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Exercise and COPD
Physical Activity and COPD
Regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, even if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You might feel like it is not safe, or even possible to exercise with COPD, but the right amount and type of exercise has many benefits.
Talk with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program and discuss the best exercise goals for you. As you get started, it is important to not overdo it. Exercising for too long or too intense may cause injury, shortness of breath or other COPD related symptoms. If you do not exercise regularly, gradually increase the amount of time you exercise. Each person may have different exercise goals. In general, moderate exercise for people living with COPD may be 20-30 minutes of exercise for three to four days a week.
Moderate exercise can improve:
The body's use of oxygen
Energy levels
Sleep
Self-esteem
Cardiovascular fitness
Muscle strength
You can also ask your provider about the types of activities you should avoid and steps to take if you are starting to have COPD-related symptoms. This should be added to your COPD Action and Management Plan.
Remember, when you are active, it is important to eat healthy and drink plenty of water. If you exercise outside, avoid exercising on days with extreme temperatures or weather conditions. You should also pay attention to the air quality index. If you use supplemental oxygen, you should exercise with it. Your healthcare provider may adjust your flow rate for physical activity, which will be different than your flow rate when you are resting. Work with your provider to adjust your oxygen for physical activity.
If you want guidance on starting an exercise routine, you can contact the specialists listed below. Make sure the specialist is certified by an exercise-related professional organization, such as the American College of Sports Medicine.
Physical therapist
Exercise physiologist
Personal trainer
Talk to the staff at your fitness facility about your COPD before you start exercising.
To access the full article on exercise and COPD with more tips, click here.
In partnership with the YMCA, Hally Health focuses on a variety of topics aimed at people of any age or fitness level who want to stay healthy and active. Try this November Pilates Workout that’s sure to get your heart pumping. To view all of our YMCA partnership fitness videos throughout the month, please visit hally.com or Facebook.com/HealthAlliance.