Breathing is one of our most basic bodily functions. It keeps us alive moment-to-moment. That is why respiratory ailments such as lung cancer, bronchitis, and pneumonia are so serious. Respiratory conditions need to be managed carefully, sometimes with constant medical monitoring.
Fortunately, at Western States Home Health Care Agency, Inc., we can provide you with the services of professional respiratory therapists to help you manage acute and chronic conditions.
Respiratory Conditions
Some examples of the most common respiratory problems:
- Lung cancer, which is caused by smoking and exposure to certain toxins, and is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide
- Asthma, a form of allergic overreaction that causes spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe
- Emphysema, a lung disease in which the lungs’ alveoli, or air sacs, are damaged and enlarged, also caused by smoking and the inhalation of toxins
- Bronchitis, an infection of the bronchi, the tubes leading to the lungs
- Pneumonia, a viral or bacterial infection in the lungs that results in inflammation and the alveoli filling with pus
- COVID-19, a new form of coronavirus that can cause severe pneumonia
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists (PTs) help you recover from injury or affliction by teaching you physical methods to reduce pain and improve body functioning. For example, if you have broken a bone or pulled a muscle, your physical therapist can guide you through a series of exercises to rebuild full and painless use of that limb.
PTs also help patients prevent the loss of mobility later in life by instilling good exercise habits and developing plans to make wellness and fitness an integral part of your lifestyle.
Treatment for Respiratory Conditions
Some respiratory conditions can be managed with certain medications. For others that severely limit a person’s ability to breathe, the patient may need to be placed on a ventilator. This is a device that feeds oxygen directly into a person’s lungs, making up for their inability to take in enough oxygen on their own.
You can avoid most lung diseases by following a few simple steps. Don’t smoke tobacco or marijuana, and avoid secondhand smoke from those who do. Do your best to minimize your exposure to airborne toxic pollutants, which can include everyday sources such as a gas stove or open fireplace in your home.
Respiratory therapists are trained to give compassionate, knowledgeable care. They will assess your condition by performing chest exams and taking tissue samples, and then suggest an appropriate course of action. If a ventilator is needed, your respiratory therapist will manage your care, determining when it is safe to wean you off of treatment.
Contact Western States Home Health Care Agency, Inc., if you or a loved one is in need of respiratory care in Orange County, Los Angeles, or the San Fernando Valley.