Respiratory - Breathing better with Pulmonary Rehabilitation

What can Breathing Better do for you?

The Breathing Better programme has been designed to help you understand your lung disease and get the most from each day.
Attending a programme is a great opportunity to learn how to get back in control of your breathing. It will not cure your lung disease but it will make you feel fitter, better and more able to do your normal day to day activities such as housework, shopping, getting upstairs or gardening.

What is Breathing Better?

Breathing Better is a programme of gentle exercise and education (sometimes called Pulmonary Rehabilitation) designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to help you become as active and independent as possible. Research shows that it is one of the best treatments for lung disease.

Breathing Better will

• Increase your ability to exercise and move about
• Lessen your breathlessness during everyday activities
• Improve your overall feeling of well being
• Give you the opportunity to explore any issues you have with breathlessness

You will also learn about:

• Keeping well and preventing your condition getting worse
• Managing breathlessness and coughing
• What to do if you become unwell
• Getting the most out of any treatment you are receiving
• How to relax and reduce stress
• Benefits and holiday advice

Breathing Better consists of a twice weekly programme that runs for six weeks in venues across Salford.

Each session lasts for up to two hours. It is important that you attend as many sessions as possible in order to get the greatest benefit from the programme.

Although the best option for most people is to attend for six weeks twice a week, we also offer other choices to fit in with your lifestyle.

Assessment

At the start and finish of a Breathing Better programme you will be asked to attend for an assessment which will take around one hour. The assessment will include:

• A simple walking test
• A discussion about what you want to achieve from the programme
• Three very short questionnaires that will help us assess how much your breathing problems affect your life
• At the initial assessment you will also have an opportunity to ask questions to help you decide which Breathing Better programme best suits your lifestyle.

What to wear and bring to your assessment and classes

Wear comfortable clothing and flat, comfortable shoes (not flip flops or sandals).

Bring your inhalers and oxygen if you normally use them.

What happens after my Breathing Better Programme finishes?

On completion of the programme you will be

• Provided with a personalised care plan to help you continue to increase your activity levels at home
• Encouraged to attend follow on classes
• Encouraged to join local support groups

Pulmonary Rehabilitation programmes like Breathing Better have helped many people control their breathing difficulties, reduce their breathlessness and enjoy their life to the full.

How do I access Breathing Better?

For further information about how Breathing Better could help you, please speak to your doctor or nurse.
Alternatively you can contact the Breathing Better team for more information on the telephone number below:

Breathing Better

Telephone: 0161 206 3159
You can also find out more about the benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation from:
The British Lung Foundation Helpline: 03000 030 555 or online at: www.lunguk.org
The Breathing Better Programme is delivered in collaboration with Salford Active Lifestyles Team.