Managing Shortness of Breath With Interstitial Lung Disease

If you have been cleared by a doctor or health care professional to participate in unsupervised exercise training, please visit your program information under the settings menu tab. You will have to cancel your current program and create a new account under ‘Join For Free’ on the main website. Please complete the screening process and select the Exercise + Breathe + Learn + Move plan. You will then have access to your personalized exercise plan!

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Do not begin the breathing exercises if you have:

• Recently had an exacerbation and are unstable
• A fever, infection or nausea
• Unusual shortness of breath or difficulty breathing while resting
• Chest pain or palpitations (“fluttering” of the heart in the chest)
• New swelling in your legs and/or ankles
• Dizziness / light-headedness
• Too much fatigue
• Unusual fluid volume when wheezing or coughing

Use the Borg Dyspnea / Breathlessness Scale to gauge your exercise intensity

Do not begin any exercises / stop exercising immediately if you have/develop:

• An exacerbation (if so, immediately activate your action plan) or you are unstable from a recent exacerbation
• A fever, infection or feel nauseated
• Dizziness / light-headedness
• Shortness of breath more than normal
• Chest discomfort or chest pain
• Cool, clammy skin
• You are wheezing or coughing up more fluids than usual
• Excessive fatigue
• Irregular heartbeat
• New swelling in your legs/ankles
• Any symptoms you consider an emergency

Increase weight or consider attending a fitness facility

Remember to increase the number of breaks you take during each exercise