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Take a breath
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Careful exercise will help tackle chronic lung disease better
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TENS OF millions of Indians, mostly smokers and victims of air pollution, suffer from distressing, persistent breathlessness due to bronchitis, emphysema and asthma - a.k.a COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD causes shortness of breath by preventing sufficient emptying of the lungs. To rehabilitate lungs with COPD, quit smoking, get medical treatment, and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
Kind of tough isn't it, asking a breathless person to exercise?
The truth is that prolonged inactivity worsens lung and cardiovascular function, diminishes muscle mass and weakens respiratory muscles. It disables because it robs the patient of functional independence, and it eventually leads to depression and social isolation. On the other hand,
walking, or weight training of the limbs, for 30 minutes a day increases quality of life, bestows functional independence, improves physical capacity, reduces fatigue, and alleviates some of the anxiety associated with chronic breathlessness.
Medical guidance in the initial stages is essential. A good physician will teach you psychological techniques to deal with periods of intense breathlessness, pursed-lips breathing techniques and other strategies to deal with your special circumstances. Many COPD patients suffer from
cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and other illnesses, and they need a thorough grounding in the difference between beneficial activity and unsafe exercise, on how to monitor themselves for warning signs of too much activity, on the proper role of inhalers, drugs and diet.
Exercise in the late afternoon is best because the body is already warmed-up to some extent and the air is not cold enough to induce coughing upon exertion. Initially, one should aim for very short
sessions of reasonably intense exercise interrupted by periods of rest. As exercise tolerance improves, increase the session time to 30-40 minutes per day. A mere six weeks of physical training can improve physical capacity by 75 percent: for some this can make the difference
between being an invalid and being physically and financially independent. Research also shows that COPD patients score higher on mental function tests after a few weeks of physical training.
Stop exercising if you become too breathless to speak, if you become light headed or dizzy, if you experience pain or pressure in the chest, or pain in the arm, jaw, back or neck. Obesity increases the workload of your heart, lungs and muscles: weight loss lessens shortness of breath independent of exercise. If you are using an oxygen cylinder at home, exercise with a treadmill or a stationary bicycle.
RAJIV. M
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