Breathing Problems and Exercise in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Specific breathing exercises and regular, gentle physical activity can help many people living with lung disease in Grand Rapids, MI. Always talk with your doctor or respiratory specialist before starting any new exercise or breathing program.

In West Michigan, where cold winters, seasonal flu, and changing weather can aggravate asthma and other lung conditions, a safe, customized exercise plan is especially important.

Common Lung Conditions That Affect Breathing

Many diseases can prevent your lungs from working as well as they should. In Grand Rapids, people commonly seek care for breathing problems at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health.

Conditions that can cause breathing problems include:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic bronchitis (a form of COPD)
  • Emphysema (another form of COPD)
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Long-term effects of pneumonia or COVID-19
  • Allergy-related breathing problems, which can be worse in spring and fall in Michigan

One of the most common symptoms of lung disease is shortness of breath. If breathing feels difficult, tight, or painful, you should speak with your doctor or a respiratory professional in Grand Rapids as soon as possible.

How Your Lungs and Breathing Muscles Work

Your body needs oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide as air moves in and out of your lungs. Several structures work together to move this air:

  • Ribcage muscles – help expand and contract your chest
  • Diaphragm – a large sheet of muscle beneath your lungs and above your abdomen that does most of the work of breathing
  • Airways – carry air from your nose or mouth down into your lungs
  • Air sacs (alveoli) – tiny hollow sacs at the ends of your airways surrounded by a mesh of blood vessels where oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide leaves it

When oxygen levels are too low, your brain sends signals to the breathing muscles to work harder. For people with lung disease, this means:

  • You must work harder just to get enough oxygen.
  • If the lungs are stiff or less flexible, the diaphragm has to work even harder.
  • You may use extra muscles in your neck and shoulders to help you breathe.

Over time, all this effort can make breathing feel exhausting.

Why Breathing Feels So Tiring

When your lungs are damaged or inflamed, it takes more effort to move air in and out. In cold Grand Rapids winters, breathing in icy air can sometimes worsen symptoms of asthma and COPD, making your chest feel tight and your breathing more labored.

Because breathing is harder:

  • You may feel tired even after mild activity, like walking from the parking lot to the store.
  • You might avoid exercise because it makes you feel short of breath.
  • Over time, avoiding activity can weaken your muscles and reduce lung function even more.

That is why a safe, supervised exercise program can be so helpful for people with breathing problems in West Michigan.

Talk to Your Grand Rapids Doctor Before You Exercise

If you have a lung condition, always consult your doctor or healthcare professional before starting any new breathing exercises or physical activity.

Many clinics and hospitals in Grand Rapids use pre-exercise screening to:

  • Identify medical conditions that may put you at higher risk during physical activity
  • Decide whether the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for you
  • Help design a safe, personalized exercise plan

You can ask your:

  • Primary care provider (GP)
  • Pulmonologist (lung specialist)
  • Respiratory therapist
  • Cardiac or pulmonary rehab team

at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health to review your health history and guide you.

How Specific Breathing Exercises Can Help

Breathing exercises can be an important part of managing lung disease in Grand Rapids, especially during cold months or high-allergy seasons. Benefits can include:

  • Keeping your lungs and chest wall more flexible
  • Improving the strength and efficiency of your diaphragm
  • Getting more air into your lungs with less effort
  • Helping to bring up deep-seated mucus, which can reduce infections
  • Making you feel more in control when you become short of breath

Two helpful techniques are relaxed deep breathing and prolonged breathing out.

Relaxed Deep Breathing (Diaphragmatic Breathing)

You can practice this at home in Grand Rapids, whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or a nearby lakeshore community.

  1. Sit comfortably

    • Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
    • Relax your shoulders and rest your hands on your lap or on your abdomen.

  2. Breathe in through your nose

    • Close your mouth and gently breathe in through your nose.
    • Let your abdomen (belly) move outward as you breathe in. This shows you are using your diaphragm.

  3. Breathe out through your mouth

    • Purse your lips slightly (as if you are gently blowing out a candle).
    • Breathe out slowly through your mouth.

  4. Use a counting rhythm

    • Breathe in for a count of two.
    • Breathe out for a count of three or four.

The longer, slower exhale helps expel trapped air so there is more room for fresh air with your next breath. Practice for a few minutes several times a day, or as recommended by your Grand Rapids healthcare provider.

Prolonged Breathing Out (Pursed-Lip Breathing)

Prolonged breathing out is especially useful when you feel suddenly short of breath, for example, when climbing stairs in a downtown Grand Rapids office building or walking uphill in winter.

