Pulmonary rehabilitation helps people with chronic lung diseases live better
Programs help people improve strength and stamina, reduce shortness of breath
Miami (November 5, 2024) – Pulmonary rehabilitation programs combine exercise training, health education and breathing techniques to help people with chronic lung disease live better lives. Research has shown benefits for people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and other chronic pulmonary conditions.
COPD comprises several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the third leading cause of death worldwide, yet awareness of the disease’s symptoms, methods to reduce risk, and disease management remains poor.
Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are a combination of educational classes and supervised exercise sessions designed for people who have difficulty breathing. Programs help people understand their breathing and how to live better with their condition.
Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation include:
- Decreased shortness of breath.
- Increased exercise capacity.
- Increased energy and stamina.
- Improved feeling of well-being.
- Decreased feelings of depression and anxiety.
“Participating in exercise and other physical activity is an important aspect of improving quality of life for people with chronic lung conditions,” said Stephanie Williams, B.S., RRT, Vice President of Education and Engagement of the COPD Foundation. “The more people continue to move – even for short periods of time – the more they can do. Avoiding activity and physical movement deconditions the body, which then places more demand on the lungs and heart and leads to more breathlessness. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a highly beneficial addition to other treatments like inhaled medications.”
Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are offered in-person and virtually. Virtual programs are critical to people who live too far away from in-person facilities or who are not healthy enough to visit in-person locations.
The COPD Foundation, along with other lung health advocates, is urging Congress to consider a bill (H.R. 1406/S. 3021) to extend coverage of virtual pulmonary rehabilitation programs administered through a hospital under Medicare. Medicare will no longer cover these programs because of the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency. The bill permanently extends coverage of virtual pulmonary rehabilitation administered through a hospital under Medicare.
The Lace Up for Lungs Awareness Campaign is generously supported by Cipla Limited, Insmed Incorporated, Theravance Biopharma, Inc., and Viatris Inc.
For more information about how to get involved with COPD Awareness Month activities and become a lung health champion, visit copdfoundation.org.
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About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure. For more information, visit copdfoundation.org, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Brittany Irish
805-465-2497
mediarelations@copdfoundation.org