Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the demographic characteristics, exercise habits and healthy lifestyle behaviors of patients applied to hospital for respiratory distress. METHODS: The demographic and clinical data of 26 patients applied  to Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Chest Diseases and Yalova State Hospital with respiratory distress were recorded. Physical activities of the subjects were evaluated with “International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and healthy lifestyle behaviors with“ Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale II (HLBS-II). RESULTS: Four women (%15.4) and 22 men (%84.6) with a mean age of 65.85±9.72 years were included in the study. Average body mass index was 26.85 ± 4.06 kg/m2. Cigarette use rates; %19.2(5) were smokers, and %73.1(19) had stopped smoking. The mean cigarette use was 36.15±20.47 pack years. Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale values ​​of the subjects varied; 0(n = 1), 1(n = 14), 2(n = 4), 3(n = 6), 4(n = 1). In the last year, the number of attacks with respiratory problems was 1.04±1.68, the number of unplanned admissions to hospital was 3.77±7.01, and the number of hospitalizations was 0.46±1:10. FEV1/FVC ratio was %.76.15±8.48 The rate of regular exercise was %15.4(4), IPAQ average total score was 1597.42±1893.56 and HLBS-II average score was 130.58±21.37. DISCUSSION: %92.3 of the patients with respiratory distress had a history of smoking, exercise habits were very low, physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviors were moderate. We think that giving education about smoking cessation and exercise to individuals, will improve their physical activity levels and healthy lifestyle behaviors and reduce the respiratory problems they will encounter. 

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