• Home
  • About Us
  • Blog

Pulmonary Hypertension RN

  • What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
    • What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
    • Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms
    • Types of Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension
    • PH vs. PAH
    • Diastolic Heart Failure vs. PAH
    • WHO Group 3 Pulmonary Hypertension, IPF & COPD
    • Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
    • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
      • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Treatment
    • Functional Classification of Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Congenital Heart Disease
      • Eisenmenger’s Syndrome
      • Update on Management of PAH-CHD
      • Congenital Heart Disease & Sleep Apnea
      • Complex Congenital Heart Disease
      • Atrial Septal Defect and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    • Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    • Sickle Cell and Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Stimulant Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    • Porto-Pulmonary Syndrome
    • Research, Life Expectancy & Prognosis for PH
  • Diagnosing & Monitoring PAH
    • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Diagnosis
    • How Am I Doing? Assessing Your PAH.
    • Blood Tests
    • Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET)
    • CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
    • Echocardiogram: An Overview
    • Echocardiogram: A Detailed Look
    • Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
    • Right Heart Catheterization
    • Six Minute Walk
    • Ventilation Perfusion Scan (VQ Scan)
    • CTEPH
      • CTEPH: WHO Group 4 Pulmonary Hypertension
      • PTE (Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy) Surgery
      • Adempas used to Treat PAH and CTEPH
  • PAH Treatment
    • Pulmonary Hypertension Centers
    • Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments
    • Continuously Infused Therapies Used to Treat PH
    • Prostanoids for Treatment of PH
    • Adcirca and Revatio Used to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
    • Adempas used to Treat PAH and CTEPH
    • Tracleer, Letairis, and Opsumit Treatments
    • Oxygen Therapy for Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Salt and Water Restrictions
    • Exercise & PAH
    • Diuretics
    • Blood Thinners
    • Getting the Most Out of PAH Therapy
      • Letairis
      • Opsumit
      • Sildenafil (Revatio)
  • Research
  • FAQ’s
    • Implanted Remodulin Pump, Right Heart Catheterization, PAH & Pregnancy
    • Oral Treatments, Care Centers & Hole in Heart
    • FAQ’s: Altitude, Cold & Allergy Medications
    • FAQ’s: Psoriasis, Idiopathic PAH, Contraceptives & PAH
    • FAQ’s: Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension, Symptom Frequency & Care Centers
    • FAQ: PAH Experts, Pregnancy, Mild PAH & Vacationing
    • FAQ’s: CTEPH, Blood Clots, Corrective Surgery & PAH Care Centers
    • FAQ’s: VQ Scans & PAH Curable?
    • FAQ’s: Mild Pulmonary Hypertension?
    • FAQ’s: Boating, Swimming & Eating with PAH
    • FAQ’s: Borderline Pulmonary Hypertension, Hand Swelling, Children with PAH, Costs

Exercise and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

July 19, 2015 By Dr. Jeremy Feldman

Caregiver excercise

A common question that I am asked by patients is how much activity can they safely perform.  What type of exercise is safe?  Should patients exercise?  In the past, patients with heart and lung disease were advised to avoid exercise.  We now know much better!  Not only does exercise improve your stamina, it also improves you muscle strength and sense of well-being.  During exercise, your brain releases chemicals (endorphins) that improve your mood and outlook.  Exercise also helps your bone health.

The best data supporting the benefits of exercise in pulmonary hypertension was published in 2006 (Merles et al, Circulation 2006).  Patients with PAH were randomized to either a vigorous exercise program or usual care.  After 15 weeks, six minute walk distance increased by more than 90 meters.  This improvement bested the improvement with any of our currently approved therapies.  The exercise program was rigorous and structured.  The exercise regimen consisted of stationary bicycling for 10-25 minutes, walking for 60 minutes and 30 minutes of weight lifting with light weights.  Patients did this training regimen 5 days per week.

Based on this well designed study, we have come to appreciate the benefits of exercise.  For patients with PAH, we encourage a regular exercise program that incorporates aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes daily and lifting light weights.  Patients should gradually increase the level of exercise as they progress.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

This is a structured, supervised exercise program that incorporates both aerobic and resistance training.  Education about medications and breathing techniques are also taught.  Insurance coverage for Pulmonary Rehab sessions has been variable.  Some plans cover the costs while others do not.  Importantly, all lung transplantation programs require participation in a pulmonary rehab program prior to and after lung transplantation.

Who Should NOT Exercise?

1.     All patients should not begin an exercise program until you have checked with your PAH doctor.

2.     If you were recently hospitalized for PAH, you should not exercise until you have talked to your treating physician.

3.     If you are having lightheadedness or fainting episodes with activity you should not exercise.

4.     If you develop chest pain during exercise you should stop and talk to your treating physician.

Do I have to participate in a formal Pulmonary Rehab program?

Many patients can develop their own exercise routine without a formal program.  I advise walking on a treadmill at 2 miles per hour for 6 minutes.  Then take a break and repeat.  Gradually increase the duration and speed.  Once you can walk for 30 minutes, you may gradually increase the incline by 0.5.  Add stationary bicycling for 10 minutes at low resistance to start.  Gradually increase the resistance and distance.

Many patients like to monitor their heart rate during exercise.  Your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age in years.  So if you are 40 years old, your maximum heart rate is 180.  A good heart rate range for exercising is 60-80% of your maximum heart rate (for the same 40 year old this would be a heart rate range of 105-140).

Weight lifting using light weights helps improve muscle strength.  Avoid doing exercises where your head is in a downward position.  As most patients with PAH already know, bending over can causes marked light headedness.  As a general rule, if you can lift the weight 10 times easily then it is a safe weight to use.  If you have to strain to lift the weight, then it is too heavy.  Lifting heavy weights and straining can lead to reduced blood flow to your heart and cause you to pass out.

What if I use oxygen, can I still exercise?

No problem.  If you require oxygen, wear your oxygen while you are exercising.  In fact, increase your oxygen by at least 1 liter/minute and even 2 liters/minute if you are able.  When you are done exercising and have fully recovered, turn your oxygen back down to your usual flow rate.  Don’t be embarrassed to be in the gym using your oxygen.  Grab the bull by the horns and be an active part of feeling better.

Filed Under: Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments

PAH Life Expectancy

PAH Research

Research, Life Expectancy & Prognosis for PH

Major Developments in Pulmonary Hypertension Affecting Prognosis 1.     Approval of

Where to Get Treatment?

CCCs for PAH

Pulmonary Hypertension Centers

Where to get treatment for pulmonary hypertension? Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a

Popular Posts

good news re PAH

Entire Implantable System for Remodulin Approved by the FDA

By Dr. Jeremy Feldman

It is finally here! The Food and Drug Administration approved Remodulin in its implantable delivery system for treatment

Internal anatomy of the pulmonary arteries

Living with Complex Congenital Heart Disease

By Dr. Jeremy Feldman

By Tabitha Moe and Jeremy Feldman A normal heart has 4 chambers: 2 top chambers and 2 bottom chambers.  In some

good news in pah

 

Disclaimer

Recent Blog Posts

  • Sotatercept Coming Soon January 10, 2023
  • Why Abortion Matters to PAH Patients May 3, 2022
  • Aerovate and Inhaled Imatinib February 13, 2022

Categories

Archives