SmartVest Blog

Most people are familiar with the term Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). You may have watched commercials explaining its symptoms or have seen digital ads demonstrating how patients can treat COPD and other impaired breathing conditions, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Have you ever wondered why you know so much about COPD, yet you […]

Talking to your doctor about high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy can present challenges—especially if your prescriber is unfamiliar with bronchiectasis or how to effectively treat its chronic symptoms. When this is the case, it’s up to you to help educate your doctor on the benefits of HFCWO therapy in providing long-term relief and […]

Dr. Frederic Seifer has helped diagnose and treat numerous patients living with chronic lung diseases, such as bronchiectasis. For more than two decades, his dedication to helping patients find effective airway clearance treatments to manage their symptoms has made him a leading expert in the study of bronchiectasis.   To help individuals better understand bronchiectasis […]

According to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), October 21-27, 2018, marks the celebration of Respiratory Care Week. In honor of this event, respiratory therapists from all over the world are working together to increase awareness on how patients and clinicians can improve lung function.   An essential part of respiratory care awareness is […]

Bronchiectasis (brong-kee-EK-tuh-sis) is an irreversible chronic lung condition where a patient’s airways become damaged and abnormally widened from recurring inflammation or infection. Through a vicious cycle, airways are repeatedly damaged, causing the lungs to slowly lose their ability to mobilize and clear mucus. This leaves the body more susceptible to respiratory infections, and over time, […]

If you’re living with bronchiectasis, air travel may not sound like an ideal method of transportation. Between the plane’s cramped seating, cabin air pressure, and high altitude making it more difficult to breathe, you may avoid flying altogether. But an important part of living with a chronic lung disease, like bronchiectasis, is finding ways to […]

Whether it is simply making it up the stairs, sleeping through the night, or feeling healthy and energetic enough to travel, SmartVest users are eager to share how their quality of life has improved after incorporating the airway clearance vest therapy into their treatment regimen to help manage a chronic lung condition like bronchiectasis. I […]

At the third annual World Bronchiectasis Conference* held in Washington, D.C., new clinical evidence was presented from an independent study evaluating bronchiectasis-related exacerbations using high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy. According to the study, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients experienced a significant reduction in the number of severe exacerbations that require hospitalizations after using the […]

If your loved one is living with bronchiectasis, there are many ways you can help manage its symptoms to prevent the condition from worsening. Bronchiectasis is caused by an underlying condition that may include respiratory infections, immunodeficiency disorders, an allergic reaction to the fungus Aspergillus (ABPA), or genetic disorders. This type of impaired breathing condition […]

Whether you or a loved one is living with bronchiectasis, it’s important to understand how it affects your health, so you can make the right lifestyle choices to manage its symptoms. Bronchiectasis is an irreversible, chronic condition where airways in your lungs become damaged and abnormally widened. This is caused by recurring inflammation and/or infection, […]