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Home News Pulmonary Disease Sufferers Benefit from Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Disease Sufferers Benefit from Rehabilitation

Published: Monday, March 5, 2007

By Wendi Hope Bishop, Editor

 

Pulmonary disease affects more than 35 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in Tennessee. Pulmonary diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary disease can be debilitating and severely reduces quality of life. With treatment, patients can feel better, become stronger, reduce stress and improve the overall quality of life.

Pulmonary disease can disrupt routine daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, showering or making the bed. Any of these activities may cause shortness of breath (SOB). For many people, SOB affects every aspect of daily living. As a result, some people that are affected by it may become fearful of physical activity and become less active with an increase in SOB.

There is treatment though. Almost anyone with lung problems can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation, which is a program of exercise and educational classes that teach the patient about their lungs, how to exercise and performing daily activities with less shortness of breath. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a safe and effective way to help the participant can improve quality of life, increase exercise tolerance and performance, increase independence in daily activities, increase knowledge of specific disease, better manage illness, reduce respiratory symptoms and decrease the need for hospitalization.

How Does Pulmonary Rehabilitation Work?

Pulmonary rehabilitation has two major components: exercise training and education/counseling. Exercise training strengthens muscles, improves stamina and teaches the participant how to exercise safely with less breathing effort. Education/counseling provides information about lung conditions and ways to reduce the risk of future lung problems.

The rehabilitation team—which can be made up of the participant, the family, physician, nurse, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, dietitian, respiratory therapist, psychologist, occupational therapist, pharmacist and chaplain—teaches the participant how to cope with lung problems and how to deal with fears about the future. Pulmonary rehabilitation usually occurs in small groups, but each participant’s plan is based on the individual’s specific needs.

There are many benefits to pulmonary rehabilitation, including the following.

• Improve your breathing
• Increase your endurance and strength
• Control your symptoms
• Manage your medication and /or oxygen
• Stay out of the hospital
• Manage stress, anxiety and/or depression
• Improve your energy
• Maintain a positive outlook

 

For more information on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, call 865.544.6920.

Your doctor must order pulmonary rehabilitation, so to schedule a doctor appointment, call toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737) and request a doctor appointment today.

Click here for more information about the Heart Lung Vascular Institute.

 

References
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. “Pulmonary Rehabilitation,” 2006.