SmartVest Blog

As the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to provide updates on recent breakthroughs in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s important to understand the factors that may put us, or someone we care for, at greater risk of respiratory illness. Having this knowledge will help in creating a personal prevention plan that protects […]

Understanding the common causes of bronchiectasis and identifying its individual symptoms will empower you to find the best treatment plan for reducing respiratory infections, improving air flow, and preventing further damage to your airways.  To help you get familiar with this chronic lung condition and how it can affect your everyday life, here’s the answers […]

Are your patients coming to you with complaints of shortness of breath, chronic cough, or chest pain? Symptoms that look like COPD or asthma may actually be early signs of bronchiectasis, a serious lung disease that irreversibly damages a patient’s airways through recurring inflammation and infection.  To properly diagnose your patients with bronchiectasis, you’ll first […]

When a person’s airways are repeatedly damaged due to a chronic lung condition, the lungs slowly lose their ability to clear mucus. This leaves the body more susceptible to respiratory infections, resulting in a worsening of symptoms if not treated properly.   Chronic lung conditions like bronchiectasis (brong-kee-EK-tuh-sis) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, better known […]

Are any of your patients living with bronchiectasis? Are they experiencing regular flare ups of symptoms, including chronic cough, fatigue, and lower respiratory infections? If so, your patients may be spending more time in the hospital and less time enjoying a healthy, active lifestyle.     Common Signs and Symptoms of Bronchiectasis: Are your patients […]

Most of us are familiar with the acronym COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Used as an umbrella term to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory asthma, COPD can occur from smoking, certain environmental factors, or an individual’s genetic makeup.1 Common symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in your […]

2020 is finally here, and if you’ve spent the past year struggling with frequent cough, shortness of breath, and recurring respiratory infections, then it may be time to reevaluate your airway clearance therapy.     Living with Impaired Airway Clearance: What do COPD, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and other chronic lung diseases have in common? These […]

High frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy is an effective approach to managing bronchiectasis and other chronic pulmonary conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. As annual bronchiectasis incidence (i.e. the number of patients newly diagnosed with bronchiectasis) increases, common misconceptions surrounding its treatment may prevent patients from choosing the most […]