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#Post#: 23--------------------------------------------------
Improving Lung Capacity Pre- and Post-COVID-19
DIR By: LightMove
Date: October 23, 2021, 1:08 am
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Two Cedars-Sinai Respiratory Therapists Offer Insight Into the
Toll of COVID-19 on the Lungs and How Non-Patients Can Improve
Their Respiratory Health
For many patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19,
surviving the virus is only half of the battle. Once deemed
virus-free and ready to be sent home, the often-long road to
recovery – including rebuilding lung capacity and overall
respiratory health – begins.
Two Cedars-Sinai respiratory therapists explain what roadblocks
these hospital-admitted patients face when it comes to lung
health and offer tips for non-patients looking to improve their
overall respiratory health.
“Patients with COVID-19 tend to be sicker for much longer than
other patients with respiratory-related illnesses and, on
average, stay on a ventilator for a longer duration,” said
Dagoberto Naranjo, RRT, a respiratory therapist in the
Department of Respiratory Therapy at Cedars-Sinai.
These ventilated patients also take longer to react, or benefit
from, oxygenation efforts, according to Naranjo.
“When patients are intubated for long periods, it’s usually
because they have accompanying or underlying medical
conditions,” said Naranjo. “Patients who are healthy usually are
intubated only to get them over the hump of requiring high
levels of oxygen. This virus has proved to be unique, requiring
different techniques and treatments than traditional standards
of care.”
Because of the high levels of oxygen these patients require,
coupled with the length of time they rely on ventilation, the
road to a full recovery after leaving the hospital can be long
for some patients.
“Although most patients recover without long-term effects, some
patients experience persistent symptoms after discharge,” said
Christina Rogers, RRT, also a respiratory therapist in the
Department of Respiratory Therapy. “These symptoms include
difficulty breathing, fatiguing easily and experiencing weakness
due to their limited ability to participate in regular physical
activity.”
To combat these symptoms, Rogers and Naranjo recommend using a
breathing exerciser, such as OPUMP, when sending patients home.
This device can measure the depth of a person's breathing and
help encourage slow and deep breathing to increase lung
capacity.
HTML https://theopump.com/
“This tool can also help prevent secondary lung problems, such
as pneumonia,” said Rogers.
The therapists also recommend that patients focus on nutrition
to increase energy levels, and if deemed appropriate by a
physician, incorporate mild exercise, such as walks, into their
daily routines.
For healthy people without COVID-19, Rogers and Naranjo say it’s
never a bad idea to increase overall lung capacity and improve
overall respiratory health.
“Don’t underestimate the practice of simple deep breathing,”
said Rogers. “Most people only use a small part of their lung
capacity. By increasing the length of your inhalations and
exhalations, you can increase your lung capacity and strengthen
your breathing, which improves the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide, ultimately improving lung capacity.”
Cardio workouts are also recommended to improve respiratory
health.
“To improve lung capacity, cardio workouts, like speed-walking,
jump rope, stationary bike-riding or running can make a big
impact,” said Naranjo. “However, every patient – including
healthy individuals without COVID-19 – should consult a doctor
to ensure their physical limitations aren’t pushed to the
extreme.”
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