Breathing easily is something most of us take for granted. But for people with lung disease, breathing troubles can limit their activities and even make it difficult to go about their daily lives.

And understandably, feeling breathless can be scary. “Our pulmonary patients often have anxiety over not being able to breathe well,” said Callie Gadash, a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Prowers Medical Center’s Cardiopulmonary Manager. “They might be afraid to even go to the store because they’re worried they won’t be able to walk around without losing their breath.”

If you or someone you care about is struggling with breathing, the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Prowers Medical Center can help you increase your stamina and quality of life. Whether you have COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, post-COVID breathing difficulties or other lung challenges, Gadash and her team of respiratory therapists are here to guide you to better health.

Signs and Symptoms

Some patients come to pulmonary rehab after they’re hospitalized for pneumonia. They may have been struggling with breathing difficulties beforehand, but the crisis serves as a wake-up call.

For others, shortness of breath while doing normal activities such as walking around their homes or climbing stairs is how they recognize they’re not well. Lung patients also tend to experience fatigue. “’Why am I so tired all the time?” they ask,” Gadash said.

To many, breathing troubles seem to come on suddenly. “But the truth is that more often it’s been a gradual decline,” Gadash said. “It’s just that people tend to not pay attention to their labored breathing until it gets really bad.”

Lungs Respond to Exercise

The goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to help patients make the most of the lung function they have and maximize their quality of life.

The good news is that even when a pulmonary function is limited, the lungs respond to exercise.

Three times a week, for an hour or so in the afternoon, patients come to the Prowers Medical Center gym for pulmonary rehab. Before beginning the program, each patient’s lung function is assessed And a six-minute walk test on the treadmill provides a fitness baseline.

Classes are led by a respiratory therapist. During class, patients are hooked up to portable heart monitor devices and supplemental oxygen. This ensures that they’re exercising safely and their bodies are responding well to the activity.

Each patient exercises at their own pace and difficulty level. While one person is doing band exercises, another may be lifting small dumbbells, walking on the treadmill or using the arm bike. As their fitness improves from week to week, their exercise plan is made a little more challenging.

“Before they know it, they’re exercising at higher and higher levels,” Gadash said.

A Better Life

With rehab, most pulmonary patients make great strides in a matter of weeks. Gadash describes one patient who was having a really hard time getting up the stairs in his home. He had to rest several times on the way up to catch his breath. But by the end of rehab, he could climb the stairs without stopping.

The six-minute walk test is repeated halfway through a patient’s rehab program and at the end. “With this test, we find that their endurance improves a lot,” Gadash said. “It’s encouraging to see that the program is helping them get better.”

March 12-18 is Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week. It’s a week to take action. “If you’re having even a little trouble with breathing, pulmonary rehab can help,” Gadash said. “It’s better to come sooner than later. Most people wait longer than they should. We can help you prevent or slow down things from getting worse.  And on the upside, we can help you feel a lot better and have a better quality of life.”

Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Prowers Medical Center

If you’re experiencing routine shortness of breath, see your primary care provider at Prowers Medical Center. They may refer you for pulmonary rehabilitation. For more information on pulmonary rehab, call 719-336-6731 or visit prowersmedical.com.