Exercising Can Help COPD

Fitness with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a condition that the WHO estimates affects 8.5% of the population globally in mild to severe form.

It is an umbrella term for lung-damaging disorders that lead to persistent breathing difficulties and restricted air flow, the two most common of which are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Although the condition is not currently curable, if you are a sufferer from COPD, one of the best things you can do is to make exercise a top priority in your life. It may sound counterintuitive to exercise with frequent shortness of breath and impaired lung function, but moderate exercises can actually be a big boost to your health by strengthening your respiratory muscles, improving blood circulation and slowing down the progression of the condition.

Inactivity

Inactivity on the other hand can make your symptoms worse overall and you may end up in a vicious cycle of exercising less and less as the severity of your breathlessness goes up.

One way to deal with any distress of beginning to embark on a fitness journey is to sign on to a pulmonary rehabilitation program. These structured programs last 6-8 weeks and involve supervised physical activity under the eyes of professionals to help improve your quality of life and help you maintain your condition more effectively.

If you are dealing with issues of confidence and exercise avoidance, these programmes may be a great start to giving you the tools to deal with increased activity with COPD in a safe environment surrounded by health professionals.

Resistance technique

All in all, resistance training with weights or bands, and cardiovascular training are both great tools to help you maintain your fitness with COPD. Maintaining proper breathing during exercise is super important, especially during weight training exercises.

Pursed lip breathing may help you get through your sets and repetitions safely and should be practised until it comes as second nature. The basics of pursed lip breathing is to breath in through your nose with your mouth closed and then pucker your lips (as if you were blowing on food to cool it down) to exhale slowly and in a controlled manner.

Walk

Making it a goal to get out and about daily can also be of great help. Walking is a great form of exercise and as your confidence grows, so can the speed and distance of your walks. With a slight modification, you can adapt any of your previous physical hobbies to make them manageable for you.

One of the best ways in general to maintain fitness is to engage in physical activities you love.

If you are new to exercising or reintroducing it after a long period of time, please consult with your healthcare provider. This is also true for those who have other conditions, such as heart disease. Certain personal trainers may also have specific training in managing COPD, so may be able to work alongside you to create a workout plan suited to you.