(New York, NY, Monday, November 12, 2018) – Most people diagnosed with chronic pulmonary disorders (62 percent) have never heard of pulmonary rehabilitation – an effective non-medicine treatment option covered by Medicare and private insurance. This is according to a new survey released by the American Thoracic Society (ATS).

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program of educational classes and supervised exercise sessions for people with chronic breathing difficulty. Pulmonary rehab is proven to reduce shortness of breath (breathlessness), boost energy, and increase the ability to stay active in everyday life.

Dr. Linda Nici of Providence VA Medical Center and Brown University Medical School, discusses the results of the survey.

SOUNDBITE #1:

CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND THE ONLY ONE THAT’S ON THE RISE. PULMONARY REHABILITATION CAN BENEFIT PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH C-O-P-D, PULMONARY HYPERTENSION, INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE, AND OTHER CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISORDERS. PULMONARY REHABILITATION IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR BREATHING, LEARN HOW TO LIVE BETTER WITH YOUR CONDITION, AND IMPROVE YOUR STRENGTH, STAMINA, AND ENDURANCE.

SOUNDBITE #2:

UNDERSTANDING THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE DON’T UTILIZE PULMONARY REHABILITATION AND MINIMIZING THE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION ENABLES US TO HELP MORE PEOPLE WITH C-O-P-D AND OTHER CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES GET THE TREATMENT THEY NEED. PULMONARY REHABILITATION WORKS BY STRENGTHENING THE MUSCLES TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE LUNGS. IT’S A SAFE, FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE BREATHING, ALLOWING PATIENTS TO NOT ONLY FEEL BETTER, BUT TO DO MORE IN THEIR LIVES – THINGS THAT THEY CURRENTLY MAY AVOID BECAUSE OF THEIR SYMPTOMS.

For more information, visit livebetter.org.