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Puff Your Stuff -- CORD and Exercising

COPD, CAL, CORD, EMPHYSEMA, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS — call it by any name: this is an illness that affects a large number of people in our community, often associated with the unpleasant symptom of breathlessness. Some may seek advice in the early stages when they start. experiencing breathlessness on exertion like walking upstairs, uphill or trying to keep up during that game of golf. Others may only seek help when they become breathless doing everyday activities like dressing, hanging out the washing, or gardening. However it gets hard to ignore when you may find it difficult getting out of bed or simply walking to the toilet — in time. BREATHLESSNESS is a perception of “breathing discomfort’ rather than a medical condition but it can lead to feelings of fear, panic and often withdrawal from activities that produce breathlessness — and start you off on a spiral of inactivity. Along with the frustration of being unable to perform these everyday activities, the secondary, effects of inactivity can lead to further limitations and complications like - Muscle weakness, joint and muscle stiffness, reduced bone density, circulation problems and many others. Being inactive can further contribute to the process of debilitation and in the end make you less efficient, make you feel more breathless. NOT ALL iS LOST — you can improve. Wherever you may fit in the cycle — it is never too late to start exercising and enjoy the benefits and often improvements to your life. Numerous studies over the last 30 years have shown benefits of exercise for people with COPD. While exercise won’t repair your damaged lungs or necessarily make you live longer, exercise can improve your ability and efficiency to do everyday activities, enhance your quality of life and help you gain control of the sensation of breathlessness while doing more. Along with your medication, exercise is an essential part of managing your illness. WHAT EXERCISE IS BEST? Because COPD seldom occurs in isolation and never affects two people in the same way - the exercise you choose will depend on your ability or limitations, Whether striding out for a walk, or doing simple exercises sitting in your chair— it all helps. It does not have to cost money. Using pulleys, light hand weights made from drink bottles, elastic exercise bands can add variety and progression to your exercises. Useful ideas that can be included in your exercise routine are: Strengthening exercises for large leg muscle groups. Strengthening exercises for shoulder and arm muscles to assist with everyday activities. Flexibility exercises for trunk, chest and neck muscles. Postural exercises to maintain good spinal support and balance

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