People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Bronchiectasis, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Pulmonary Hypertension or Chronic Asthma, can find it more difficult to do their normal day-to-day activities because of their breathlessness.

Getting short of breath can be very frightening and make you feel quite anxious which can make your breathlessness worse. You may find that you start to avoid doing activities and over time this can cause you to become less fit, more tired, and more out of breath.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a lung education and exercise programme that is designed for people with breathing problems. Taking part will help you to manage your breathing, feel more confident, and improve your mood and wellbeing. You will also feel fitter and stronger and reduce your risk of chest infections and the likelihood of going into hospital.

By understanding your condition better, using your inhalers correctly, recognising a flare-up and how to get more active, you will gain better control of your lung condition and be able to improve your quality of life.

What are the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation?

Research shows that pulmonary rehabilitation is very effective and makes a real difference to patients' lives.  

After a course of pulmonary rehabilitation most people:

  • can walk further and faster
  • feel less breathless during routine daily activities
  • feel more positive
  • improve health and well-being
  • sleep better and have more energy
  • improve muscle strength in arms and legs
  • fewer chest infections and
  • reduce admissions to hospital
  • have better understanding of their medication and inhaler devices     
  • have a better understanding of the benefit of exercise and how to safely exercise within their limits.

If you are interested and registered with a GP in Blackburn or Darwen, you can simply ring the team on 01254 283 980, or you can email us Pulm.rehab@nhs.net.  

Your GP, practice nurse or any other health or social care professional can also refer you to our team.

You will be invited to attend a personalised assessment at one of our venues where you will get to meet the team. We can also provide home visit appointments for people who are housebound.

Your initial assessment is to find out more about you, your needs and your how your lung condition affects you.  We will then discuss with you a plan of care to enable you to manage your breathing condition.

If you would like to know more please give our team a call.

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