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...
Exercise and breathlessness
Progressive breathlessness on exertion is a key feature of COPD. Even every day activities such as washing and dressing can cause disabling breathlessness. Often the response to such experiences is activity avoidance and this can lead to a downward de-conditioning spiral whereby cardiovascular fitness decreases, skeletal muscle mass is lost and patients consequently become more breathless.
The downward spiral of breathlessness in COPD
For people with COPD breathlessness is not harmful although it is unpleasant and can provoke anxiety and panic. Regular exercise improves cardiovascular fitness, maintains function and can reduce the sensation of breathlessness. It is important to encourage COPD patients (except when they have co-morbid cardiovascular disease when specialist advice should be sought) to maintain, and preferably increase their activity levels.
The Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Score allows patients to assess how much their breathlessness interferes with their ability to undertake normal daily activities. The NICE guideline recommends its use during routine reviews.
The MRC Dyspnoea Scale
Grade Degree of breathlessness related to activities
1. Not troubled by breathlessness except on strenuous exercise
2. Short of breath when hurrying on walking up a slight hill
3. Walks slower than contemporaries on the level because of breathlessness, or has to stop for breath when walking at own pace
4. Stops for breath after walking about 100m, or after a few minutes on the level
5. Too breathless to leave the house, or breathless when dressing or undressing
A Borg scale, allows patients to grade the intensity of their breathlessness during activity. It was developed as a tool for athletes and coaches to guide the intensity of sports training, but is equally applicable as a guide to increase exercise tolerance in COPD. The eventual aim should be to experience moderate breathlessness (Borg scale 3-5) for at least 20 minutes, three or four times a week. Exercise needs to be regular and simple exercise regimes that equate with normal daily activity, such as walking, cycling or stair climbing, are most likely to be adhered to.
COPD patients usually use accessory muscles of respiration. These are less efficient and tire easily. Breathing techniques such as abdominal breathing and pursed lip breathing can improve respiratory efficiency and help patients gain a sense of control. Active cycle breathing may help expectoration.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is the most cost effective intervention in the management of COPD, other than smoking cessation.
Rehabilitation can
reduce breathlessness
improve both functional and maximal exercise capacity, and
improve quality of life.
The NICE guideline recommends that it is offered to all suitable patients scoring 3 or more on the MRC Dyspnoea Scale.
http://www.library.nhs.uk/respiratory/V ... sID=187257
Hope this helps someone.
Have a Breath Easy Evening,
Holly
Progressive breathlessness on exertion is a key feature of COPD. Even every day activities such as washing and dressing can cause disabling breathlessness. Often the response to such experiences is activity avoidance and this can lead to a downward de-conditioning spiral whereby cardiovascular fitness decreases, skeletal muscle mass is lost and patients consequently become more breathless.
The downward spiral of breathlessness in COPD
For people with COPD breathlessness is not harmful although it is unpleasant and can provoke anxiety and panic. Regular exercise improves cardiovascular fitness, maintains function and can reduce the sensation of breathlessness. It is important to encourage COPD patients (except when they have co-morbid cardiovascular disease when specialist advice should be sought) to maintain, and preferably increase their activity levels.
The Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Score allows patients to assess how much their breathlessness interferes with their ability to undertake normal daily activities. The NICE guideline recommends its use during routine reviews.
The MRC Dyspnoea Scale
Grade Degree of breathlessness related to activities
1. Not troubled by breathlessness except on strenuous exercise
2. Short of breath when hurrying on walking up a slight hill
3. Walks slower than contemporaries on the level because of breathlessness, or has to stop for breath when walking at own pace
4. Stops for breath after walking about 100m, or after a few minutes on the level
5. Too breathless to leave the house, or breathless when dressing or undressing
A Borg scale, allows patients to grade the intensity of their breathlessness during activity. It was developed as a tool for athletes and coaches to guide the intensity of sports training, but is equally applicable as a guide to increase exercise tolerance in COPD. The eventual aim should be to experience moderate breathlessness (Borg scale 3-5) for at least 20 minutes, three or four times a week. Exercise needs to be regular and simple exercise regimes that equate with normal daily activity, such as walking, cycling or stair climbing, are most likely to be adhered to.
COPD patients usually use accessory muscles of respiration. These are less efficient and tire easily. Breathing techniques such as abdominal breathing and pursed lip breathing can improve respiratory efficiency and help patients gain a sense of control. Active cycle breathing may help expectoration.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is the most cost effective intervention in the management of COPD, other than smoking cessation.
Rehabilitation can
reduce breathlessness
improve both functional and maximal exercise capacity, and
improve quality of life.
The NICE guideline recommends that it is offered to all suitable patients scoring 3 or more on the MRC Dyspnoea Scale.
http://www.library.nhs.uk/respiratory/V ... sID=187257
Hope this helps someone.
Have a Breath Easy Evening,
Holly
I saw a thing on the internet called something like gentle exercising, I really need to look into that.
Thanks for the read softflower!
Taking a shower totally wipes me out and leaves me so breathless. Putting clothes in the wash, leaves me breathless. Just the most mundane and simple tasks are becoming things I put off doing. I know its driving my family crazy hell its driving ME crazy!
I just want to know how to function better and be able to lose some of this weight. It won't do me much good to keep my copd from getting worse, than to add diabetes to the mix and it runs in my family.
I'm just so frustrated with my health, I should not be having so many problems at my age. My mother is 32 years my senior and is in great shape and only takes one prescription for cholesterol and glaucoma drops for her eyes.
She has the very early stages of emphysema herself but still works in her yard everyday. It really pains me to not be able to be as active as she is. I want to play with my grandkids and go horseback riding again.
It's tough isn't it Rosey. My mom is 79 yrs old and way healthier then I am. I am so happy that she is healthy though. She never smoked though.
I have copd, and don't think it's fair. That's me.
I should of gone out and had a few smokes~
Oh well can't cry over spilt milk now.
Going to Rehab learning how to breath~
Have as happy a breathing day as you can!
JOAnn
Rosey, I believe what you are referring to is the cd "Gentle Fitness". Some of us here have it....it's very good and you can do it at home, at your own pace.
Here's a link to it:
http://www.gentlefitness.com/catherine.html
Hope this helps!
Hugs
Joni
good luck
margaret