Overview

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

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.

Locations

Locations

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

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