  1. Breathe in slowly through your nose for about two seconds.
  2. Purse your lips as if you are going to whistle.
  3. Breathe out gently through pursed lips for four seconds (or about twice as long as the inhale).

This technique:

  • Helps keep your airways open longer
  • Reduces the feeling of air trapping
  • Can make breathing feel more controlled and less panicky

Physical Activity to Improve Breathing

Even if you have a lung condition, completely avoiding physical activity can make your breathing worse over time. With guidance from your Grand Rapids doctor or rehab team, gentle exercise can:

  • Improve your fitness and stamina
  • Strengthen your breathing muscles
  • Help control weight (important for breathing comfort)
  • Improve mood and energy, especially during long Michigan winters

Always discuss an exercise program with your healthcare professional before you start.

Safe Types of Exercise for People With Breathing Problems

After medical clearance, your doctor or physiotherapist may suggest:

  • Walking

    • Start with just a few minutes a day, a few times each week.
    • Walk indoors at a mall, hospital corridor, or community center in winter to avoid icy sidewalks and cold air.
    • Gradually build up as you feel stronger.

  • Stretching

    • Gentle stretching keeps your muscles supple and can reduce stiffness in the chest and shoulders.
    • Can be done at home or as part of a class.

  • Light weight training

    • Using light dumbbells or resistance bands to build strength.
    • Usually done under supervision at first, especially if you have heart or lung disease.

  • Tai chi or gentle yoga

    • Slow, controlled movements combined with breathing.
    • Often available through community centers or wellness programs in Grand Rapids.

  • Hydrotherapy or water exercise

    • Exercising in warm water can be easier on joints.
    • Some West Michigan facilities offer supervised aquatic exercise; ask your provider for a referral.

Tips for Exercising Safely With Breathing Problems

  • Do not push yourself too hard.
  • If you start to feel very short of breath, dizzy, or have chest pain:
    • Stop what you are doing.
    • Sit down.
    • Practice your breathing exercises (relaxed deep breathing or pursed-lip breathing).
  • Avoid outdoor exercise in extreme cold, high humidity, or poor air quality, which can be issues in Michigan.
  • Always use your inhalers or medications exactly as prescribed.
  • Carry your rescue inhaler if you have asthma or COPD.

If symptoms do not improve after resting and using your breathing techniques, seek medical help. In an emergency, call 911.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Grand Rapids, MI

Hospitals with respiratory units in Grand Rapids often run pulmonary rehabilitation programs (sometimes called “pulmonary rehab”). These are structured programs designed for people with chronic breathing problems such as COPD, asthma, or bronchiectasis.

Pulmonary rehab programs may include:

  • Supervised exercise training, such as:

    • Monitored treadmill walking
    • Use of an exercise bike
    • Tailored strength and flexibility routines

  • Education sessions, such as:

    • Lectures by a respiratory physician
    • How to use inhalers and oxygen correctly
    • How to recognize warning signs of a flare-up

  • Support from multiple professionals, including:

    • Respiratory therapists
    • Physiotherapists
    • Occupational therapists
    • Dietitians
    • Pharmacists
    • Social workers or case managers

Programs often run twice a week for several weeks and use a holistic approach that addresses breathing, physical activity, nutrition, and emotional support.

Ask your doctor about pulmonary rehab programs at:

  • Spectrum Health
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health
  • Mercy Health

or check with the Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health for local resources.

Local and National Resources

If you live in the Grand Rapids or greater West Michigan area, help is available:

  • Your GP or primary care doctor – first point of contact for breathing concerns
  • Your respiratory specialist (pulmonologist) – for diagnosis and advanced treatment
  • Hospitals with respiratory units in Grand Rapids – for testing, rehab, and specialist care
  • Kent County Health Department & Grand Rapids Public Health – local public health programs, smoking cessation, and chronic disease management resources
  • National organizations (e.g., Lung Foundation–type organizations in the U.S.) – education, support groups, and online tools about lung disease and physical activity

Key Points for Grand Rapids Residents

  • Always plan any exercise routine after consulting your doctor or healthcare professional, especially if you have asthma, COPD, or other lung disease.
  • Pre-exercise screening is an important “safety net” to help decide if the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for you.
  • Some people with breathing problems avoid physical activity because it makes them feel short of breath, but total inactivity can further reduce lung function.
  • Gentle, supervised exercise and specific breathing exercises can make breathing easier and improve your quality of life, even in the face of Michigan’s challenging seasonal weather.

If you live in Grand Rapids, MI and are struggling with breathing problems, talk with your healthcare provider about breathing exercises, safe physical activity, and whether a local pulmonary rehabilitation program is right for you.