SmartVest Blog

When treating patients for a respiratory condition, you want to provide the best, most comfortable experience possible. If SmartVest is already a part of your hospital’s continuum of care program, then you can feel confident knowing that each patient will receive effective airway clearance treatment while in your care. About SmartVest The SmartVest Airway Clearance […]

“Huff cough” is a popular coughing exercise that works to remove phlegm from the airways. This technique is typically performed in combination with airway clearance therapy to help loosen the mucus, so it becomes easier to cough out. In fact, all forms of airway clearance rely on good coughs to prevent mucus buildup [1]. However, […]

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 23 through the 29th. Coinciding with this event is Healthy Lung Month, which, as you […]

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 […]

Did you know that when we cough, our bodies are working hard to protect our lungs and airways?  Though most of us would rather avoid coughing entirely—especially during a presentation, a yoga class, or at night when we’re trying to fall asleep—it’s important to remember that coughing is a natural reflex. In fact, we depend […]

If you regularly follow our blog, then you already know there are different methods that allow your clinician to diagnose a chronic lung condition. A high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan, for instance, is used to detect damage to the lungs and airways caused by bronchiectasis, while a regular CT scan or chest x-ray may be […]

Is a chronic lung condition keeping you from living life independently? High frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) is an airway clearance technique that’s typically performed using an inflatable vest and air pulse generator. HFCWO therapy with the SmartVest Airway Clearance System delivers repeated pulses of air that gently squeeze and release the upper chest wall. […]

In an independent, retrospective cohort analysis [1], data was collected and analyzed to assess the efficacy of high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) on Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients—before and after usage. Insurance claims data assessed key measures such as hospitalizations, treated pneumonia, and medication usage. Following the introduction of HFCWO vest therapy, the study […]

New to airway clearance? Living with a chronic lung condition, like bronchiectasis (brong-kee-EK-tuh-sis), makes breathing feel constricted. Though your clinician may prescribe different types of treatment to help you manage your symptoms—such as antibiotics or mucus-thinning medications [1]—airway clearance works to help treat the underlying cause of your chronic symptoms (i.e., mucus buildup).  When mucus […]

Consuming foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and key nutrients, such as protein and fiber, allow our bodies to perform the essential tasks we depend on each day. One such task is breathing.  But did you know that certain foods can actually make breathing more difficult [1]? Oxygen and Food Oxygen plays an important […]