How to Treat Emphysema With Exercise

Because emphysema destroys lung tissue, exercising becomes much more difficult. In advanced patients, even taking a walk can be too hard, requiring enormous effort. The best way to improve lung capacity, however, is to strengthen the respiratory and circulatory systems, for which exercise is a major factor. As with anything, the earlier you start to exercise, the greater the benefits you will achieve.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Talk to your doctor and ask her to recommend which forms of exercise are appropriate for your specific case. She may also be able to recommend specific exercise programs or medical trials you can get into. This is especially important if you are in an advanced stage of emphysema or if you have never exercised before.

2. Start early. If you treat exercise as a preventive measure, you will already be in good shape when your symptoms are mild enough not to dramatically affect your respiratory system. At the beginning stages, it is still possible to ride a bike, go for extended walks and use weight training to improve your overall health and fitness.

3. Choose milder forms of exercise to treat emphysema in later stages. A simple walk in the park or the use of a stationary bike can help patients who are too weak to exercise in a gym or to attempt more exhausting forms of exercise.

4. Don't forget weight training as you exercise. Simple dumbbells can be used to improve your shoulder and arm strength, and these exercises can be done easily at home, even by beginners.

5. Try special exercises used in hospitals and rehabilitation clinics to treat patients with respiratory diseases and those who are in no condition to perform regular exercises. Pedal exercises, which can be performed while sitting down on a normal chair, are a good example.

Tips & Warnings

• Get into a special exercise program if you are afraid of starting out on your own. You can also choose to work with a trainer to learn basic exercises you can then perform at home on your own.

• If you go out for a walk or exercise outside, do it with a buddy so that he can watch over you in case you feel sick or need help finding a place to rest.

• Some sports can be safely practiced by people with emphysema. Softball (pitching) and golf are two good examples.

• Don't overdo it. Continuous exercise at a slow rate is better than overworking your body and then feeling ill for hours after the fact.