When you have shortness of breath caused by COPD, it’s hard to imagine embarking on a regimen of exercise training in a pulmonary rehabilitation class. After all, if you’re frequently out of breath, particularly when exerting yourself, how can you exercise? Even if you’ve been told that exercise will improve the symptoms caused by COPD, pulmonary hypertension, or interstitial lung disease, how can you perform the actual exercise you should be doing, without running out of breath before you accomplish anything?
The first step is to enroll in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, where you will receive guidance, coaching, and assistance as you embark on your exercise regimen. The beauty of such a program is that it helps you manage your breathing problem as you increase your stamina and decrease your breathlessness. The program will teach you to be “in charge” of your breathing, instead of your breathing being in charge of you. The techniques you’ll learn will include pacing your breathing with your activities, proper use of your medications, and making the most of your communications with your health care provider.
Best of all, when you exercise during a pulmonary rehabilitation program, you’ll be performing exercises designed specifically for you, and the staff will supervise you as you work. You’ll start at a level that you can handle, whether that means initially exercising while sitting, or getting right on a treadmill from the beginning. It all depends upon your condition and the amount of work that you can perform without getting short of breath. The goal will be to strengthen your muscles so that over time you’ll be able to exercise with greater intensity or for longer periods of time without becoming breathless or overtired.