Ways to improve lungs?

[GeishaGirl]

So, I want -- no, NEED -- to begin exercising. I can walk forever, but when I try to jog, even for just 15 seconds, I lose my breath and can't get it back. Every time I try, I have to end the exercise early.

Right now, my concern is lung strength, I guess. I had bronchitis a week ago, and it is lingering sadly. I can take a deep breath without coughing, so I know my lungs are clear, but ANY kind of activity, even climbing the stairs, can leave me gasping right now. Before the bronchitis, I could at least do that! I also still have coughing fits from exercise, and front switching temperatures rapidly (ie, walking into a warm house from the cold outdoors). I also get dizzy and feel like I need to lie down.

I know how to build muscle, I know to use cardio to strengthen the heart, but I have NO CLUE how to help the lungs. Any ideas?

[foxl]

Intervals -- short bursts of intense activity (and it is up to you how intense but try not to cough), followed by lower-intensity recoveries. Man do they work, for me!

And I need to get back to them, as my flu symptoms abate!

[Subby]

This is my thought: if you've just been sick, you need to take it easy, and let your body and lungs gradually build strength again. I know how it can feel, as if things will never get better. But staying generally active in your normal way would be what I think is best for now.

When your lung strength and energy is returned, I'd suggest you pick something you enjoy that gets you a bit breathless: bike riding (outside or stationary), swimming, jumping up and down to music, what I've been enjoying is the cross trainer at the gym for a satisfying way to raise my heart rate and exercise my cardio system, but it doesn't stuff me if I don't push it (I get fatigued very easily). I find that having a random or varied pattern of effort seems to be beneficial, it helps to vary the intensity. I don't think it really matters that much what, as long as you enjoy it, you don't push it to a point you are suffering fatigue badly (if that happens for you), and want to stick with it. I don't think you'd need to do an hour a day or anything like that, again whatever fits in with you that is a clear step up from your normal routine, you would be getting benefit from.

[Moonglo]

Please do cut your body a break. It will need time to get back to 100%, especially after something as draining as bronchitis or the flu. If you push too hard, it may take longer to be able to exercise like normal than if you just ease into it. Just because you feel better does not mean you are completely well yet. I had to learn all of this the hard way.

[HelenM]

I don't think you should you should even try whilst you still have the remnants of a chest infection. Give yourself some time to get over it, try forms of exercise that don't make you breathless.
When you're completely recovered start slowly. At the beginning if you get out of breath, you're pushing too hard. You should be able to talk when you're jogging. To start with this may be at a very slow pace. Try alternate jogging at a rate you can sustain with walking. You can use either time or distance, lamposts can make good markers...run one, walk two.

A lot of people think this plan is good, but I'd add if you can't manage a minute start with 30 or 40 seconds jog. Cool Running :: The Couch-to-5K Running Plan (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml)

It's surprising how effective a plan like that one is.My daughter started walk/running in February, at that time she was also overweight and found it difficult . At the end of September she completed a half marathon non stop. (and had lost 5stone..thats 70lbs)

[sarahspins]

A week after bronchitis may be too soon to push it.. you could have some lingering illness or even scar tissue in your lungs.

However, IF this is a long-term issue that you've had, I would strongly suggest going to see a doctor and asking for an asthma work-up. Even if you don't have many of the "classic" asthma symptoms, it may very well be your problem. I spent a LONG time not being diagnosed correctly, as a kid I was even told once by a doctor that I was simply out of shape (huh?), and once I finally was diagnosed and treated, it was amazing - like I could finally BREATHE for the first time in my life.. getting treatment made me realize just how bad things had been my entire life, and no one would listen to me. If you don't have asthma, asthma meds usually don't make a difference.. but if you do, the difference is astonishing.

The dizzy feeling is quite literally, lock of oxygen... it also causes your heart to pound (to try to get more oxygen circulating) and it makes you want to breathe harder/faster even though you're already at your max. When your lungs are not able to work efficiently, everything else suffers.

[GeishaGirl]

You know, I might go in and get tested for asthma -- they did a lung workup when they diagnosed me with bronchitis, but I never heard anything else. When I stop coughing for awhile, I'll go back and get tested for that.

And don't worry about me pushing it :) I have horrible memories from when I was 13 and had pneumonia. I FELT fine, so I figured a workout tape would be a good idea while I was home sick. 30 minutes of coughing and a bloody throat later... I realized it was a bad idea.

I was planning on starting on my exercise bike, knitting while I was biking to make sure I couldn't go to fast :) My main problem is I tend to overdo everything. And I've tried the couch-5K, that's how I realized how bad my lungs were! I did a simple 15-second jog at 5.2 mph and couldn't get my breath back, no matter how low I set the walking after that. I had to sit on the floor for about 10 minutes before I could walk home from the fitness center.