MEDICAL Services
PULMONARY REHABILITATION
PULMONARY REHABILITATION
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis, affects nearly two million Americans. Preventive and rehabilitative care for patients with pulmonary disease reduces the need for hospitalization and improves quality of life. Comprehensive personalized education and exercise, as well as changes in diet and smoking habits, can decrease the impact of the disease by helping to return the patient with chronic lung disease to a higher degree of physiological and psychological function.
The Goal of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Working with a team of healthcare professionals, pulmonary rehabilitation provides the participant and their family with information and support to meet the day-to-day challenges of living with a chronic lung disorder. Through individual treatment plans consisting of education, exercise, breathing retraining, and the development of coping and support skills, the primary objectives of the programs are:
- To control and alleviate the symptoms and complications of pulmonary disease.
- To teach participants how to achieve an optimal level of independence and physical capabilities.
- To possibly reduce hospitalizations and healthcare costs.
For Pulmonary Rehabilitation Patients
Pulmonary Rehabilitation may help you:
- Control and alleviate, as much as possible, the symptoms and complications of pulmonary impairment.
- Condition you to achieve optimal capacity to carry out everyday living activities.
- Decrease anxiety and depression.
- Improve quality of life.
- Facilitate the return to work.
- Promote independence and self-reliance.
- Increase exercise tolerance.
- Encourage participation in recreational pursuits.
- Reduce exacerbations and hospitalizations.
- Serve as a single resource for educational information and emotional support.
- Provide specific guidelines for physical activity in an encouraging and motivating manner.
- Click here to view the gym in 360 degrees!
For more information or to speak to a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist, call (603) 663-2366.
Support Groups/Rehabilitation Classes
Elliot Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is a 6-week program that is held Monday, Wednesday and Friday for two hours. Upon graduation from this series, participants are invited to attend Pulmonary Rehabilitation Maintenance classes two days a week on Tuesday and Thursday.
American Association of Cardiovascular
and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
American College of Chest Physicians
American Lung Association
AARC Clinical Practice
Guidelines
Children's
Hospital of Iowa
The Journal
of the American Medical Association Asthma Information Center
