SmartVest Blog

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 […]

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition often overshadowed by more well-known respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Yet, if not correctly diagnosed and treated, bronchiectasis can result in a cascade of serious complications that can significantly affect your patient’s quality of life. What’s at Risk? When the bronchial tubes in the […]

Do you have a persistent cough that only happens in the morning? If so, you’re not alone. A morning cough usually occurs when you first wake up. It can either be dry or wet. While it may be a normal reaction to an irritant in your respiratory system, such as allergies or post-nasal drip, if […]

When we breathe, our lungs make sounds that are often barely audible. However, in certain situations, you might hear high-pitched wheezing or a crackling sound coming from your lungs. These unusual noises can be alarming, but understanding their causes can help you seek medical attention to treat the underlying respiratory issue. In this blog post, […]

Any condition that disrupts a patient’s ability to breathe deeply and naturally is a serious health concern. Diaphragm disorders are no different. The diaphragm is a muscle located below the lungs that helps us breathe. It contracts and flattens when we inhale and relaxes when we exhale. Any damage, or dysfunction, to this essential area […]

Learn more about the differences between bronchiectasis and COPD. For many people living with impaired breathing, bronchiectasis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may seem like similar terms. These diseases do have significant differences that help determine which treatment will be most effective.

High-resolution computerized technology (HRCT) allows clinicians to get an accurate bronchiectasis diagnosis among patients experiencing common symptoms of this condition. Bronchiectasis (brong-kee-EK-tuh-sis) is an irreversible chronic lung condition caused by abnormal widening of the lung’s airways. Although no cure for bronchiectasis exists, patients can manage their symptoms and avoid triggering flare-ups that may require hospitalizations. […]

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (or NTM) are organisms that naturally occur in water, soil, and dust.¹ When you inhale these NTM organisms, the bacteria travel to your lungs, which may cause a respiratory infection to develop. Though NTM lung disease can affect anyone, you may be at higher risk if you have a pre-existing lung condition, such […]

Chronic cough, shortness of breath, mucus buildup, and recurring respiratory infection are all common bronchiectasis symptoms. Although there is currently no cure for this chronic lung condition, there are ways to help manage your individual symptoms so you can breathe easier. In this guide, you’ll find answers to common questions about bronchiectasis to help you […]