Jennifer Mathews: Walks like these were once hard to imagine for Pat Ternstrom. After 40 years of smoking, she has COPD, a lung disease that plaques many smokers.
Pat Ternstrom: I became pretty much like a couch potato. I would do things as long as I didn't have to walk.
Jennifer Mathews: Dr. Richard Casaburi says that's a common result for many people with the disease.
Richard Casaburi: These people will struggle to breathe. They will be unable to exercise.
Jennifer Mathews: That lack of exercise weakens muscles and leaves patients with little strength.
Richard Casaburi: We found that working on their muscles definitely benefits the patients, so that they can sort of overcome their lung limitations.
Jennifer Mathews: D.r Casaburi is helping women build muscle with weights and weekly injections of testosterone.
Richard Casaburi: Testosterone is not just a man's hormone. You can get muscle mass gains -- up to 18 pounds of muscle -- from testosterone administration for fairly high doses.
Jennifer Mathews: Even low doses could boost muscle mass in women. Along with the hormone, women lift weights three times a week for ten weeks.
Richard Casaburi: These people will recondition their muscles, and they can function an awful lot better.
Jennifer Mathews: Pat says her new strength has had a big impact.
Pat Ternstrom: I feel -- I would say a 100% better. I feel like I was almost reborn again.
Jennifer Mathews: At 77, her new muscles are keeping Pat full of energy and life. This is Jennifer Mathews reporting.
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