If you have chronic lung disease, pulmonary rehabilitation can improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and give you more energy to perform daily tasks and do what you love. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive program that involves medical management and training with a whole team focused on helping you:

• Breathe easier
• Get stronger
• Eat healthier
• Feel better
• Stay out of the hospital

You can live better with chronic lung disease. Visit with a University of Miami Health System pulmonologist (lung specialist), and get stronger for yourself, and those you love.

Who is a Candidate?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a treatment option for patients with moderate to severe forms of:

• Antitrypsin deficiency (alpha-1): a metabolic storage disorder that causes emphysema
• Asthma: inflamed airways in the lungs
• Bronchiectasis: permanently enlarged airways that cause excess mucus in the lungs
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• Cystic fibrosis: genetic disease that causes abnormally thick, sticky mucus, sweat, and digestive juices (bile) that can’t move through pathways in the body
• Pulmonary fibrosis: tissue scarring around the lung air sacs
• Pulmonary hypertension: high blood pressure in the lung artery
• Sarcoidosis: granulomas, or lumps, in the lung that cause scarring and lead to pulmonary fibrosis

What to Expect

Pulmonary rehabilitation takes place while you’re in the hospital, such as after surgery or lung transplant, or in an outpatient (clinic) setting. A typical program lasts 12 weeks, and can include:

• Breathing exercises: to build your lung capacity with devices, medicines, and techniques you can use at home
• Education programs: to learn about medicines, healthy diets, and at-home medical equipment
• Exercise training: to increase activity through stretching, progressive strengthening, and exercise machines (treadmills, bikes, etc.), individually or with a group
• Rehabilitation therapies: to help you perform daily activities more efficiently and gain strength and mobility
• Relaxation training: to help reduce stress or anxiety, such as practicing meditation or coping strategies
• Smoking cessation programs: to stop smoking with individual and group support, medicines, and coping techniques
• Support programs: to meet and encourage others with your condition

Why Choose UHealth?

Coordinated, team-based medical and rehabilitation services. Your care is managed by a pulmonologist, nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, dietician, rehabilitation therapists (occupational and physical therapy), clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, and a social worker. We take care of everything, such as scheduling convenient appointments and bringing in the right care providers at the right time. This means you can relax and focus on getting better faster.

Innovative services at modern facilities. Our pulmonary rehabilitation program is provided in part through the physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation programs at state-of-the-art facilities. You have access to the some of the best therapists and equipment available in South Florida.