Health & Fitness
Palos Community Hospital sends group to Cruising with COPD
Palos Community Hospital recently sent a group of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the 11th annual Cruising with COPD event hosted by the Respiratory Health Association.
More than 500 people enjoyed an afternoon on Lake Michigan. Guests attended with pulmonary rehabilitation groups from across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and were accompanied by pulmonary staff, friends and family for a luncheon cruise aboard Odyssey and Spirit of Chicago.
COPD is a lung disease associated with chronic bronchitis and emphysema that causes shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. Nationally, more than 12 million people have been diagnosed with the disease. An estimated 1.2 million Illinoisans are currently living with COPD, with as many as half of them not even realizing they have the disease.
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Cruising with COPD raises awareness of COPD and supports a healthy, active lifestyle for people living with the disease by allowing them to socialize over lunch and enjoy live entertainment. Respiratory Health Association meets the needs of people living with COPD by providing medical support, oxygen tanks and wheelchair transport at the event.
“This gives people living with COPD an opportunity they may never have otherwise,” says Rebecca Paoletti, a respiratory therapist at Palos Community Hospital who went on the cruise with patients. “The Respiratory Health Association makes it so easy for them. A coach bus picks up the patients and delivers them directly to the pier so they can get on the boat, which for patients with COPD is very convenient, as they don’t have to ambulate far in the heat to board. This is a great event, and we hope to continue being a part of it.”
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The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Palos is an intensive, medically supervised program combining our skilled and credentialed staff with the latest exercise technology to treat a variety of conditions. We also offer a number of test and treatments, such as the cardiopulmonary stress test, nebulizer therapy and breathing exercises.
For more information about Palos Community Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, visit PalosCommunityHospital.org/services/respiratory/pulmonary-rehab/
