How Does Albuterol Work?Albuterol is a very effective rescue medicine. It’s the best selling beta adrenergic of all time. It opens airways fast, making breathing easy. It does this with negligible side effects... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
COPD Lexicon: Types Of DoctorsThere are so many doctors capable and ready to help you. And there are so many different types of doctors. They specialize in a variety of areas. Physician Doctor. A... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
COPD Lexicon: Emphysema Terms To KnowYou got me started on defining COPD-related terms in my other Lexicon articles (Basic Terms to Know & Oxygen Terms to Know). So, here are a few more. These ones... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What is Pulmonary Function Testing?Some call it pulmonary function testing, or a PFT. Some call it spirometry. No matter what you refer to it as it entails a series of breathing tests. The Global... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments12 comments
The Toll of Frequent COPD ExacerbationsDealing with exacerbations of COPD is a fact of life when you have this disease. But, as emphasized in the most recent 2017 GOLD Guidelines for COPD, experts now recognize... By Kathi MacNaughton2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments12 comments
Tips for Managing COPD PainPain management is an important part of treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet so often, the medical support system may overlook pain as an element of COPD. As... By Leon Lebowitz, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
10 Improvements Over Past 20 YearsRecently, my boss came to me and said, “Happy Anniversary!” She bought me lunch. It was a worthy celebration of my 20 years as a respiratory therapist. So, in honor... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
COPD Tests and Diagnosis (Part 1)We hear about ABG, FEV and PFT. What is going on? What does it mean? I know my basic ABC’s but this is really off! I used to think that... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
So, What IS COPD Anyway?I thought it would be neat to take a step back and review the term COPD. We know it means Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. But, what does this mean? Here’s... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why Is There No Cure For COPD?Why is there no cure for COPD? Why is so much known about other diseases, yet so little known about ours? These are viable questions I hear often. Trust me... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
Coughing for Better BreathingLearning how to cough effectively is an important skill when you have COPD. The congestion that often goes along with your COPD can result in clogged airways. And if your... By Kathi MacNaughton3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
COPD Lexicon: Basic Terms To Know“So, what does that mean? Can you put that in English? Can you put that in terms I can understand?” These are questions I sometimes get after some doctors talk... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Maintaining COPD Control During the Winter MonthsStaying healthy with COPD is all about maintaining control over your symptoms as well as you can. Winter, though, presents a number of challenges to your control efforts. Here are... By Kathi MacNaughton3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
GERD and COPD: What You Need to KnowDid you know that people who have COPD are at risk for another chronic condition called GERD? GERD stands for GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease, and is sometimes called acid reflux or... By Kathi MacNaughton2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Home Pulse Oximeter Monitoring - Yes or No?If you have COPD, chances are good that you've had your index finger stuck into a small device called a pulse oximeter during a doctor's office visit. Your doctor or... By Kathi MacNaughton3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments11 comments
9 Early Warning Signs And SymptomsA neat thing about having COPD is it communicates with you. It lets you know when something is wrong, or when a flare-up is impending. It communicates by presenting you... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Why Wasn’t I Chosen for a Clinical Trial?In any clinical trial, participants must meet certain criteria to be eligible to participate. There are two commonly used terms when describing clinical trial eligibility, and those are “inclusion criteria”... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Is a Clinical Trial Right for Me? 5 Questions to Help you DecideMaking decisions can be tough, especially when they relate to your health! One decision you may face is whether or not participating in a clinical trial is right for you... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Links Between COPD and AnxietyStudies show that 13-45% of COPDers also experience anxiety. In fact, COPDers are 85% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety compared with the general population. Despite this, less than... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
10 Things You Should Know About Clinical TrialsEach year thousands of clinical trials occur. Learning about clinical trials can feel like you are learning a new language. The good news is that there are lots of resources... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments