In fact, exercise is one of the therapies that help decrease shortness of breath for people with lung problems. To benefit from this, you need to know how to do it correctly, how to avoid injury and how to recognize signs of trouble. It is also important to learn how long, intensely and frequently to exercise. A Vicious Cycle Shortness of breath and weakness are two common problems of people with a chronic lung disease. In order to avoid shortness of breath, many people stop doing some of the activities that make them short of breath.
Deconditioned muscles are inefficient and use more oxygen than muscles that are conditioned.
Eventually, deconditioned muscles become weaker and weaker, and the person becomes short of breath with even less activity. This results in a vicious downward spiral that can result in progressively less activity and more shortness of breath. A program of regular exercise can help break this vicious cycle. The goal of getting in shape from exercise is to make you stronger, improve your endurance and make you better able to do things with less shortness of breath. A conditioning program can involve many types of exercises.