Importance of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

If your doctor has prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation as part of your COPD treatment plan, don't be surprised. First theorized about nearly 60 years ago, pulmonary rehabilitation is becoming part of the gold standard of treatment for people suffering from COPD.

By way of a multidisciplinary team, pulmonary rehabilitation covers all aspects of COPD management including education, exercise and relaxation and breathing techniques. It also includes nutritional advice, emotional support and coping skills.

By combining these treatments and techniques, pulmonary rehabilitation allows COPD patients to:

• Lead a more active life
• Reduce symptoms
• Improve quality of life
• Be an active participation in treatment
• Limit visits to the doctor’s office and hospital

Consider this: After you are diagnosed with COPD, you may be worried or experience loneliness and lack the motivation and self-esteem you once had. While these feelings are completely normal, a pulmonary rehabilitation team would be able to refer you to counseling services, teach you relaxation techniques and allow you to share your feelings in a safe environment.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is generally supervised and structured and can be completed both in and out of the hospital setting. Typically rehabilitation includes an evaluation of your symptoms and treatment, short-term and long-term goal setting, education, support, and supervised therapy programs.

Though pulmonary rehabilitation will not reverse the damage to your lungs from COPD, it will help you cope with the symptoms and complete daily tasks, such as dressing, shopping and walking, more easily.