Kishwaukee Community Hospital - Health. Heart. Home. - Part of the KishHealth System
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Man thinking on park benchPulmonary Rehabilitation

Kishwaukee Community Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department, in conjunction with your physician, customizes a program that will meet your individual needs. 

The goal of the program is to help you reach the highest functional level allowed by your respiratory disease.

To achieve this goal, lifestyle changes are often necessary. These changes include breathing retraining techniques; following a safe, effective exercise program; stress management; body mechanics and energy conservation.

The program is designed to educate, support and encourage these lifestyle changes.

For more information contact:

One Kish Hospital Drive, DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 748-8979 / (800) 397-1521, Ext. 158979

A pulmonary rehabilitation program can help you:

  • Enhance your ability to perform everyday tasks.
  • Learn how the lungs function.
  • Understand your lung problem.
  • Learn the proper way to use inhalers.
  • Learn about breathing medications and oxygen.
  • Improve exercise tolerance and endurance.
  • Improve balance.
  • Learn how to use an inhalation muscle strengthener.
  • Use relaxation skills and avoid stressful situations which cause shortness of breath.
  • Reduce length and frequency of hospital stays.
  • Be more self-confident and more in control of your life.
  • Resume social activities and interests.
  • Return to work.

Is Pulmonary Rehab Right For You?

If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, we can help!

  • Short of breath climbing stairs?
  • Short of breath walking long distances, like in a mall or grocery store?
  • Short of breath performing household chores?
  • Short of breath showering or dressing?
  • Afraid of having a breathing attack outside your home?
  • Avoiding long trips or vacations?
  • Lacking the energy to perform chores or play with your grandchildren?
  • Relying more on family and friends to do things you once took for granted?
  • Lacking confidence to enjoy activities that you used to do?
  • Short of breath stepping out of an automobile?

Program Features

  • Breathing techniques to help control your shortness of breath, like pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing.
  • Information on how the lungs work and how chronic breathing problems interfere with the lung function.
  • Aerobic exercise, flexibility and resistance training to increase your exercise tolerance using stairs, treadmills, and exercise bicycles.
  • Stretching exercises help with your balance and flexibility. Hand weights are used to strengthen your respiratory muscles.
  • A registered dietitian to teach you how different foods can affect breathing.
  • Relaxation techniques to learn the skills to better handle panic attacks due to breathing difficulties.
  • Inspiratory muscle training, techniques used to correct or increase respiratory function by improving the performance of the muscles involved in inhalation.
  • Information about respiratory medications and the proper way of taking them.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Your Hospital.