COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I the news today:
Q:Should I exercise with COPD? And what type of exercise is good for me? Cassie Wolff
A: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of the adult population. While there are smaller percentages of patients who inherited this genetically or got it by inhaling dust or fumes from working unprotected at industrial sites, long- term smoking is the biggest culprit. And, because baby boomers who were smokers are now part of an older demographic, it is a disease that is on the rise.
COPD is often a mix of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. With bronchitis, the inflammation created by long-term smoking creates excess mucus, which leads to "smoker's cough," which leads to a narrowing of the air passages into the lungs. It is this narrowing that makes those with COPD feel as if they are always short of breath.
Emphysema is damage to the elasticity of the lungs (again, most often from smoking). This, in turn, damages the tiny sacs at the end of the bronchial tubes called alveoli, which is where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen. When these sacs are damaged, they are no longer able to perform this exchange.
Exercise is a well-known solution in general for strengthening the heart, improving blood circulation, keeping blood pressure in check, maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening bones, keeping mentally sharp, and improving sleep quality and energy levels. But for someone with COPD, where breathing becomes a challenge and breathlessness a way of life, even doing the simple things is an effort. This makes exercise and activity a crucial component in order to reclaim, maintain and enjoy life.
According to physical therapist Jane Whalen-Price, director of rehabilitation services at National Jewish Health in Denver, people who get COPD often run the risk of both isolating themselves and stopping activity altogether, mainly because their labored breathing makes it hard to keep up, whether it is for a round of golf or a shopping excursion. It is important to know that exercise has been proven to decrease breathlessness and increase tolerance to activity.
At National Jewish Health, named the best respiratory hospital in the nation 13 years in a row by U.S. News and World Report, COPD patients start their exercise program by first learning how to coordinate breathing with daily activities.
"Exercise rehabilitation focuses on three areas," says Whalen- Price. "First we work on the postural muscles and strengthen the muscles used for the basics of life, like standing, sitting and walking. Next we work on muscle endurance training, which focuses on cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular exercise. The goal is to build on the endurance for walking, golfing, dancing and other activities."
Stretching and flexibility programs such as yoga, tai chi and Pilates are also excellent activities to enhance coordination and breathing.
Certified recreational therapist Bobby Sherman, assistant director of rehabilitation services at National Jewish, works with patients in conjunction with occupational therapists to coordinate breathing with activities. "We find out where their interests lie and work with them to get back to those activities. Coordinating breath with activities is key to returning to an active and balanced life. It is all about energy management and breathing management."
Sherman also points out that people with COPD should not be dissuaded by the fitness magazines that constantly beat the "work out 30 minutes a day, five days a week" drum. "People with COPD can become mislead and overwhelmed by the pressure to do that much exercise. Rather, start from whatever level you are at and build from there, one minute at a time," Sherman says.
National Jewish performs regular checkups with patients from the program. "This is to continue support and encouragement for their activity levels. Without exercise and activity, the vicious cycle of breathlessness and isolation recurs," says Whalen-Price.
Q:Should I exercise with COPD? And what type of exercise is good for me? Cassie Wolff
A: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of the adult population. While there are smaller percentages of patients who inherited this genetically or got it by inhaling dust or fumes from working unprotected at industrial sites, long- term smoking is the biggest culprit. And, because baby boomers who were smokers are now part of an older demographic, it is a disease that is on the rise.
COPD is often a mix of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. With bronchitis, the inflammation created by long-term smoking creates excess mucus, which leads to "smoker's cough," which leads to a narrowing of the air passages into the lungs. It is this narrowing that makes those with COPD feel as if they are always short of breath.
Emphysema is damage to the elasticity of the lungs (again, most often from smoking). This, in turn, damages the tiny sacs at the end of the bronchial tubes called alveoli, which is where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen. When these sacs are damaged, they are no longer able to perform this exchange.
Exercise is a well-known solution in general for strengthening the heart, improving blood circulation, keeping blood pressure in check, maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening bones, keeping mentally sharp, and improving sleep quality and energy levels. But for someone with COPD, where breathing becomes a challenge and breathlessness a way of life, even doing the simple things is an effort. This makes exercise and activity a crucial component in order to reclaim, maintain and enjoy life.
