6 Signs That Your Loved One With Copd Is Overexerting During Exercise

Home Care in Gramercy NY

When a loved one has COPD, exercise can do a tremendous amount of good. Overexertion, on the other hand, can be too much. It’s important that you both understand what your loved one’s individual signs of overexertion are.

Unusual Shortness of Breath

Your loved one is likely to experience a little shortness of breath while exercising. He’ll gradually become accustomed to a certain level of that, however, and any unusually severe shortness of breath is a sign from his body to slow down. Try rating shortness of breath with your loved one on a scale of one to 10.

Tightness or Discomfort in the Chest

If your loved one ever experiences tightness or discomfort in his chest, this is a definite sign to stop exercising. You may want to contact your loved one’s doctor if the pain does not go away when he stops exercising.

Burning or Pressure in the Chest

As with tightness or discomfort in his chest, your loved one needs to be aware of pressure or burning feelings in his chest. These could be as simple as excess gas or heartburn, but you don’t want to take any chances at this point. Again, if there is still pressure or a burning sensation after stopping activity, your loved one’s doctor should be contacted.

A Racing Heartbeat

The purpose of exercise is to get your loved one’s heart rate up, of course, but there are limits. If your loved one starts to describe a racing heartbeat, this can be a sign that something else is wrong. Have your loved one stop exercising and monitor his heartbeat to determine if it continues to race.

Dizziness, Lightheadedness, or Nausea

Sometimes dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea can mean that your loved one is dehydrated and needs additional water. But it can also mean that your loved one’s body isn’t getting enough oxygen. If your loved one experiences these feelings, have him stop so that you can determine whether additional assistance is necessary.

Feeling More Tired than Normally

Your loved one may on occasion find that he’s more tired during or after exercise than he is normally. Again, this can be an indication that your loved one isn’t getting enough oxygen, but it can also be a sign of a bigger health issue.

Don’t take any chances and make sure that your loved one stops right away. Make sure to write down your loved one’s most common warning signs so that a referred caregiver could also know what to look for during exercise.