For most people, breathing is automatic and something you don’t spend much time thinking about—unless you suffer from chronic pulmonary disease. There are many types of pulmonary diseases, most of which stem from chronic lung disease. If you suffer from emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease, you probably have experienced the stress and anxiety that come from living with a chronic condition that affects your breathing and your life.
Except for transplant situations, damage to the lungs cannot be repaired. But there are ways to compensate. Pulmonary rehabilitation strengthens the rest of the body, so that your lungs don’t have to work so hard. Physical exercise optimizes your body’s ability to use the lung function that’s available and, equally as important, enhances mental and emotional well-being.