Tag Archive for: pulmonary rehabilitation program

The Treatments, Causes, And Symptoms of COPD

/in

Shortness of breath, wheezing while climbing stairs, a lingering cough — these symptoms could be attributed to COPD. You may have heard the acronym COPD tossed around without truly knowing what this disease, or rather group of diseases entails. Millions of Americans are affected by COPD, and many of them are not even aware that they have it.

If you or someone you know have been diagnosed with COPD, or think you may be suffering from COPD, here is everything you need to know about the condition.

What Is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to a group of respiratory diseases that cause breathing-related issues by obstructing airflow. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. COPD is a major cause of death in the United States.

Chronic Bronchitis is a consistent inflammation of the air pathways to the lungs during a longer period of time. The risk of chronic bronchitis increases with age. Emphysema causes damage to the air sacs in your lungs. More than 90% of emphysema cases are in people over the age of 45.

Symptoms Of COPD

In many cases of COPD, symptoms develop gradually over time. Early symptoms include shortness of breath and becoming easily exhausted. Later, people may develop a cough, which can produce mucus, phlegm or even blood. Patients often feel a tightness in their chest and physical activity can make breathing extremely difficult.

COPD also makes people more susceptible to other diseases such as the flu, pneumonia and the common cold. People with COPD may also have an increased risk of dangerous diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Causes Of COPD

In the United States, one of the key factors in developing COPD is smoking. Other elements such as pollution, genetics and respiratory infections also play a role, but at a lesser scale than smoking for most adult Americans.

Treatment For COPD

For some, the simplest treatment for COPD if you are a smoker is to quit smoking. While quitting itself isn’t easy, it will ease the symptoms of COPD and prevent it from worsening. Talk to your doctor about medications and products that may help with quitting. Other options are medications that treat the symptoms of COPD, such as bronchodilators and inhaled steroids.

 Oxygen therapy may be prescribed if there isn’t enough oxygen in your lungs, requiring supplemental oxygen to be added via a medical device. Some with COPD carry around lightweight oxygen tanks that are portable and make it easier for them to get around without their symptoms of COPD weighing down on their daily tasks.

Lastly, your doctor may recommend a pulmonary rehabilitation program. In the program, you’ll work with specialists who combine exercise, advice, counseling, and education to improve your overall quality of life.

COPD Support Group

Living with COPD is difficult. People with COPD often have to sacrifice things they once loved to the disease, like physical activity, making it hard to adjust. It can help to share your experience with family, friends and your doctor, or consider a support group with other people suffering from COPD.

More Information

If you suspect you may have COPD, make an appointment with one of our pulmonary specialists, who will be able to run tests to diagnose whether or not you have the disease. And, as always, be sure to make any positive lifestyle changes you can control, such as quitting smoking or changing your diet. To book an appointment, contact us today!

4 Yoga Videos For Pulmonary Hypertension Patients

/in

Pulmonary hypertension limits a lot of what a person can do, especially when it comes to activities that may elevate their blood pressure. Depending on the type and the severity of the pulmonary hypertension, patients may struggle with things as simple as walking the family dog or going up the stairs. For many patients, exercising seems out of the question, but recent studies have shown that not all exercises are as impossible as they may seem for those who want to try them out.

According to a 2016 study, a yoga regimen of 12 weekly 2-hour sessions had no adverse effects on a group of pulmonary hypertension patients of all fitness levels. The study showed significant improvement in anxiety, depression, and quality-of-life in the participants, which included patients on a combination of hypertension-specific therapies, and others on oxygen.

The participating patients practiced Iyengar Yoga, a form of Hatha Yoga focused on an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture and breath control. From this style of yoga, Dr. Awdish from the PHA-accredited pulmonary hypertension program at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, along with other specialists, created a series of instructional videos called Yoga For PH.

Yoga For PH includes 40-minutes instructional videos, lifestyle and diet advice, and 3 yoga exercise levels, each incorporating a yoga mat and a chair for stabilization. Here are 4 of those videos to get you started.

This short clip introduces Dr. Rana Awdish, and quickly discusses yoga for patients with PH. It also goes over what viewers can expect from the next 3 videos: chair yoga, intermediate/standing yoga with chair, and advanced yoga.

Chair Yoga Sequence

This 13-minute video guides viewers through 6 yoga movements, all while they remain seated. To participate, viewers will need two chairs, a pillow or blanket, and a quiet space. Movements consist of: Easy Pose, Cat/Cow, Seated Side Stretch, Easy Pose Twist, Hip Opener, and Seated Savasana.

Intermediate With Chair Assist

This 20-minute video guides viewers through 6 yoga movements similar to those of the previous video, but these exercises are performed from the ground instead of a chair, although a chair is used for support. The video begins with short deep breathing exercises and continues to a portion of standing, then laying down.

Experienced Yoga Sequence

This 20-minutes video builds on the yoga movements taught in the previous two videos. The majority of the movements are done either from the ground or while standing, though there is a chair for support and balance. The pace of this video is quicker and should be followed with caution.

It is extremely important that you speak with your pulmonary specialist before initiating any exercise routine, including this one. Only your doctor can say if these exercises are appropriate for you. Yoga is not a cure for pulmonary hypertension, but it may provide some benefits in terms of relaxation and deep breathing exercises that can be useful for other daily activities. To learn more about your pulmonary hypertension or about pulmonary rehabilitation, schedule a consultation with our pulmonary specialists today.