pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program for people who have chronic lung diseases. You might benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation to help you manage the symptoms of breathing-related diseases, including:

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Sarcoidosis
• Lung cancer
• Lung transplant recovery

The goal of pulmonary rehab is to help you improve your lung function, reduce your symptoms and hospitalizations, and improve your overall quality of life. Your therapy team might include your pulmonologist, a respiratory therapist, exercise physiologist and rehabilitation nurse, among others.

Your customized program begins with a consultation with a rehab therapist to determine your overall physical condition and breathing levels. Then you’ll work with the pulmonary rehabilitation team to return to the highest level of function and independence possible, enhancing your physical and emotional wellbeing. Strategies might include:

• Physical reconditioning through exercise
• Breathing retraining
• Energy conservation techniques
• Effective coughing
• Medication education and management
• Relaxation techniques
• Education and counseling for you and your family
• Smoking cessation
• Nutritional counseling
• Help getting respiratory equipment and portable oxygen

Using state-of-the-art testing and monitoring technology during your exercise sessions, the pulmonary rehabilitation staff will help you work through exercises and strategies to improve your overall physical and emotional condition. They will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation, so you can feel comfortable that you’re making progress within healthy boundaries.