Pulmonary rehab can help you function at your best and feel stronger with COPD. Heres what you need to know before signing up. By Vanessa Caceres When it comes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the best ways to improve lung health is to participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Pulmonary rehab is a personalized approach to exercise and COPD management. “For a disorder that’s chronic, disabling, and associated with multiple negative consequences, pulmonary rehab offers many benefits,” says Chris Garvey, FNP, MSN, a nurse practitioner and manager of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation at Seton Medical Center in Daly City, Calif. Think of it as higher education classes for living with COPD. Research shows that a pulmonary rehab program can help you feel better and go longer without flares. In a study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in 2011, people with severe COPD who completed 12 weeks of pulmonary rehab were better able to exercise and showed increased quality of life. COPD Pulmonary Rehabilitation: What to Expect A big advantage of pulmonary rehab is that youll work with a team of professionals who will design a program tailored just for your COPD symptoms, Garvey says. This team may include your regular physician, nurses, respiratory care practitioners, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, and other experts with extensive experience in improving respiratory symptoms and muscle function for people with COPD. The participant is involved with every step of the pulmonary rehab program, Garvey adds. Pulmonary rehab sessions often take place in a hospital or other medical center. To start, after understanding your medical history, rehabilitation clinicians will recommend a modest to moderate amount of exercise, based on what you’re currently able to do. The pulmonary rehab area of a medical center has exercise equipment ready to use and may even look like a gym, Garvey says. There might also be group classes, enabling you to interact with others who have COPD. “It’s important to continue exercising during your pulmonary rehab experience and afterward, and rehab professionals will guide you on the best exercise plan to do on your own,” says Norman H. Edelman, MD, senior medical adviser with the American Lung Association. “Keeping those muscles conditioned is essential for moderate or severe COPD,” he adds. Addressing COPD Symptoms in Pulmonary Rehab Rehab professionals will also help you learn to manage COPD symptoms so you can better undertake your daily routine, Dr. Edelman says. Depending on your needs, this may include the following topics: •Properly taking medication •Getting through flares •Traveling safely with COPD •Getting mucus out of your lungs •Climbing stairs or hills with less breathlessness •Using oxygen correctly If you smoke, you can work with your pulmonary rehab professionals to break the habit. “We use proven guidelines to help patients work toward quitting, or we refer them to community education programs,” Garvey says. “We work as a team to build their confidence and help them quit.” Pulmonary rehab will also cover other health issues where you may need guidance, such as eating more healthfully. Program length can vary, with many of them meeting two to three times a week over a 6- to10-week period. Garvey says that longer programs tend to be more effective. Your time in the program may also depend on what your health insurance covers.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:56:30 +0000
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