On Wednesday, November 15, doctors, employees and patients of AZ Sint-Maarten cycled more than 200 kilometers together in the central entrance hall of the hospital in Mechelen. While cycling, they drew attention to the lung disease COPD for the second year in a row. Actor and Malinois Tijmen Govaerts took care of the first kilometers. A total of 32 enthusiastic cyclists took part.
To make the lung disease COPD and the usefulness of pulmonary rehabilitation better known to general practitioners, patients and the general public, AZ Sint-Maarten took part in the COPD Bike Challenge on Wednesday, November 15, World COPD Day.
No fewer than 32 doctors, employees and patients gave the best of themselves and cycled more than 200 kilometers together on two ergometric bicycles that were set up in the central hall of the hospital. For four hours, the cyclists were relieved every fifteen minutes by the next participant.
“Everyone cycled at their own pace. This went a bit more smoothly for the experienced cyclists, of course, but participation was the most important thing. For the safety of the patients, there was of course oxygen, saturation measurement and sufficient medical support. It was fantastic: every participant shone with motivation. Let this be a encouragement to all lung patients who have difficulty maintaining their exercise capacity on a daily basis,” says Dr. Jouke De Regt, pneumologist at AZ Sint-Maarten and organizer of the event.
Tijmen Govaerts (29) cycled the first kilometers together with Dr. Christophe Libeer, head of pneumology. “I have been a lung patient myself for as long as I can remember. The doctors here have always helped me very well, and this was my chance to give something back,” says the Mechelen actor. Was he afraid of the effort? “No, exercise is not an obstacle for me as a lung patient, as long as I do it at my own pace. In fact, the more I exercise, the better I feel.”
400 million patients
COPD is the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that affects the airways and alveoli. Nearly 400 million people worldwide suffer from the disease. Patients suffer from cough, shortness of breath and are less able to exercise. The most common cause is smoking, but air pollution or hereditary burden can also contribute to this. In addition to smoking cessation and inhalation medication, maintaining good physical condition is one of the most important treatments. For the latter, patients can also start pulmonary rehabilitation.
The campaign, an initiative of pharmaceutical company Chiesi, raised a nice sum of sponsorship money, which will be spent, among other things, on the Stand Up to Cancer campaign.
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2023-11-15 16:01:34
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