Patient Power: Exercising with Shortness of Breath

We all know that exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially as a myeloma patient. But what if you can barely walk or use the stairs without feeling exhausted or short of breath?

Melanie House, MPT, DPT, NCS says that when it comes to exercising safely as a multiple myeloma patient, we should first consider hemoglobin numbers or the red blood cell count. Red blood cells are the "vehicles" that deliver oxygen to the body. 

Someone with a low red blood cell count (AKA is anemic) would have less oxygen being delivered to the body, therefore feeling much more tired when exercising or even participating in regular everyday activities.

Melanie said that patients should be cautious and should pay attention to their numbers: 

"...Your heart could suffer the consequences. I've had a patient who actually did induce a heart attack just from walking at a time when their hemoglobin was very low and when their blood pressure was low." --Melanie House, MPT, DPT, NCS.

See the full video on Patient Power.