Breathe Easy, Not Wheezy! Adding Specific Exercises for the Pulmonary Dysfunctional Client By Soraya Cates Parr, BS Cool, refreshing water -- that is what most group exercise participants envi- sion before a challenging aquatics class. However, for those with pulmo- nary dysfunction, it can be frightening. million people in the U.S. suffering from this disease. It is estimated that another 8.25 million are not aware that they have it and are in the begin- ning stages of the disease. (ACSM’s However, exercise is crucial for individuals with pulmonary dysfunction. It can help correct physical deconditioning, aid in desensitization to dyspnea-related fear, improve coordination, balance, and retain efficiency for the activities of daily living (ADLs). Years ago, individuals with pulmonary dysfunction would have been advised against water exercise because of the exertion of pressure on the chest muscles. Today, current research has noted substantial benefits for those individuals with COPD. COPD stands for chronic obstruc- tive pulmonary disease. Chronic lower respiratory disease, primarily COPD, was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2011). The incidence of COPD is increasing in the U.S. with an estimated 16.5 42 | Akwa | December 2017 / January 2018 Current Comment. Haykowsky, Eves. 2012). There are several forms of COPD, Dressendorfer, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency which is a congenital condition. In addition, the number of people with asthma continues to grow. One in 12 people (about 25 million, or 8% of the population) had asthma in 2009, compared with 1 in 14 (about 20 million, or 7%) in 2001 (CDC 2011). Smoking, environmental pol- lutants, molds, allergies, genetics, and respiratory infections all play a part in the health of the respiratory system. It is now known that exposure to “sec- ond-hand” smoke is also a critical fac- tor in respiratory health. COPD causes multiple problems, not only through the ventilator and gas exchange system of the lungs, but also with the cardiovascular and muscu- lar systems. The pulmonary system includes the lungs and the muscles of breathing, such as the diaphragm, which pump air into and out of the lungs. The lungs serve in getting oxy- gen into the body and removing carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism. Respiration is defined as the act of inhaling and exhaling air to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. Oxygen, needed for the body to func- tion and live, is delivered by the cardio- respiratory system. The oxygen is uti- lized in aerobic metabolic processes to supply fuel for most bodily functions. When cells do not receive proper oxy- gen, the person may experience dys- pnea (difficulty breathing) and hypoxia (oxygen that does not reach the tissues correctly and carbon dioxide that does not leave the blood through the lungs). It may seem counter-intuitive that an exercise program may help someone
