Exercise and Physical Activity
What is meant by the phrase 'Exercise'?
Exercise is the word given to any activity which involves moving our bodies. Movement increases our heart rate, maintains or improves fitness and supports overall health and wellbeing. Exercise can involve structured activities, often planned in advance and completed regularly, e.g., at a set time each day or week, sometimes in the company of others, or can be done alone e.g., daily dog walking.
What is meant by the phrase 'Physical Activity'?
Exercise is one type of physical activity. All activities that cause your heart rate to increase are classed as physical activity. This can be anything from daily household activities, e.g., light housework, to more strenuous activity, e.g., mowing the lawn, to high intensity activity, e.g., washing the car. Most people tend to be physically active in their daily lives to some degree, but they may not realise, as the activity is part of daily life or work.
What are the benefits of being Physically Active?
If you have a lung condition, it can feel that there are barriers to you being able to keep active and exercise. However, being active in your day-to-day life can help to manage your condition. Exercise and increasing your amount of physical activity is one of the best treatments for lung conditions.
Below are examples of some physical benefits of being active:
- Improves the strength of your breathing muscles, and heart and circulation, which helps you to better use oxygen and fuel from food
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Helps to resist infections by supporting a healthy immune system
- Higher energy levels and better sleep
- Reduces your risk of developing other health problems
There are also many psychological benefits to exercise and keeping active, such as:
- Reduces anxiety and depression
- Raises your confidence
- Provides social opportunities, to be able to get out and meet people
How do I make sure I am exercising safely?
If you are not used to being physically active, or would like to exercise more, speak to your GP or practice nurse first, to make sure that you are starting out safely. You can find your local GP Practice on our Service Finder web page. You may be eligible for an exercise referral, which involves a short-term supervised physical activity programme, designed just for you. The programme will share information about exercising safely, tips to stay active in your daily life and how to develop and maintain healthy habits.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (sometimes abbreviated to PR) is a programme of education and exercises aimed at people with lung conditions, which cause breathlessness. Pulmonary rehabilitation is generally offered to people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), especially when coming out of a flare-up or exacerbation, but is also recommended for patients with a range of other conditions, including bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis and for some patients with asthma and/or Long Covid. If you would like to know more, visit the Pulmonary Rehabilitation page for further information.
Gentle activity such as daily household tasks can be a great way to stay physically active. If you use public transport, you could get off one step earlier and walk an extra few steps, if you are able. Take the stairs where possible and avoid the lift. If you are exercising outdoors, take steps to avoid anything which may trigger symptoms. Indoor exercises from a seated position may be more appropriate for some people. They can help to improve posture, flexibility and strength, from a stable platform. If you are unsure, speak to your GP or practice nurse about how to stay active, safely.
What is available in my area to help me stay active?
Use the service finder tool on this website to find information about activity and interest groups close to where you live. Click on the map to find out more about what’s available in your area, using the search tool. You can also suggest details of additional resources and support in your area, if you think something is missing which would be useful to others.
Patients with an infection are advised not to exercise except if under the supervision of a qualified person, for example a doctor, nurse or healthcare professional.
What should I do if I feel unwell?
If you feel unwell while you are exercising, stop immediately and tell someone as soon as you can. If you do not quickly start to feel better, contact your GP or practice nurse. 24-hour NHS advice is available by dialling 111 or visiting www.111.nhs.uk.
In an emergency situation dial 999 or go straight to your nearest accident and emergency department.