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Steps for Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Bronchial Asthma

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program consisting of education and exercise to improve lung health and function. Rehabilitation sessions teach chronic respiratory disorder patients how to manage their conditions and associated symptoms. Signing up for pulmonary rehabilitation as per your doctor's advice teaches you how to exercise and perform physical activities with improved breathing. It may be right for you if you suffer from severe chronic bronchial asthma and bronchitis.

  1. Consult Your Doctor

    • Consult your primary physician before signing up for pulmonary rehabilitation sessions. Your doctor may have specific ideas for your bronchial asthma care and refer rehabilitation therapy accordingly. You may be sent to either a pulmonary rehabilitation group comprised of patients with a variety of conditions or a group specifically for patients with bronchial asthma.

      Keep in contact with your doctor throughout the rehabilitation. Your doctor may have important advice regarding any changes in exercise, diet or routine.

    Education

    • Pulmonary care education classes are an important step to your rehabilitation. These classes will give you a better understanding of your medications and treatment procedures. This education is designed to make your severe bronchial asthma self-management easier and more effective. Your pulmonary rehabilitation education classes may include, but not be limited to, condition and physiology text, group classes and individual instructional sessions.

    Exercise

    • Exercise is a key step in rehabilitation as it can improve heart and lung functions. Your instructors will teach you the best exercises and activities for your bronchial asthma. They will also teach you the appropriate structure for your workout routine. The exercises you can perform will depend on your health, but should include cardiovascular workouts of varied intensity such as stair-climbing, walking and running. Ventilatory muscle training (VMT) is exercise that strengthens respiratory muscle function specifically and may be included if necessary.

      Consult your doctor and pulmonary rehabilitation instructor in charge of your physical activity plan to determine what combination of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning are best for your situation.

    Nutrition

    • Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is essential to the weight management and general well-being of bronchial asthma patients. Your pulmonary rehabilitation program will provide you information on the right foods to eat. A dietitian or counselor will also give instruction regarding how to prepare food, how much to eat in a given sitting and the best times of day to eat.

    Support and Counseling

    • Emotional and psychological support can be necessary for severe bronchial asthma sufferers participating in a rehabilitation program. This step may feature support groups and individual counseling sessions if necessary. Issues such as low self-esteem, loneliness and strain on relationships with loved ones can take their toll on you. Explore this facet of pulmonary rehabilitation if any of these concerns affect your daily life.

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