According to physical therapist Jane Whalen-Price, director of rehabilitation services at National Jewish Health in Denver, people who get COPD often run the risk of both isolating themselves and stopping activity altogether, mainly because their labored breathing makes it hard to keep up, whether it is for a round of golf or a shopping excursion. It is important to know that exercise has been proven to decrease breathlessness and increase tolerance to activity.
At National Jewish Health, named the best respiratory hospital in the nation 13 years in a row by U.S. News and World Report, COPD patients start their exercise program by first learning how to coordinate breathing with daily activities.
"Exercise rehabilitation focuses on three areas," says Whalen- Price. "First we work on the postural muscles and strengthen the muscles used for the basics of life, like standing, sitting and walking. Next we work on muscle endurance training, which focuses on cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular exercise. The goal is to build on the endurance for walking, golfing, dancing and other activities."
Stretching and flexibility programs such as yoga, tai chi and Pilates are also excellent activities to enhance coordination and breathing.
Certified recreational therapist Bobby Sherman, assistant director of rehabilitation services at National Jewish, works with patients in conjunction with occupational therapists to coordinate breathing with activities. "We find out where their interests lie and work with them to get back to those activities. Coordinating breath with activities is key to returning to an active and balanced life. It is all about energy management and breathing management."
Sherman also points out that people with COPD should not be dissuaded by the fitness magazines that constantly beat the "work out 30 minutes a day, five days a week" drum. "People with COPD can become mislead and overwhelmed by the pressure to do that much exercise. Rather, start from whatever level you are at and build from there, one minute at a time," Sherman says.
National Jewish performs regular checkups with patients from the program. "This is to continue support and encouragement for their activity levels. Without exercise and activity, the vicious cycle of breathlessness and isolation recurs," says Whalen-Price.
Walk. Even if only for five minutes, do that and build on it. Too cold, wet or rainy outside? Walk around your house. Seek out a walking buddy. Having another who has COPD benefits you both and you can encourage and support one another.
Sit in a chair and do some upper body strength building while watching t.v. - all you need is a straight back chair and a couple of 1 lb. bags of beans. If you can lift more, do so.
Sit in that same chair and practice some breathing exercises until they become second nature so that when the need arises, you'll relax and not panic.
Have stairs? Go up and down a few at a time to start, increasing your ability to do so over time.
Exercise your brain, too. Read some good books. Educate yourself about all sort of things including COPD - education is empowering and your brain needs the stimulation. Read or watch something that makes you laugh. Join a Church choir if you can sing...you can fake the long notes. Always wanted to learn to play the guitar? Or how to decorate cakes? This is the time for it.
And limit your time on the computer!! Personally, I think it's one of the worst things we can do for ourselves. We sit hunched over, sometimes for hours, pushing on our diaphragms, basically shallow breathing, so our lungs nor hearts don't get any kind of workout; we become sedentary and our bodies atrophy faster. Yes, working our bodies can be hard, but so is not being able to breathe.
Most all love pulmonary rehab and what it does for us...usually we feel so much better afterwards, but basically all that is being done is making our bodies move and our brains to function - what they were intended for in the first place and something we can do on our on. IMO, we need to become more self-sufficient in this regard with the changes coming in Medicare and what our insurance companies will cover when it comes to Pulmonary Rehab.
As I said, my thoughts.
I need to remember that! I tend to set limits that are too high, and I need to remember to just do whatever I can do. But the keyword here is "DO".
Wonderful post, Holly, thanks!
Hugs, Sue
Turning the computer on each morning and lifting a coffee cup to my lips often throughout the day probably doesn't qualify as exercise. BUT, I do jump to a lot of conclusions, chase dreams, avoid hurdles in the way, and run from trouble.
It is soooooooo important as Joni says, even if you can only manage a few steps then build on that. It is a big mistake not to do anything, breathing and mobility deteriorates real quickly.
Keep legs moving, keep breathing all.
Great article! I really need to exercise more. As a matter of fact, exercising is one of my goals.
Jean