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Pulmonary rehabilitation

A chronic lung disease can cause symptoms that interfere with your daily activities and keep you from feeling your best. We want you to know that the Iredell Health System outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program is available to you, and it can help you live and breathe better.

Pulmonary rehab includes exercise and education that helps you take charge of your lung disease so you can function better in daily life. Our highly trained staff will provide the help you need to reduce disease symptoms, improve activities of daily living, be more physically active at home and in your social circle, and manage anxiety and depression.

Our team has advanced certifications that you won't always find at other pulmonary rehab centers. For instance, our masters-level clinical exercise physiologist is trained in exercise and clinical diseases. You'll also work with physicians, registered nurses, a respiratory therapist, dietitians and a licensed counselor.

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Reviewed 3/14/2023

Rehab for COPD and other lung conditions

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is one of the conditions that may qualify a person for pulmonary rehab. Other lung conditions that may make you a candidate for rehab include bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension or sarcoidosis.

You may also benefit from pulmonary rehab if you’ve had lung cancer surgery or lung volume reduction surgery before and after a lung transplant.

What happens in pulmonary rehab?

Pulmonary rehab addresses your lung health as well as all other aspects of your life affected by lung disease. Rehab may include:

Exercise. We will tailor an exercise program that meets your individual needs. Our gym has treadmills, upper-body cycles, stationary bikes, rowing machines and recumbent bikes to meet the needs of any level of mobility. We use telemetry equipment to monitor your exercise for your safety.

Lung disease education. You will learn breathing strategies and techniques to help conserve your energy and receive nutritional counseling and help with quitting tobacco, if needed.

Counseling and group support. We offer help to manage feeling of stress, anxiety and depression.

Vocational rehabilitation. If you qualify, vocational rehabilitation assistance is available. This service can help you return to your job or find a new job more appropriate to any limitations related to your chronic lung disease.

Outpatient pulmonary rehab class schedules

We offer an 18-week pulmonary rehab program. Most people attend classes two times a week for a total of 36 sessions.

Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 2:00 PM. Once you choose a class, those days and times are reserved for you. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your class begins.

How to get started in pulmonary rehab

You will need a referral from your doctor to participate in pulmonary rehab.

A new participant orientation is offered with no obligation to enroll. If you’re interested, we will schedule you for an orientation, and you will have the opportunity to decide if our pulmonary rehab program is right for you.

Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurances cover pulmonary rehab.

To learn more, please call 704.878.4558 or email angela.little@iredellhealth.org.