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For those who have participated in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme ar a hospital, medical clinic or community health service, you will know how important it is to make exercise part of your daily life.Chronic Lung Disease occurs frequently in the general population and is said to be a common cause of dissability in the elderly. Research has shown that daily exercise for people with Chronic Lung Disease, will greatly improve their level of leg muscle fitness. As a result, this increased fitness can lead to improved quality of life, self confidence, and hopefully reduce or eliminate hospital admissions.
If you feel breathless when performing certain activities like walking, shopping, etc., you may decide to avoid these activities. Then this becomes a vicious circle, because the less you do, the less you are able to do.
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A simple exercise routine to use at home is firstly find somewhere to walk. This can be your driveway, hallway, out in the street, or if you have an exercise bike this may be useful, particularly in inclement weather.It is suggested you walk each day, or at least three or four times per week. It is important to start off very slowly and increase gradually. I normally suggest people commence walking for 2 minutes per day for the first week and increase by at least one minute each week thereafter until you are walking for about 15 - 20 minutes.
It is normal to feel breathless as you exercise, but not so short of breath you are unable to talk. If you feel distressed, stop for a short time until you breath returns and recommence at a slower pace. Remember to take your bronchodilator ( ventolin, atrovent etc. ) or you portable oxygen with you on these excursions. It is also normal to feel some muscle soreness after exercise and is most important to stretch your calves and hamstring muscles proir to and after walking. Remember some of you have not used these muscles for some time!
The routine described is for people who are doing very little in the form of exercise at the moment, if this is too easy for you, you may need to start with longer exercise times.
It is sometimes an idea to keep a record of your exercise so that you can see any improvement. Record the time you walk, distance ( number of lamp-posts, fences etc.) and number of stops to make on the way.
If you have not done attended a Respiratory/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme in the last three years, consult your community medical centre, repiratory professional or respiratory physiotherapist to enroll in a course in your area or entice the staff to run a course.
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