Does Breathing Feel Harder Than It Should?
Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis often means twice the struggle. Chronic coughing, persistent mucus, and regular flare-ups can affect nearly every area of your life. It doesn’t have to be that way.
We understand how much COPD and bronchiectasis can impact your life, which is why we developed the SmartVest airway clearance system. SmartVest is a prescription-based, at-home therapy that clears mucus to improve your lung function, making breathing more comfortable and daily tasks more manageable. Wondering if SmartVest could help manage your symptoms of COPD and bronchiectasis?
Our informational packet includes everything you need to know about how SmartVest works, who it helps, and how to get started.
COPD is a lung disease where your airways become narrow and inflamed, making it difficult to breathe. Bronchiectasis occurs when the airways become damaged, making it difficult for mucus to drain properly. COPD can lead to bronchiectasis, but they are separate conditions, and bronchiectasis may result from a variety of lung infections and other conditions.1
Because there is significant overlap between these two conditions, understanding what causes COPD symptoms is helpful. COPD is usually triggered by long-term exposure to lung irritants such as cigarette smoke, pollution, allergens, or chemicals.[2] Bronchiectasis symptoms, on the other hand, stem from permanent damage to the airway’s structure, often caused by prior infections.1
A COPD flare up (also known as an COPD exacerbation) is a sudden worsening of symptoms that can leave you feeling low on energy, short on breath, or tightness in the chest area. Other common symptoms of COPD that may worsen during a flare up include[1]: Chronic cough Mucus Build up Respiratory infections Wheezing Swelling […]
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.
The early symptoms of COPD often overlap with those of bronchiectasis, making diagnosis more complicated. In fact, some patients are unaware that they have both conditions. Yet studies show that up to 69% of people with COPD also have bronchiectasis, a condition known as Bronchiectasis-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome (BCOS).3
Renowned Pulmonologist Dr. Frederic Seifer explains the growing number of patients living with comorbid COPD and bronchiectasis.
SmartVest uses High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO), a type of therapy that loosens mucus with gentle air pulses.
Getting mucus up and out doesn’t just improve your daily life; it reduces your chance of repeated lung infections.
A recent observational study showed that using SmartVest in combination with other therapies resulted in:
My mom has COPD and bronchiectasis which have landed her in the hospital a lot during the past few months. The doctor finally ordered SmartVest for her and, on the first treatment, she started getting phlegm up a lot easier and feeling like she could breathe better. Just to see a smile on her face after almost losing her this past week is so worth this vest!
As a prescription therapy, SmartVest is covered by many Medicare, VA, Medicaid, and private insurance plans when you meet medical criteria.
Insurance coverage is most likely when you have:
Our team is here to assist you at every stage. Contact us at 1.855.528.5690 or request a call from one of our Patient Care Advocates who will walk you through every step of the process.
You don’t need to manage your symptoms without support. For people with COPD and bronchiectasis, SmartVest is a proven solution for breathing more easily.
