Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Overview

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that is designed to help people with a chronic lung disease learn how to breathe easier and improve quality of life.

The program offers:

• Education
• Breathing retraining
• Physical exercise
• Nutritional counseling
• Smoking cessation

Who benefits from pulmonary rehabilitation?

Anyone with respiratory illness including:

• COPD (emphysema, chronic bronchitis)
• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Sarcoidosis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Pre-and post-lung transplantation
• Lung cancer and post lung cancer surgery
• Lung volume reduction surgery
• Other pulmonary conditions

What are the goals?

The goal is to achieve the highest possible level of independent functioning by helping patients to:

• Reduce and gain control of symptoms
• Increase activity through exercise training
• Become more involved in activities of daily living
• Experience less difficulty with breathing
• Reduce the need for hospitalizations
• Understand how to use medications and oxygen appropriately
• Participate in social and recreational activities

Health Information

How does pulmonary rehabilitation work?

• An individualized education and exercise program is developed
• Endurance training is achieved utilizing state-of-the-art exercise equipment including treadmill, stationary bicycles, arm ergometers and weights
• Monitored and supervised exercises
• Comprehensive education is provided by trained staff to help patients learn to manage their respiratory condition
• A low-cost maintenance exercise program is also available after completing the intensive phase

Why should I exercise?

Regular exercise has many benefits. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can:

• Improve your circulation and help the body better use oxygen
• Improve your COPD symptoms
• Build energy levels so you can do more activities without becoming tired or short of breath
• Strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system
• Increase endurance
• Lower blood pressure
• Improve muscle tone and strength; improve balance and joint flexibility
• Strengthen bones
• Help reduce body fat and help you reach a healthy weight
• Help reduce stress, tension, anxiety, and depression
• Boost self-image and self-esteem; make you look fit and feel healthy
• Improve sleep
• Make you feel more relaxed and rested

Before entering the program, each participant must have a prescription from their physician and a recent pulmonary function test. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a reimbursable service through Medicare and most insurance companies.

• Learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation

Locations

We offer pulmonary rehabilitation programs at multiple locations throughout the community.

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Akron General Akron General Health and Wellness Center, Bath Ashtabula County Medical Center Euclid Hospital Fairview Hospital Hillcrest Hospital Marymount Hospital Medina Hospital South Pointe Hospital

Location Contact Information

• Cleveland Clinic Main Campus – 216.444.3708
• Akron General – 330.344.7640
• Akron General Health & Wellness Center – 330.665.8088
• Ashtabula County Medical Center – 440.997.6649
• Euclid Hospital – 216.692.8770
• Fairview Hospital – 216.476.7000
• Hillcrest Hospital – 440.312.7999
• Marymount Hospital – 216.587.8696
• Medina Hospital – 330.721.5313
• South Pointe Hospital – 216.491.6083