SmartVest Blog

Airway Clearance Devices: Understanding Their Benefits and Uses Living with bronchiectasis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can significantly impact daily life. Chronic lung conditions often involve excess mucus buildup in the lungs, which can lead to difficulty breathing, frequent infections, and reduced lung function. These symptoms can compound, leading to a cycle that can […]

Do you ever experience shortness of breath, even after exhaling deeply? It might feel like you cannot completely empty your lungs of air, causing your breathing to become labored. When air gets trapped in the lungs, over time, it can cause pulmonary hyperinflation—a condition where the lungs expand beyond their normal size.1 Although hyperinflated lungs […]

Can Cold Air Cause Coughing & Chest Pain? Winter is almost here and while there can be something enjoyable about cozy nights in, when the temperature drops, you may notice your body reacting in unexpected ways. For some, stepping outside on a brisk morning can cause coughing, while others experience chest discomfort or pain. This […]

    Respiratory Care Week is an annual event that recognizes the essential work and dedication of respiratory care professionals around the globe—from clinicians and pulmonologists to nurses, respiratory therapists (RTs), and home caregivers.  This year, respiratory care week runs from October 20th through the 26th, 2024. Coinciding with this event is Healthy Lung Month, […]

Though many of us would prefer to avoid coughing, this natural reflex actually helps protect our lungs and airways against certain irritants, such as dust, germs, pathogens, and mucus buildup.1 While it is a natural and often beneficial response, not all coughs are the same. Understanding the differences between productive and non-productive coughs can help […]

Did you know how we sit, stand, and even sleep affects our breathing? If you have a respiratory condition, you may not realize that your posture can limit your lung’s ability to inhale and exhale comfortably. The reason? Research shows that a person’s posture (particularly the head and neck positioning) can significantly impact the diaphragm’s […]

Chronic lung diseases like bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis cause irreversible damage to the lungs and airways, making it difficult to breathe and break up mucus buildup. Other respiratory conditions, like asthma, force the airways to narrow due to swelling (i.e., inflammation), causing the muscles around the airways to tighten. As a result, breathing feels more […]

Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis may sound similar, but they’re actually quite different. Both conditions include the term “fibrosis,” which means thickening or scarring tissue, and each one can affect a person’s lungs and airways, making breathing more difficult.¹ However, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis are distinct conditions with individual causes, symptoms, and treatments. In […]

Flare-ups and acute exacerbations—what exactly do these terms mean? Suppose you or a loved one has a chronic lung condition like bronchiectasis or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In that case, you may have heard your clinician use these terms interchangeably, or maybe you’ve required hospitalization because of them. But what is a flare-up? More […]

Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is an airway clearance technique that typically involves the assistance of another individual (e.g., caregiver, trained family member, or respiratory therapist) to manually perform chest percussion on a patient’s chest wall. Chest percussion is defined as manually clapping on a person’s chest wall in an effort to break up mucus and prevent […]