exercises on a treadmill, while the other half attended educational and counseling sessions to encourage weekly walking.
Study Results and Patient Monitoring
Both groups participated in their sessions for eight weeks and were then evaluated for asthma and quality of life. Additionally, four months after the sessions ended, they were re-evaluated. The results showed that many patients in the aerobic exercise group expressed a desire to join clubs, while patients in the behavioral intervention group continued walking as part of their daily routine.
Researchers concluded that both groups experienced similar benefits in asthma control and quality of life improvement. However, Pinheiro warned that exercise should not be considered a substitute for asthma medications and emphasized that aerobic exercises and behavioral interventions should complement medical treatments.
He said: “We should never stop the treatment prescribed by a doctor. Exercise can be an effective tool alongside medications, but it is not sufficient on its own.”
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