Keeping COPD patients active may come down to small things — like walking a dog or taking care of a grandchild, reports Reuters. 

Participants who walked their dogs were active about 18 minutes more each day than those who didn’t walk a dog. And people who took care of their grandkids were active an average of 9 minutes more each day than those who didn’t.

Nearness to green or blue space did not seem to influence activity levels.

“Walking the dog and playing with grandchildren relates to better health, specifically higher levels of physical activity, even in subjects with moderate-severe respiratory disease,” Garcia-Aymerich said.

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