Being fit may slow lung function decline as we age

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-05/ats-bfm050916.php

Public Release: 16-May-2016
Being fit may slow lung function decline as we age
American Thoracic Society

Being fit may reduce the decline in lung function that occurs as we grow older, according to research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

"While everyone's lung function declines with age, the actual trajectory of this decline varies among individuals, " said Lillian Benck, MD, a medical resident at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, and study lead investigator. "What is less known is, beyond smoking, what factors affect this rate of decline."

Dr. Benck added that even though the majority of people will not develop lung disease in their lifetime, "declining lung function is known to increase overall morbidity and mortality even in the absence of overt pulmonary disease."

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