Connie Pace, Director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Knoxville Hospital and Clinics says pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly 16 million Americans are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week is March 9-15 and is initiated by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. This organization aims to educate the community about the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in enhancing the quality of life of individuals with chronic lung disease.

Knoxville Hospital & Clinics understands and recognizes the benefits that pulmonary rehabilitation can provide to patients suffering from COPD. The program offers patients and their family members the support to help meet the day-to-day challenges of living with chronic lung disorder. Those who can benefit the most include patients suffering from: COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and asthma.

Changes in diet, exercise, and smoking habits can decrease the impact of the disease by retuning patients to a higher degree of physical and mental health. Our program will teach patients how to make these positive life changes, allowing for a more active and productive life. The rehabilitation experience at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics will provide patients with education about lung function and anatomy, instruction about medications, physical conditioning and strength training and information on how to cope with a chronic disease.

Enrollment in the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics must be ordered by a physician referral. For more information about the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, please call 641-842-1558.

Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, a Critical Access Hospital serving Marion County and the surrounding area, is dedicated to providing personal, progressive quality health care with compassion. For more information regarding this release and other happenings at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, call the Public Relations office at (641) 842-1418 or visit www.knoxvillehospital.org.