According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, when you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, less air than normal goes into and out of your lungs. Having COPD may cause concern about beginning an exercise program because you may wonder how you will be able to work out when you may have difficulty breathing under normal circumstances. Learning why exercise is beneficial and which exercises are safe for you can help you incorporate activity into your daily life.
Benefits of Exercise
New York University Medical Center advises COPD patients to exercise and states that "the less one does, the less one is able to do." When patients do not exercise because they get short of breath or feel tired, they gradually find that even lower levels of activity make them short of breath. Charles Emory, associate professor at Ohio State University found that people with COPD who exercise have better endurance and are able to do more with their limited lung function. He also found that exercise made COPD patients feel better overall and decreased any depression that accompanied their lung condition.
Warming Up and Cooling Down
What you do before and after exercise is almost as important as the exercise itself. To prepare your body before an activity and avoid injury, you should gently stretch and walk at an easy pace for 5 to 10 minutes. Slowly moving before and after exercise puts less strain on your lungs and heart because you are giving your body a chance to adjust to a change in activity level. The NYU Medical Center warns exercisers to avoid abrupt stops in activity, which can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Consult an exercise trainer to help you learn how to stretch your muscles safely.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise is an activity that involves repetitive movement and improves the cardiovascular system. You can choose an aerobic exercise that allows you to work on your endurance in a particular area. If you have problems with mobility, pick an activity that uses your leg muscles. Walking is an ideal activity to begin with because it is low impact and you can proceed at your own pace. When you feel more comfortable walking, you can increase your activity to include swimming, bicycling, climbing or step machines, walking on a treadmill, or other activities that appeal to you. The Patient and Family Education Department at NYU Medical Center encourages everyone to begin slowly and progress from 1 to 2 minutes to 20 to 30 minutes of exercise per session. Keep in mind that even 5-minute periods of exercise a few times a day are beneficial. Before beginning any exercise routine, speak with your doctor about what level and frequency is appropriate for you.
Lifting Weights
Weight training is beneficial in COPD because it increases the strength in your arms, enabling you to lift grocery bags and household items more easily. Unless your doctor instructs otherwise, you should exercise only one arm at a time and not lift more than 1- or 2-pound weights. NYU Medical Center advises people with COPD to coordinate breathing with their movements: breathe in as you lift your arm and breathe out as you lower it. Avoid holding your breath while weight training. Find a fitness trainer who has experience working with COPD patients so that you are sure to learn proper techniques.
Precautions
Before you begin an exercise program, ask your doctor about your target heart rate and have him show you how to take your pulse. You need to be aware of the symptoms that let you know you are exercising too much or too intensely. If you are severely out of breath and feel anxious, experience lightheadedness or dizziness, are extremely tired, have cramping or raise your pulse higher than your your target rate, you should stop. If you do not feel better after you stop exercising, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
