Skip to main content

The websites to book appointments for blood collection, X-Rays, EKGs and COVID-19 testing will be unavailable from Tuesday April 1st from 2100 – 2130.  This is necessary for routine IT updates. During this time, the public will be unable to book appointments on-line and Nova Scotia Health staff will be unable to view the calendar or book online appointments for these services. Some services used by YourHealthNS may be unavailable for a brief period while servers are patched and rebooted.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is provided by a health care team and covered by MSI. PR combines exercise, education, and additional support to improve your overall health and well-being. Programs run for up to three months with sessions twice a week. Each session is typically 1-2 hours long.

  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation may help you to:
  • Reduce your symptoms of shortness of breath and feeling tired.
  • More easily do daily activities, such as taking a shower and cooking.
  • Improve your muscle strength and flexibility.
  • Improve your ability to walk and exercise.
  • Be more physically active with less shortness of breath.
  • Feel better and enjoy life more.
  • Healthy eating, and how what you eat can affect your breathing.
  • Learn how to manage your symptoms and avoid unplanned hospital visits.

Who is the program for?

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program may be right for you if you have a chronic lung disease, like COPD, lung fibrosis or lung transplant and if shortness of breath impacts your daily life and causing difficulty with your breathing, strength and/or endurance.

You may be a fit for PR if you:

  • Have common signs and symptoms of chronic lung disease.
  • Have shortness of breath, a stubborn cough, thick mucus and/or a wheeze.
  • Have to stop to rest after walking a few minutes. Have shortness of breath and fatigue that causes problems at work.
  • Have shortness of breath that prevents you from doing everyday things, such as taking a shower or vacuuming the floor.
    Have feelings of stress or anxiety about your breathing.

What happens when I'm there?

Assessment

You will have at least one visit with members of the PR team in your area.
It will include an assessment of your current health, medications and physical abilities. You will also be required to complete some tests, such as an exercise stress test, prior to or during your assessment.

Exercise

You will attend supervised exercise classes two times per week.

Each class lasts about 1 hour

An exercise program will be developed for you based on your stress test, medical history, and goals.

Classes consist of a group warm-up, exercise in individual and group sessions, and a cool-down.

Education

Information about your condition will help you and your family manage your lung disease. The education  sessions are about 1 hour long. The education sessions will teach you about:

  • Exercise at home
  • Inhaled medications and how to use them
  • Lung structure and function
  • Healthy food choices
  • Home oxygen
  • Coping with lung disease/stress management
  • Conversations about serious illness, including advance care planning
  • Action plans to help manage flare ups of your lung disease symptoms
  • Triggers and avoidance strategies
  • Breathing/coughing techniques

Accessing this Clinic, Program or Service

Sydney River Health Centre - Cape Breton Heart and Lung Wellness Centre 

1173 King’s Road, Unit 2, Building A  

Sydney, Nova Scotia

Tel: 902-563-8566
Fax: 902-563-8572

Referral Form

Talk to your family doctor or a member of your health care team about being referred to your local PR Program. If you would like more info about the PR Program, please call the program nearest to you.

Contact

Tel: 902-869-0183
Fax: 902-865-6073

Referral Form

Talk to your family doctor or a member of your health care team about being referred to your local PR Program. If you would like more info about the PR Program, please call the program nearest to you.

Contact

Tel: 902-473-3846
Fax: 902-473-7855

Referral Form

Talk to your family doctor or a member of your health care team about being referred to your local PR Program. If you would like more info about the PR Program, please call the program nearest to you.

Contact

Asthma and COPD Care Centre
Tel: 902-679-1831
Fax: 902-690-2761

Referral Form

Talk to your family doctor or a member of your health care team about being referred to your local PR Program. If you would like more info about the PR Program, please call the program nearest to you.

Contact

Tel: 902-742-3542 extension:1202

Fax: 902-742-0512

Referral Form

Accessing Primary Care

There are many ways to access primary care, even if you're not currently attached to a primary care provider.

Answer a few quick questions to receive personalized instructions for accessing Nova Scotia Health's primary care options near you including in-person, virtual and telephone options.

Get Started

Find Emergency Care

Use this tool to identify the emergency care options that are currently available nearest to you.

If this is a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance

Get Started

©2025 Nova Scotia Health Authority. All rights reserved.