As we head into the cold and flu season, you or a loved one may be experiencing mucus buildup in the lungs, also known as phlegm. Though chest congestion can make you feel uncomfortable and cause difficulty with breathing, your body’s natural response is to mobilize mucus buildup in the lungs and cough, causing the […]
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 […]
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are organisms that naturally occur in water and soil.1 When people inhale NTMs, the bacteria travels to their lungs and it could potentially cause a respiratory infection in susceptible individuals. Though most people naturally clear NTMs from their lungs and avoid any serious pulmonary damage, NTM lung infections still affect more than […]
Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is an airway clearance technique that involves manually percussing the chest wall to help clear the lungs of mucus build up. Administered with the help of a caregiver or respiratory therapist, manual CPT is used for patients living with a chronic lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis, where the lungs […]
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 […]