Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Exercise in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: An Underutilized Intervention

Authors

Sonu Sahni, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (New York)Follow
Barbara Capozzi, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (New York)Follow
Asma Iftikhar
Vasiliki Sgouras
Marcin Ojrzanowski
Arunabh Talwar

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and devastating disease characterized by progressive increases in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance which eventually leads to right ventricular failure and death. Early thought process was that exercise and increased physical activity may be detrimental to PAH patients however many small cohort trials have proven otherwise. In addition to the many pharmaceutical options, exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation have also been shown to increase exercise capacity as well as various aspects of psychosomatic health. As pulmonary and exercise rehabilitation become more widely used as an adjuvant therapy patient outcomes improve and physicians should consider this in the therapeutic algorithm along with pharmacotherapy.

Recommended Citation

Sahni, S., Capozzi, B., Iftikhar, A., Sgouras, V., Ojrzanowski, M., & Talwar, A. (2015). Pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise in pulmonary arterial hypertension: An underutilized intervention. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 11(2), 74-79.

Publisher's Statement

Originally published in the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 11(2), 74-79. Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. doi:10.12965/jer.150190