There are many ways that physical therapists can help improve your health and quality of life if you have heart and/or lung diseases. Exercise makes your heart and lungs healthier. It helps your heart pump easier, your lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide better, and it can help you achieve a healthier weight. You may think that because you have a heart or lung disease, you should stop doing many activities. You may be afraid that you will worsen your health problems. However, in order to make your heart and lungs healthy, exercise and activity is of greatest importance! Without exercise, your heart and lungs will only get worse.

When you have a heart or lung disease, many aspects of exercise need to be adjusted. The type of exercises, the exercise environments, and the exercise routines you use need to be adjusted to suit your body's needs. Cardiorespiratory physical therapists are experts about these diseases and the changes that need to be made to your exercise routine. Using their expertise, physical therapists can help educate you about the safest methods of exercise and health, and personalize an exercise program that will suit your needs, goals, and lifestyle.