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 conditions make it difficult for patients to breathe independently and clear mucus from the lungs—resulting in frequent respiratory infections and costly emergency visits. Aside from recurring flare ups, living with a chronic lung condition can also disrupt the time you enjoy with family and prevent you from doing the kinds of activities you love.
If your chronic symptoms are causing you to miss out on life’s special moments, the issue may lie in your current treatment. There are different techniques to managing respiratory flare ups, but an effective way to clear mucus from the lungs is using a combination of medication and high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy.
What is HFCWO Therapy?
HFCWO therapy involves the use of a respiratory vest that is connected to a generator with a single-hose. The technology delivers rapidly repeating pulses of air to the vest, which gently squeezes and releases the chest wall to create an oscillation of air that works to clear mucus from the lungs.
An Average Therapy Session:
HFCWO therapy sessions are typically performed twice a day for a total of 30 minutes. Clinicians may also prescribe a bronchodilator to help open up your airways.
Are All HFCWO Therapy Vests the Same?
A general misconception about HFCWO therapy is that all respiratory vests are the same in terms of performance, effectiveness, and price. While HFCWO therapy is clinically proven to help clear mucus from the lungs, the SmartVest Airway Clearance System is the only device with published outcome-based studies, supporting its ability to help patients manage their impaired breathing conditions, like bronchiectasis.
In a 2018 longitudinal outcome-based study, researchers investigated the relationship between long-term HFCWO therapy and exacerbation rates of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients. The results concluded that long term-use of SmartVest led to significant decreases in bronchiectasis-related exacerbations; hospitalizations, antibiotic therapy, and emergency department visits. The most significant point to note, however, is how SmartVest helps patients live and breathe better!
Why Choose SmartVest in 2020?
Apart from its clinically proven effectiveness, SmartVest is designed for each patient’s comfort and offers the quietest, lightest therapy vest on the market. In addition, SmartVest is leading the way in patient/clinician collaboration with SmartVest Connect, an online portal that allows patients to easily track their therapy sessions, share notes with their clinician, and actively monitor their progress.
Get Your Prescription Started!
If breathing better and living your life to its fullest potential is your goal for 2019, then it’s time to talk to your doctor about HFCWO therapy! To obtain a SmartVest system, a prescription is needed from your doctor. Get a head start by filling out the forms below and bring them to your appointment. Your care team should then fax all completed forms to Electromed at 866.758.5077.
Here’s what other SmartVest users had to say about their experience using the SmartVest Airway Clearance System:
“SmartVest saved my life. Before SmartVest, I wasn’t sure I would grow old with my husband; thank you for helping me have better quality of life.” -Debra
“SmartVest is awesome. I can breathe a lot easier and can do things I haven’t been able to for five years. I get around a lot better without having to stop and catch my breath.” -Janet
“SmartVest breaks up the mucus a lot, and sure beats being in the hospital.” -Joann
“I’ve been using SmartVest now for about seven months and my COPD episodes are fewer and less frequent. I guess you can say it’s working!” -Josephine
“SmartVest has been a great addition in my treatment for bronchiectasis. Thankful to have it!” -Martha
“My husband uses SmartVest and we travel frequently. The luggage case it comes with is sturdy enough to travel even on a plane.” -Linda
“I have bronchiectasis and NTM. Thanks to SmartVest I have less lung infections. I can breathe better because I don’t have as much junk in my lungs.” -Stephanie
