Pulmonary Rehab helps for Better Function Day to Day
Local Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program offered at Veterans Memorial Hospital that teaches a person to live and breathe better with chronic lung disease. Conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, restrictive lung disease and cystic fibrosis can make doing everyday activities difficult due to shortness of breath and low activity tolerance. Participation in a pulmonary rehab program can help increase strength, manage shortness of breath, decrease anxiety and depression and implement a consistent at-home exercise program.
“I get such good care here and I am committed to it. I truly look forward to coming to rehab and every time I’m here, I try to do a little bit better so I can build up more strength. We have to choose to get better, otherwise anyone in a slump won’t improve,” states Pulmonary Rehab patient, Daryl Palmer, of rural Waterville. “I never even knew all of these services were available locally until I was hurt by that horse years ago. If it had not been for the Physical Therapy department, I may not have walked again. They have great services here. A person truly heals better moving around and keeping a good attitude and they sure help with that.”
Pulmonary Rehabilitation consists of closely supervised exercise sessions staffed by Diesty Weymiller, RN, and Morgan Walther, RN. During these sessions heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, shortness of breath and exercise tolerance are monitored and assessed. Sessions also include education about breathing techniques, energy conservation, medications, oxygen use and self-evaluation to help increase a person’s activity tolerance. The pulmonary rehab staff also provide other information that help set goals and create a plan for managing chronic lung disease and improving quality of life.
Al Buege of Waukon utilizes this local Pulmonary Rehab program at Veterans Memorial Hospital. He states, “This a good bunch to work with. I have been coming here for two months now and it really feels good. It helps to build me up and my energy has really increased.”
For more information in understanding and managing pulmonary function and improving health, please call the Rehabilitation Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 568-3411.
