For some, the start of a New Year is sometimes met with a mix of emotions. Though you’re eager to see what new adventures lie ahead, you’re also thinking about how these new changes will impact your quality of life.
If you’re living with bronchiectasis or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), for example, you may be wondering what the future holds for your individual condition. In fact, you might be asking:
- What if my symptoms worsen?
- What if my therapy isn’t effective enough?
- Are there better options to help manage my symptoms?
Committed to Providing Lung Health Support
At Electromed, it’s our mission to provide the support and guidance you need to become your own advocate in managing bronchiectasis, COPD, or any other chronic lung condition.
Whether it’s via our SmartVest Airway Clearance System, on-call patient care advocates, or resource libraries that range from video tutorials and articles to testimonials and clinical studies, we want to be your trusted source for airway clearance information.
In the past year, we continued to compile a series of helpful articles that address many of the questions our readers have about their condition, its symptoms, and how they can achieve better airway clearance long-term.
Below, we’ve listed our top 10 articles that we hope you’ll review to learn more about your individual condition and get the support you need to manage it, so you can get back to breathing easier and living better.
What Is Your COPD Action Plan?
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), a COPD action plan helps you and your care team stay connected by collaboratively tracking and monitoring your individual treatment. In this article, we explore how to start an action plan with provided tools from the ALA, as well as how to recognize the signs of bronchiectasis if you’re living with COPD, and what to do next.
3 Exercises to Help You Breathe Easier
Everyone wants to breathe easier, but when you’re living with bronchiectasis, it becomes harder to breathe naturally due to common symptoms like shortness of breath. In this article, we share three recommended breathing exercises that you can perform before, during, or after airway clearance therapy.
Bronchiectasis and Asthma: Similarities and Differences
Though bronchiectasis and asthma share similar symptoms, there are key differences between the two conditions. In this article, we break down what you need to know about bronchiectasis and asthma.
Can the Cold Exacerbate COPD and Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms?
The winter months often spell trouble for respiratory conditions. The cold temperatures mixed with dryness in the air can cause us to lose moisture and restrict our lungs, making our bodies work harder to stay warm. In this article, we’ll explore cold weather’s effect on conditions like COPD and cystic fibrosis, as well as provide a few tips on how to protect your lungs during natural climate changes.
Can You Exercise When You Have Bronchiectasis?
Daily exercise can be challenging if you’re having trouble breathing. However, staying active helps you build muscle and strengthen your lungs. In this article, we explore three recommended exercises from the ALA. Just remember to always consult with your clinician before trying any new exercise routine at home.
How is COPD Diagnosed?
How do you know if you’re living with COPD? Though there are many ways your clinician may test for this condition, the most common methods include spirometry, a computerized tomography (CT) scan, an arterial blood gas analysis, or a combination of all three. In this article, we explore how and why these options are used to detect COPD in patients across the country.
Understanding Cystic Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition that affects more than 30,000 people in the United States. In this article, we provide an in-depth analysis of this condition and how it affects the body. We also include helpful resources to help you learn more about available treatment and how to manage symptoms as you age.
Managing Breathlessness
Physical activity can cause us to feel out of breath, but what exactly is shortness of breath (or breathlessness)? And how does it contribute to lung conditions like bronchiectasis and COPD? In this article, we discuss what breathlessness is and feature four recommended treatments to help you breathe easier.
Benefits of Exercise with COPD
Just as it’s important to exercise when you’re living with bronchiectasis, it’s also essential to stay active when you have COPD. In this article, we list the top three recommended exercises for COPD and how each activity promotes better stamina and wellness for your body and lung health.
Everything You Need to Know about Cilia in the Lungs
What exactly are those tiny, hair-like structures located along our bronchial tubes? Those structures that move in a brushing motion are called cilia, and they play a vital role in helping move mucus upward and into your throat, allowing it to be easily coughed up or swallowed. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of how cilia works, what happens when it becomes damaged, and how you can prevent further damage to this essential area of the body.
Lung Health Support in 2022 and Beyond
As we say goodbye to 2021, we hope you’ll make 2022 the year you get the support and treatment you need, so you can manage your symptoms effectively and live life to its fullest potential.
If you’d like to make 2022 your best year yet, we invite you to request an informational packet on the benefits of using SmartVest for airway clearance. Inside, you’ll have access to all the facts, data, and information you need to start a conversation with your healthcare team about adding SmartVest to your treatment plan.
Have questions? You can talk to a patient care advocate right now to find out more about our product and how the SmartVest prescription process works. Call them directly at 1.855.528.5690 or schedule a time that works for you!
From all of us at Electromed, we wish you a safe, happy New Year ahead!
Check out the top blog posts from 2020.
