Bradypnea is a medical term defined as abnormally slow breathing of fewer than 12 breaths per minute. It ordinarily precedes life-threatening conditions such as apnea (cessation of breathing) or respiratory arrest (breathing suddenly stops or is ineffective). Bradypnea is often caused by neurological or metabolic disorders or drug overdoses.[1] Science of the Respiratory System Normal […]
View ArticleAn incentive spirometer is a medical device used to help improve lung function after surgery – especially lung surgery – or after an illness such as pneumonia. It’s also commonly prescribed to patients recovering from heart surgery or any other surgery involving prolonged anesthesia and/or post-operative, in-bed recovery. Purpose of the Incentive Spirometer The incentive […]
View ArticleDyspnea – the medical term for shortness of breath – can be either acute, occurring suddenly, or chronic, persisting over a long period of time. It is an extremely common symptom, occurring in 1 out of every 4 people who visit their doctor’s office. Despite its commonality, the quality of dyspnea seems to vary from […]
View ArticleCentral sleep apnea (CSA) is a type of sleep disorder that causes your breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. It’s associated with significant complications, including frequent nighttime awakenings, excessive daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of problems associated with the heart and circulatory system.[1] Causes of CSA Breathing is controlled by the autonomic […]
View ArticleObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Although there are 3 distinct types of sleep apnea, OSA is the most common. This type of sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax causing a partial or complete obstruction […]
View ArticleSimilar to the heart-lung bypass machine used in open heart surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced life-support device that pumps and oxygenates a patient’s blood outside the body, permitting the heart and lungs to rest. When connected to the ECMO machine, your blood flows through tubing to an artificial lung inside the machine […]
View ArticleHypopnea can be defined as abnormally slow or shallow breathing. It is distinct from apnea, in which there is a total cessation of breathing. While apnea occurs when airflow from your lungs is completely blocked by an obstruction from your throat, hypopnea occurs when the airway is only partially blocked and airflow from your lungs […]
View ArticleTransient nocturnal desaturation, also known as nocturnal hypoxemia, is defined as a temporary drop in oxygen saturation during sleep. The condition is a significant problem in COPD, affecting a relatively large number of COPD patients. In fact, one study suggests that 27-70% of COPD patients with daytime oxygen saturation levels of 90-95% experience substantial desaturation […]
View ArticleChest tube thoracostomy, commonly referred to as “putting in a chest tube”, is the insertion of a hollow plastic tube into the pleural cavity (space around the lungs) to drain air, blood, pus or other fluids. Whether the excess air or fluid is the result of a traumatic injury, cancer, pneumonia or another condition, insertion […]
View ArticleClaire discusses why she loves her Inogen One and the freedom she’s regained.
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