If you have a lung disease such as emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary rehab could help you breathe easier. During rehab, a team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists will teach you exercises to improve your breathing and also work with you to manage your medications and your activities outside of rehab. Most rehab programs take place several times a week for several weeks.
Physical Improvement
Pulmonary rehab exercises can teach you techniques that help you maximize your lung capacity. You'll take in more oxygen and increase your stamina. The regular exercise involved in attending regular rehab sessions can also increase your stamina and help you feel better. The rehab team will teach you how to eat healthier, advising you on how to lose excess weight and what foods to eat to give you more energy. With rehab, you should experience fewer incidents of shortness of breath.
Quality of Life
Pulmonary rehab will teach you how to conserve energy during daily tasks so you have more energy for special activities. The rehab team will look at your medications and might be able to suggestion drugs with fewer side effects. The team will also look at your psychological and mental health. Chronic illness can lead to depression, but pulmonary rehab will address this.
Saving Money
Private insurance or Medicare should cover most of the cost of pulmonary rehab, but even after rehab is over you or your insurer can save money because rehab can make you less dependent on supplemental oxygen and you may need less medication than you did prior to rehab. If you smoke, smoking cessation is part of pulmonary rehab, so you'll save the cost of cigarettes.
Other Considerations
You'll need a referral from your physician to begin a pulmonary rehab program and you might need pre-approval from your insurance company. Plan to attend two to three rehab sessions a week, and the sessions can last an hour or two. Your family can usually accompany you to rehab sessions, giving you a second set of eyes and ears that can help you remember important details. In between rehab sessions, write down any questions you have about your disease or anything that happens in rehab.
