Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation, also known as respiratory rehabilitation, is an important part of treating and maintaining the health of people with chronic respiratory conditions who persist in symptoms or continue to decline in function despite standard treatment. This is a broad therapeutic concept. The American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society describe it as an evidence-based, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic respiratory conditions who have symptoms and regularly reduce daily activity. In general, pulmonary rehabilitation refers to the sequence of services that are provided to patients with respiratory disease and their families, usually with the aim of improving the patient's quality of life.

Pulmonary rehabilitation can be completed in a variety of settings, depending on the patient's wishes, and may or may not include pharmacological intervention. Pulmonary rehabilitation is usually tailored to the patient's personality to meet his or her desires. It is an extensive program that can benefit people with lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and cystic fibrosis, among others.  Although the technique is aimed at rehabilitating the victim himself, the family is also involved. The system usually does not start until a scientific examination of the victim has been performed by an authorized physician.