An 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 ArticleA chest cold is the non-medical term for an upper respiratory infection, such as bronchitis. Bronchitis causes the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs to become inflamed and irritated. This leads to increased mucus production and smaller openings for air to flow, which makes it harder to breathe. Types There are […]
View ArticleMetastatic lung cancer. Three words no one ever wants to hear. But, because nearly 40% of people with newly diagnosed lung cancer already have metastases to other parts of the body,[1] it’s important to understand the gravity of the term and how early recognition of symptoms may help prevent lung cancer from spreading. Definition Metastatic […]
View ArticleAn oxygen (O2) sensor senses the percentage of oxygen in the air being delivered to an oxygen therapy patient. Oxygen sensors are placed in in oxygen concentrators to ensure proper creation and delivery of oxygen. The Inogen One G4 is equipped with an internal oxygen sensor that will alarm should the O2 concentration go below […]
View ArticlePulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection of the lungs caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is an airborne disease, meaning it spreads from person to person through tiny droplets in the air. Although tuberculosis is most often found in the lungs, it can develop in other parts of the body, as well. It’s […]
View ArticleAccording to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer, by far, is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women, alike. In fact, every year, more people die of lung cancer than from colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.[1] Because lung cancer is so prevalent, lung cancer screening was developed to detect lung cancer […]
View ArticleBronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is a term which, as of July 2016, is no longer in use, but was once used to describe a certain subtype of lung adenocarcinoma (cancer that starts in the glandular cells of the lungs). Because some oncologists (cancer doctors) still use the term, this article will focus on the history and […]
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 ArticleLung adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that occurs when abnormal lung cells chaotically multiply to form a tumor. Untreated, these tumor cells can metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes around and in-between the lungs, the liver, brain, bones and adrenal glands.[1] Lung Adenocarcinoma vs […]
View ArticleSupplemental oxygen therapy can be delivered in three ways: via oxygen concentrator, compressed oxygen gas or liquid oxygen. Many oxygen concentrators contain an oxygen sensor, while oxygen tanks work by using an oxygen regulator. The difference between these two is explained in the following text. Oxygen Concentrators The least expensive and most effective way to […]
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