Rheinstetten, Germany - Controlled exercise and special breathing exercises can help patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension. With pulmonary hypertension, lungs take in too little oxygen, meaning patients lose their breath and tire more easily. Constriction of the lung's blood vessels increases pressure on the lungs, which means more work for the heart. Patients need to take care not to exert themselves.
Medicines that reduce the pressure on the heart have helped the lot of pulmonary hypertension patients. But the training can improve their lives that much more.
It's important that patients keep taking their medicine properly and don't overdo it when trying out the new fitness and breathing regime, says the German Self Help Organization for Pulmonary Hypertension in a study.
According to that study, a focused training programme doesn't just help against hypertension, but also leads to a higher standard of life. Training can make everything from housework to climbing stairs easier.