| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a | | | | Elements of Performance of Daily Activities for |
| long-term illness that affects the lungs. There are | | | | People with COPD, that weight training helps patients |
| two conditions, which most often occur together, | | | | gain and maintain vital muscle strength. Building |
| that are diagnosed as COPD. The first is chronic | | | | stronger muscles makes everyday activities like |
| obstructive bronchitis, and the second is emphysema. | | | | sitting, standing, and taking stairs easier, and weight |
| Asthma, also a disease that affects your airways | | | | training prepares people with COPD to remain |
| affects all ages. There are currently 20 million | | | | independent. |
| Americans with Asthma. Symptoms include coughing, | | | | Michael Berry, PhD of Heath and Science at Wake |
| excessive mucus production, wheezing, shortness of | | | | Forest University in North Carolina notes that aerobic |
| breath, and tightness in the chest. | | | | exercise is also critical. Lower-leg activity like bicycling |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease develops | | | | or walking preserves vulnerable muscle mass in |
| when the lungs are inflamed or damaged. Oxygen | | | | people with COPD. Dr. Berry adds that aerobic |
| cannot enter and exit the air sacs (alveoli) efficiently | | | | activity bolsters heart and lung function, and it can |
| because the lung tissue walls are swollen, and/ or | | | | even enhance problem-solving skills. |
| because the alveoli cannot expand sufficiently. Lung | | | | As you adapt your exercise habits, you must also |
| irritants like chemicals, tabacco smoke, and dust | | | | train yourself to breathe differently. Exertion can |
| frequently cause COPD symptoms. The body | | | | trigger an episode of shortness of breath. But it is |
| combats these toxins by making a large amount of | | | | very important that you continue to exercise. |
| mucus, which inhibits normal breathing. | | | | Respiratory therapists teach people with COPD to |
| Whether you are newly-diagnosed with Chronic | | | | cope with these sudden symptoms by practicing |
| Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, or you are | | | | pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing. |
| already in treatment, it will benefit you to participate | | | | These techniques help you to empty your lungs |
| actively in your care. While you are following medical | | | | completely before you inhale, to fill your lungs to a |
| advice, you must also modify your lifestyle. Starting | | | | greater capacity, and to strengthen your diaphragm. |
| an exercise program that includes improving your | | | | Patients who practice breathing retraining report |
| breathing techniques is essential. | | | | feeling more confident and experiencing less anxiety. |
| If you worry that having COPD means you cannot | | | | If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, |
| get fit or stay fit, there is good news! Many patients | | | | you can get fit, stay active, and feel healthier. |
| with lung disease practice moderate exercise routines. | | | | Exercising and practicing breathing techniques is not |
| Drs. Simone O'Shea, Nicholas F. Taylor, and Jennifer D. | | | | just about keeping your symptoms at bay. Adding |
| Paratz report in a 2009 article, Progressive Resistance | | | | these new activities will also help you function at |
| Exercise Improves Muscle Strength and May Improve | | | | your best. |