Pulmonary rehabilitation is a treatment program to
help patients with chronic lung disease such as asthma, chronic
bronchitis, or bronchiectasis. The treatment is individually
tailored for each patient and typically includes:
Relaxation
Nutrition
Exercise
Medication
Lifestyle management
Pulmonary rehabilitation helps stabilize pulmonary disease
and provides emotional support and education that improve the
patient's quality of life.
At UNC we have a pulmonary rehabilitation program that provides
a multidisciplinary approach. This program aims to optimize
the daily functioning of patients with lung diseases through
the use of exercise and education. Sessions are scheduled three
days per week (preferably Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and
last approximately 1½ hour each. An educational class will also
be held once a week on a variety of topics. The total duration
of the program is 6 weeks. At the conclusion of our program
we will assist the patient in setting up a home exercise program
that will maintain a safe, independent exercise routine.
During exercise, patients will receive:
- Baseline vital sign assessment (HR, RR, BP, O2 saturation,
RPE)
- Continuous O2 saturation and HR monitoring during exercise
- Titration of O2 to maintain saturations above 90%,
or as prescribed by the referring physician
- Progressive monitored exercise within tolerance
- Education on a variety of topics
- Airway clearance techniques, as appropriate
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Faculty and Staff 
