ulmonary Rehabilitation

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Kishwaukee Community Hospital ’s Pulmonary Rehab Department, in conjunction with your physician, customizes a program that will meet your individual needs. 

The goal of the program is to help you reach the highest functional level allowed by your respiratory disease.

To achieve this goal, lifestyle changes are often necessary. These changes include breathing retraining techniques; following a safe, effective exercise program; stress management; body mechanics and energy conservation.

The program is designed to educate, support and encourage these lifestyle changes.

Is Pulmonary Rehabilitation Right For You?

Answer the following questions:
Short of breath climbing stairs?
Short of breath walking long distances, like in  a mall or grocery store?
Short of breath performing household chores?
Short of breath showering or dressing?
Afraid of having a breathing attack outside your home?
Avoiding long trips or vacations?
Lacking the energy to perform chores or play with your grandchildren?
Relying more on family and friends to do things you once took for granted?
Lacking confidence to enjoy activities that you used to do?
Short of breath stepping out of an automobile?

Program Features

• Breathing Techniques
• Breathing techniques can help control your shortness of breath. Learn pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing.

Lung Function

Learn how the lungs work and how chronic breathing problems interfere with the lung function.

Aerobic Exercise, Flexibility and Resistance Training

Increase your exercise tolerance with the use of stairs, treadmill and exercise bicycles. Stretching exercises help with your balance and flexibility. Hand weights are used to strengthen your respiratory muscles.

Nutrition

Dietitian will explain how different foods can affect your breathing.

Stress Control

Learn how to perform relaxation skills and how to better handle panic attacks due to breathing difficulties.

Inspiratory Muscle Training

Can help increase your respiratory muscle strength.

Respiratory Medications

Learn more about respiratory medications and the proper way of taking them.

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

A pulmonary rehabilitation program can help you:

• Enhance your ability to perform everyday tasks.
• Learn how the lungs function.
• Understand your lung problem.
• Learn the proper way to use inhalers.
• Learn about breathing medications and oxygen.
• Improve exercise tolerance and endurance.
• Improve balance.
• Learn how to use an inhalation muscle strengthener.
• Use relaxation skills and avoid stressful situations which cause shortness of breath.
• Reduce length and frequency of hospital stays.
• Be more self-confident and more in control of your life.
• Resume social activities and interests.
• May return to work.

For more information contact:

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator
Kishwaukee Community Hospital
One Kish Hospital Drive
DeKalb , IL 60115

Telephone: (815) 748-8979
(800) 397-1521, Ext. 158979