Fitness exercises helping Christine’s lung condition
An East Kilbride woman diagnosed with lung disease has a new lease of life after taking up breathing exercise classes at Hairmyres Hospital.
Christine Logie, from St Leonards, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and struggles with the debilitating symptoms of the lung condition, which include breathlessness.
To help her breathe more easily, the 62-year-old started attending pulmonary rehabilitation classes during Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week (March 12-18).
Spearheaded by the Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland charity and supported by NHS Lanarkshire, the rehab sessions combine gentle physical exercise with discussion and advice on lung health and are designed to help manage the symptoms of lung conditions, including getting out of breath.
Christine, who serves meals on the wards at Hairmyres, was full of praise for the sessions.
She said: “I’m really enjoying the class and I’m hoping the exercise will help with my breathlessness — I really feel it climbing stairs or during a busy day at work.
“I was diagnosed with COPD two years ago and it’s great that there is this support for people with lung conditions.
“I would definitely recommend it. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the classes are also a nice social occasion.”
Pulmonary physiotherapist Jennifer McDonald, who runs the Hairmyres classes, said: “Completing a course is a good way to learn how to exercise at the right level for the individual.
“Research shows the rehab can lead to improvement in someone’s ability to walk further and in the general quality of life. It can help them feel less breathless doing day-to-day activities, such as walking up stairs, shopping and dressing. They should feel less tired too.
“Class members typically come for 12 sessions over six or 12 weeks and we offer them a programme of nine exercises including step-ups, bicep curls, wall presses, knee-tapping and exercise bikes.
“We ask them to assess how breathless they are at the end of the class so they can hopefully see improvement over the weeks.”
Pulmonary rehabilitation classes also run at Wishaw General Hospital and Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.