Exercise with COPD

[angse]

Hi not long diagnosed with this condition, I have a dog so do walk at least half hour a day if poss, I have not been given the option by my gp who diagnosed me with this for breathing exercises or any other self help treatment, does anyone know where I go from here to get this info, any advice would be great thanks. Angse

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webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guid... also ask your gp to refer you to rehab hope this helpsx

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copd.emedtv.com/copd/copd-r... heres 1 on rehab refsx

[Hidden]

Hi, welcome to the site! My husband was given his diagnosis and off we went with no help! Firstly I would advise you ring the helpline in the morning they have some fantastic leaflets and the nurses will be able to give you some advise re: exercise which is absolutely essential to slow down the progression. Pulmonary rehab is a programme of about six to eight weeks of controlled exercise and information which my husband found invaluable. You need to be referred by your gp - you may need to be quite insistent! Good luck TAD xx

[heho in reply to Hidden]

thank you for your advice - very helpfull. Still waiting for an appointment for this but takes so long. We;; done and I wish you wrll

[stone-UK]

Hi

In addition to the above advice. On the right of the all post page you will see pinned post,

Click on Abbreviations and links , scroll to bottom there is links to pulmonary rehablitation and exercise.

[Hidden]

Why don't you contact BLF and they will send you lots of information out about lung disease. Or if you have any questions you could ring them. Don't know where the number is now under this new layout though. x

[heho in reply to Hidden]

thank you

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

Coughalot, the number is 03000 030 555. Lines are open every week day from 10 am till 1 pm.

(I had to find an administrator, it was somewhere at the end of their message!!!) I@ve asked if it could be placed more prominently)

[heho]

feel for you as I have a little dog and feel so guilty not being able to take for long works but fortunatly have a big garden KEEP chin up and hopefully all will improove for you. I know How you must feel.

[heho]

in same position - its awful but I am lucky as have a large garden and very small dog but still feel guilty. Keep your chin up and all will turn out well. Lot of us in similar place - not that it helps to say that but keep possitive and you will be ok

[jamorro]

You could try pulmonary rehab. They sow you exercises. I was diagnosed with COPD 8 yrs ago. My GP said don't bother with exercises as I only had 5 yrs left. I went to PR and then a gym and I haven't looked back since I cannot run but I can do everything else and I've got so much better.

[katieoxo60]

Hi Angse, welcome. There are some exercise classes in some areas but the best thing to do with COPD is ask for a referral from your GP to Pulmonary Rehab following which they usually have an ongoing exercise class which you can attend for a small fee. Walking your dog when well is good too but avoid exercise when you have a COPD flare up. Keep well hope to see you again soon.

[CornishBrian]

Refer yourself to the local respiratory team....usual in most areas. They are specialists in COPD etc and are the first port of call if I am in trouble. They do home visits and clinics in local surgeries. They always have the most up to date information and will know everything breahing related in your area.

[Parvati]

The main exercise you need to do is walk - walking at a level where you are getting breathless but not gasping, every day or most days of the week for two miles at least (working up to this over time if you are currently unable to manage it). If you do this, it doesn't really matter if you do no other form of exercise - although of course you can add other things if you wish - it all does you good - but walking briskly is the only one that makes a real difference to COPD. Google and practice 'Pursed Lip Breathing', it is simple to do and you should adopt this style of breathing as soon as you start your walk or any other type of exertion. Stop and rest or catch your breath when you need to and then continue on as soon as you are recovered. Another excellent excercise if you enjoy it and are able is swimming. But most of all walk, and then walk some more - those of us that do have the least problem with SOB (shortness of breath) and have fewer exacerbations. There are COPD'ers even in the very severe stage that walk a daily mile or two - it really is worth getting into the habit. It is worth getting a treadmill at home if you can - that way you can get plenty of walking done even if the weather is bad. You can also track your progress and avoid the high level of germs that tend to be rife in public Gyms. Good luck.

[angse]

Thank you all very much for all the very welcome advice, I didn't know places like rehab existed for COPD, so glad I came on this site, I feel now I will be able to work on all advice given to me here, I am also living with liver disease, autoimmune attacks it, so at some point it may lead to transplant but with COPD they may not be able to do it, I will see, so now I have double the trouble, but as they say fight on, keep well everyone thanks again. Angse

[Dmactds]

My lung specialist has a class for exercises that's free and there seem to many more scattered around here in my area of the US; I should think there would be many in your country as well.

However, no one told me about 'Pursed Lip Breathing' and found out about it on my own; do some WEB research and ask around, it helps with lung function and revitalizing abdomen muscles.

Best of Luck !!!

[peege]

Some YouTube clips help for breathing exercises like PLBreathing as well as exercises to strengthen the diaphragm - the muscle that supports our lungs x

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bing.com/search?q=you+tube+... hears some angsex

[FarmerD]

Hello Angse,welcome to this great site.I found my pulmonary rehab sessions of great benefit and now do a permanent PR gym class every week.The fact you walk so much stands you in good stead already,good luck.D.

[angse]

Thank so much all of you, you are all very knowledgeable about this condition and I am very grateful for all your help, Angse

[Daffodil51]

Hello Agnes and welcome. Agree with all the above advice. You will find this forum full of people with a wealth of knowledge. It's been really helpful to me. I swim 3 times a week. I try to do at least 600 metres and I was also referred by go to pulmonary rehab which started this week. It's a programme of exercise and education which I think will be really useful. There's usually a long wait so get your gp to refer you ASAP. You can ask any question in here and someone will come along with the answer.