Respiratory therapy is beneficial to those with asthma, COPD, lung trauma, pneumonia, and other issues. Our respiratory therapists provide a multitude of services to inpatients and outpatients of all ages – from birth to geriatrics – to treat and diagnosis breathing issues.
A condition that causes your airways to narrow, swell and potentially produce excess mucus. This will cause your breathing to be very difficult and may trigger a cough, wheeze (whistling sound) when you exhale and cause shortness of breath. Asthma cannot be cured but it can be managed and controlled by keeping in close contact with your doctor and keeping track of your signs and symptoms and allowing them to help you treat your disease process. For some people asthma may be a minor lung issue but unfortunately for some it is a major problem and can take a toll on their bodies and control their daily activities. Keeping track of changes to your asthma symptoms is crucial for effectively managing your condition.
An inflammatory lung disease that causes difficulty getting air into the lungs. Typically this is caused by long-term exposure to harmful irritating gases or particulate matter. Two most common conditions that contribute to COPD are Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. Most often these occur together and will vary in their severity which means they will affect each individual differently.
Chronic Bronchitis affects the lining of the bronchial tubes by causing inflammation. The bronchial tubes are the tubes that carry the air to the sacs in the lungs. When diagnosed with Chronic Bronchitis your doctor is looking for a daily cough and sputum production.
Emphysema affects the air sacs in the lungs. With emphysema the air sacs in the lungs are destroyed most often from irritating gases or particulate matter. Cigarette smoking is one of the most often seen causes of emphysema.
A cough that has lasted four weeks or longer in children and eight weeks or longer in adults is concerning. This cough often disrupts your normal sleep cycle, causing you to vomit, feel dizzy or lightheaded following episodes.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which you stop and start breathing while you are sleeping causing disruptions in your normal sleeping pattern. There are three types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Central Sleep Apnea, and Complex Sleep Apnea
Restrictive lung diseases prevent the lungs from completely expanding.
Spirometry measures how much air you can blow out in one breath. This test will help diagnose lung conditions.
Lung Diffuse Capacity Testing check to see how well you are able to move oxygen from the air you breathe into the bloodstream.
The 6 Minute Walk Test is a test that measures your oxygen saturations during exercise to determine if there is a need for the use of supplemental oxygen.
This is a diagnostic test that is completed in your home. This test is used to diagnose sleep apnea.
This is a non-invasive diagnostic test that is considered to be the most accurate method of diagnosing sleep apnea. This is done in an outpatient setting where you sleep in the sleep lab and are monitored by a technician.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation/Respiratory Services are supervised exercise sessions that are individually tailored to each individual’s needs. These services are designed to help improve your breathing and quality of life for people with lung conditions such as COPD, asthma, etc.
According to the American Lung Association we take approximately 23,000 breaths each day! Our lungs are what help filter out the toxins and move the very important oxygen through our blood stream and the rest of our body. As the saying goes everything gets harder as we age…well the same goes for breathing. Our lung capacity declines which means it is harder for gas exchange to occur. We need to do all we can to keep our lungs healthy.
Here are ten ways to keep your lungs healthy:
1. Stop smoking if you are/avoid secondhand smoke
2. Exercise regularly
3. Eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated
4. See your health care provider annually
5. Stay up to date on your vaccinations
6. Maintain good personal hygiene
7. Work on good breathing techniques/exercises
8. Know your triggers/environmental exposures
9. Improve your indoor air quality
10. Have Fun and Laugh Lots!
“Respiratory Therapy has really helped me. The difference in the tightness in my chest and breathing as I walk is amazing.”
Patient
© 2025 Smith County Memorial Hospital. All Rights Reserved. Designed by BitBrilliant