Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Team Approach To Improving Quality of Life

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What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

Pulmonary rehabilitation combines exercise training and behavioral and educational programs designed to help patients with COPD control symptoms and improve day-to-day activities. It is a team approach—patients work closely with their doctors; nurses; respiratory, physical, and occupational therapists; psychologists, exercise specialists; and dietitians.

The main goals of pulmonary rehabilitation are to help patients improve their day-to-day lives and restore their ability to function independently. If your illness has affected your daily living, pulmonary rehabilitation can help you:

• Reduce and control breathing difficulties and other symptoms.
• Learn more about your disease, treatment options, and coping strategies.
• Learn to manage your disease and reduce your dependence on health professionals and costly medical resources.
• Maintain healthy behaviors such as smoking cessation, good nutrition, and exercise.

In addition, pulmonary rehabilitation can help reduce the number and length of hospital stays and increase your chances of living longer.

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