Exercise

Shortness of breath and weakness are two common problems of people with chronic lung diseases. As a result, many people avoid participating in physical activities that cause them shortness of breath. In turn, these people become weaker and their shortness of breath greater with even less activity.

A program of regular exercise can help break this vicious cycle.

Even in small amounts, exercise can help strengthen your muscles and make them more efficient—requiring less oxygen to perform the same activities. Further, by stretching muscles that are not regularly used, including the breathing muscles, everyday activities such as walking will become easier and lung function will improve.

While exercise may seem overwhelming at first, even walking at a very slow pace will benefit your overall quality of life. Exercise will improve your appetite, giving you the “fuel” and building blocks you need to repair and maintain your body’s lung function. Mild to moderate exercise has also been proven to improve mental function.

The benefits of light to moderate exercise will be apparent rather quickly after beginning a regular exercise routine. However, these positive effects can be lost just as quickly as they appeared. As such, once you begin the healthy habit of regular exercise, you should continue daily unless otherwise advised by your doctor or physician.

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