Lung Disease

Two common and closely related lung diseases are emphysema and chronic bronchitis or medically know as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic bronchitis – is an inflammation that ends up scarring the lining of the bronchial tubes.
Emphysema – causes the walls between the air sacs within the lungs to become weak and break, making it hard to feel like we get enough air.

COPD develops slowly. Symptoms often worsen over time and can limit the ability to do routine activities and the person may eventually require an oxygen tank or even mechanical respiratory assistance to breathe. Other treatments include bronchodilators, antibiotics, and exercise to strengthen muscles.

People with lung disease often feel like they struggle just to breathe, so exercise seems out of the question. However without enough exercise, you body becomes less conditioned, your muscles become less efficient at using oxygen and you enter vicious cycle of becoming more and more short of breath during less and less physical activities.

Shortness of breath is not due to lung disease alone. The deconditioned muscles cause weakness and much of your shortness of breath.