Disorder of the Diaphragms in COPD Patients Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing.1 A chest X-Ray image of COPD patients may reveal enlarged lungs, a flattened diaphragm, or potentially [...]
Cerebral Palsy and the Need for Airway Clearance What is Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or abnormalities inside the developing brain that disrupt [...]
How Pulmonary Patients Can Stay Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic Living with a chronic respiratory condition such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, COPD or asthma can significantly compromise the immune system, making patients more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, developing an infection or exacerbation. With the emergence of COVID-19, a new form [...]
Importance of Patient Education in Bronchiectasis Treatment Adherence Bronchiectasis (bron-kee-eck-tuh-sis) is a chronic lung condition in which the breathing tubes, also known as airways or bronchi, become abnormally dilated. While there are many causes, damage to the airways by lung infection is the most common. These damaged airways can no [...]
The Importance of Respiratory Health in Neurological Disorders Patients with certain neurological diseases such as Tay-Sachs, Canavan and Sandhoff are at increased risk of developing chest infections, respiratory complications as well as respiratory failure due to respiratory muscular weakness and the inability to clear excess mucus from the airways of [...]
Military Veterans and Chronic Respiratory Diseases Since 2001, more than 3 million United States military men and women have deployed overseas. In recent years, indications have emerged that U.S. military personnel that have deployed may be at a greater risk for developing lung disease symptoms and, in some cases, disabling [...]
Similarities and Differences Between Asthma, COPD And Bronchiectasis Diseases of the airways of the lungs are common and can include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. These diseases affect the airways of the lungs that carry oxygen and other gases into and out of the lungs. They usually [...]
The choice is YOURS when it comes to airway clearance therapy When patients with chronic lung diseases are tethered by an old-fashioned air bladder compressor-style vest, they’re a shadow of themselves. The bulky tubes… the isolation… the noise… and the heavy generators have taken away their [...]
CF and Non-CF Bronchiectasis Bronchiectasis is the term used to refer to dilatation of the airways in the lungs (also known as bronchi) that is usually permanent and is associated with symptoms of cough, excess mucus production and recurring respiratory infections. It can be caused by a range of genetically [...]
Airway Clearance in Neuromuscular Disorders Respiratory health is crucial for children and adults with neuromuscular disorders. These disorders progressively weaken muscles, often including the respiratory muscles. Severely weakened respiratory muscles most commonly occurs in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) type 1, muscular dystrophy (MS) and [...]