96-06-05 Lung Disease Patients Needed for Study

MEN AND WOMEN WITH LUNG DISEASE NEEDED FOR STUDY ON EXERCISE

     COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University researchers are studying 
the impact of exercise on people with chronic lung disease.  
Volunteers are needed to participate in a study of how short 
bouts of exercise affect lung patients in the short-term -- 
physically, psychologically and cognitively.

     "We've looked at the effects of a 10-week exercise 
intervention on older adults with chronic bronchitis and 
emphysema -- also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
(COPD)," said Charles F. Emery, associate professor of 
psychology at Ohio State and principal investigator on the study.  
"Our data from this 10-week intervention indicate that there are 
benefits for these patients -- physically, psychologically and 
cognitively.  We're very excited about that."

     "In the meantime, however, we want to look at what effect 
exercising for just 20 minutes has on people with lung disease.  
If there are short-term changes, we want to document these 
changes in the COPD population.  Nobody's done that before."

     Ultimately, Emery said, this study could have implications 
for future therapies for COPD patients.  COPD, the fifth-leading 
cause of death in the United States, is a particularly 
intractable disease, he said.

     "There's nothing dramatic about it -- it's a gradual, 
progressive decrease in lung functioning," Emery said.  
"Physicians can't cure it, so patients often get pushed aside."

     The researchers are looking for men and women over age 55 
who've been diagnosed with COPD (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) 
for at least six months.  Participants in the study will take 
part in two three-hour sessions.  During one session, the 
participants will ride a stationary bicycle for 20 minutes and 
take tests of mood, memory, motor speed and attention before and 
after exercising.  During the other session, the participants 
will watch an exercise video for 20 minutes and take tests of 
mood, memory, motor speed and attention before and after the 
video viewing.

     Participants in the study will be given their EKG and oxygen 
consumption data -- measures of cardiac and pulmonary fitness.  
In addition, at the completion of the study, participants will 
each be paid $100.

     Anyone interested in participating in Emery's study should 
contact Vanessa Honn at (614) 292-6527.

     The study is being funded by the National Heart, Lung and 
Blood Institute.
                             #
Contact:  Charles F. Emery, (614) 688-3061 or Vanessa Honn,
(614) 292-6527
Written by Kelly McConaghy Kershner, (614) 292-8308


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Thu, 6 Jun 1996 08:06:14 -0400]
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