Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Baptist Health-Fort Smith is a doctor-supervised program that benefits those with chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or lung tumors.
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic lung diseases, according to the American Lung Association. Many more may not even realize they have it. Respiratory disease can lead to a lack of sleep, missed work, and avoidance of activity.
The program is also often used before and after lung surgery. Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to help patients return to the highest level of function and independence possible while improving the overall quality of life. These goals are often met by:
- Smoking cessation
- Reducing hospitalizations
- Managing medications
- Exercises to improve lung capacity and fitness
- Patient and family education and counseling
- Assistance with obtaining respiratory equipment and portable oxygen
There’s no cure for COPD, but the good news is that it can be found early. Much can be done to treat and help manage the disease. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, excessive mucus, wheezing, and frequent respiratory infections. If you experience any of these symptoms or think you might be at risk for COPD, it is important to discuss this with your doctor, who can refer you to the program.
Once referred to the program, a simple breathing test and a six-minute walking test will help the Pulmonary Rehab staff at Baptist Health-Fort Smith determine the next step in your personalized care plan.
Baptist Health-Fort Smith’s Pulmonary Rehab program is located inside the Marvin Altman Fitness Center at 810 Lexington Avenue. For more information on the program, call (479) 441-5108.