While there’s no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exercise can improve COPD symptoms and help you feel better.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, nearly 14 million people in the United States have COPD, and more people have it but don’t know it.

Breathing difficulties can make people with COPD feel like they 肠补苍’迟 exercise or that it’s unsafe. But doing the right exercises at the right intensity can help.

Guidelines from the American Lung Association recommend 20 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise for 3 or 4 days a week for people with COPD.

Your doctor may encourage physical activity because it can improve shortness of breath and other COPD symptoms. Before you start a new routine, ask them which activities to try and what to avoid.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of progressive lung diseases that block airflow and make it hard to breathe. These lung diseases include:

Symptoms of COPD include:

  • shortness of breath
  • frequent coughing
  • tightness in the chest

Exercising regularly when you’re living with COPD can help:

  • improve oxygen utilization in the body
  • increase energy levels
  • reduce anxiety, stress, and depression
  • improve sleep quality
  • boost self-esteem
  • improve cardiovascular health
  • strengthen muscles
  • decrease episodes of shortness of breath

A combination of breathing exercises and physical activity can help improve symptoms of COPD.

Breathing exercises

Before starting an exercise program, it’s helpful to practice breathing exercises for COPD. Doing these regularly can help make physical exertion easier and more comfortable.

Breathing exercises may include pursed lip breathing and belly breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing.

But if you have moderate to severe COPD, your doctor may first refer you to a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Aerobics and resistance training

Good physical activity choices for people with COPD include aerobic or cardiovascular exercises as well as upper body resistance or weight training to help strengthen the heart, lungs, and surrounding respiratory muscles.

The following are eight types of exercises that are good options for people with COPD:

Always warm up and stretch before exercising and cool down afterward. This reduces stress on your heart, muscles, and joints.

Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. For example, you might begin by exercising for 10 minutes 2 times a week and work up to 30 minutes 4 times a week.

While exercising, aim to keep your heart rate at 50% to 80% of your maximum heart rate, which is 220 minus your age. This may be difficult for people with COPD, but it should still be a goal to work toward.

It’s never a bad idea to monitor your heart rate during exercise.

Stretching

Incorporating stretches into your routine can help you unwind and increase your range of motion. It’s also an effective way to prepare your body before a workout and cool down afterward.

A 2020 study found that passive stretching may help people with COPD improve their chest expansion and ability to walk. The stretching exercises targeted tension in specific areas such as the neck, shoulders, and chest.

Try some dynamic stretching exercises to warm up before a workout. Try holding each stretch for 10 to 30 seconds, taking slow and steady breaths. Repeat this process multiple times for maximum benefits.

Yoga and tai chi

Yoga combines gentle movement with controlled breathing. Yoga poses can be gentle on the muscles and joints while helping strengthen your diaphragm.

The breathing part of the practice is called pranayama, whereas the postures are called asanas. Similarly, tai chi is another gentle form of exercise that focuses on controlled breathing and slow movements and postures.

That said, it’s important to speak with your doctor before trying any new exercise program, including yoga. Make sure you take a class with a qualified instructor, and they are aware of your chronic health issues. Listen to your body as you go through the poses and rest when you need to. If you use oxygen or inhalers, keep them within reach during practice.

Generally, there aren’t specific exercises to avoid with COPD. That said, before beginning any exercise program, speak with your doctor. What suits your body might be different than what suits someone else, even if they also have COPD.

If you aren’t accustomed to regular exercise, gradually increase the duration of your workouts. Generally, it’s a good plan to aim for 20 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3 or 4 times per week.

Also, be mindful not to push yourself too hard. Exerting yourself for too long or at too high of intensity may lead to injury or worsen COPD symptoms.

Avoid exercising if you are feeling ill and call your doctor if you have:

  • nausea
  • fever
  • difficulty breathing or other worsened COPD symptoms
  • dizziness

Exercise 肠补苍’迟 reverse lung damage, but it can improve your physical endurance and strengthen your respiratory muscles. This can help you feel better physically and mentally. You’ll be able to participate in more activities without losing your breath or getting tired.

Inactivity can cause a decline in cardiovascular function and muscle mass. Over time, you may find yourself more and more breathless every time you exert yourself. Everyday activities might become more challenging.

It takes time to build cardiovascular endurance and strengthen your respiratory muscles. That’s why it’s important to be consistent and establish a regular exercise routine.

You might feel like you can stop workouts once you’re breathing better, but if you stop using those muscles regularly, shortness of breath will likely return.

Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale

The RPE scale is designed to measure the intensity of your exercise. It’s a simple way to rate your own level of difficulty for a specific physical activity. This can help you monitor your exertion, stay in the safe zone, and track your improvement.

The right exercises can help improve symptoms of COPD and your quality of life. Talk with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.

They may give you specific information about how to exercise safely based on your individual health profile.