How Pulmonary Rehabilitation Increases Lung Capacity

Breathing is an automatic function you may not think about until it becomes difficult. If you’re living with a breathing disorder like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or post-COVID respiratory complications, everyday activities like climbing stairs or walking through the grocery store may leave you feeling exhausted.

At Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey, pulmonary experts, Dr. Nehal Mehta and Dr. Prashant Patel, understand the frustration you feel and want to help you breathe better. That’s why they offer pulmonary rehabilitation. 

With the right exercises, tools, and medication, we can increase lung capacity, improve breathing, and help you reduce or get off supplemental oxygen.

About pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a medical program for people with conditions that make it hard to breathe. We personalize treatment plans based on individual needs and goals and provide the tools and skills needed to improve lung health and function so you can breathe better.

While pulmonary rehabilitation provides many benefits, one of the main ones is increasing lung capacity.

Why lung capacity matters

Lung capacity is the amount of air your lungs can take in and hold. This matters because it determines the amount of oxygen available to your body. The more air you can take in, the more oxygen your body gets.

A healthy lung can hold about 6 liters of air. Breathing disorders may affect lung capacity by obstructing the airways or limiting lung expansion. Weak respiratory muscles also affect lung capacity.

Decreased lung capacity lowers blood oxygen levels making you feel short of breath and tired. It also affects organ function and may lead to other health problems. Measuring lung capacity with pulmonary function tests helps us design treatment plans for pulmonary rehab.

How pulmonary rehab increases lung capacity 

Breathing exercises are one of the primary techniques we use to help you participate in pulmonary rehab to increase lung capacity. Examples of breathing exercises include:

Pursed lip breathing

Pursed lip breathing teaches you how to slow your breathing down so you can take in more oxygen and exhale more carbon dioxide. 

Belly breathing

Belly breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, teaches you how to use your diaphragm for breathing properly.

The diaphragm is a muscle that sits under your lungs and contracts when you breathe in, expanding space for your lungs to take in more air, and relaxes when you exhale, helping push out the carbon dioxide.

Yoga breathing exercises

Yoga is a meditative exercise that utilizes various breathing techniques. Studies show it improves respiratory muscle strength, reduces shortness of breath, and increases lung capacity.

Exercises that strengthen the muscles that support breathing are also part of pulmonary rehab programs that may increase lung capacity. 

How to get started

If you have a breathing disorder and can’t catch your breath, it’s time to schedule an evaluation with our pulmonary specialists. We can evaluate lung function and create a plan that may include pulmonary rehabilitation.

Plans are customized but usually require weekly visits for treatment and training over several weeks. We can help you breathe better and reduce or eliminate your need for supplemental oxygen, so call us today or request an appointment online to schedule a consultation.