Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Respiration and The Need For Respiratory Therapists

For us, breathing is automatic that we tend not to notice it. Every time we inhale, we draw fresh oxygen into our lungs, which then make its way to our bloodstream transporting it to all the cells of our bodies. This process enables them to burn essential nutrients that are vital to life.

During breathing, our chest rises and our diaphragm expands downward. This creates a kind of vacuum in the chest. Through this vacuum, the air is transported into the upper and lower respiratory passages. As we exhale, our lungs and chest go back to their initial position and air is expelled through the respiratory passages. The act of respiration depends on the current metabolic condition of the body. Therefore, respiration adjusts when the body is at rest or in motion.

Not everyone has normal respiration. Others that suffer from chronic respiratory disorders need help through treatments and respiratory therapies in order to have proper respiration.

Over the years, the demand for respiratory therapy has grown, mainly because it is considered by many as very systematic and gentle. The therapy includes a mild dose of nebulized medicine that is given quickly during inhalation to the respiratory passages as a kind of soft aerosol targeting passages where it can act quickly.

Asthma, Bronchitis, Pulmonary Emphysema

Asthma is one of the most common respiratory disorders. It causes lungs' airways to become narrow and inflamed. This leads to shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing. These symptoms are recurring and thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Bronchitis is another respiratory disorders that is quite common. It is described as the swelling of the main air passages to the lungs and can either be acute or chronic. Typical symptoms of bronchitis are coughing, excess mucus and sputum.

Pulmonary Emphysema is a chronic lung condition where the alveoli or air sacs may be destroyed, narrowed, collapsed, stretched or over-inflated. These cause a decrease in the functions of the respiratory system and breathlessness, as well.

The Need For Respiratory Therapists

For those afflicted with the abovementioned disorders, it is important that you take better care of your health. By being given the proper care from a respiratory therapist. While respiratory therapists are not considered doctors, they are experts of life support equipment operation and pulmonary diseases. With their knowledge on respiratory functions, they are able to give proper recommendations and diagnosis to doctors.

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