3 medical devices that help me with COPD management
Inhalers, nebulizers, and airway clearance devices help this columnist breathe
Many of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have received medical devices to help with our breathing. At first, it seemed to me that some of these devices worked better than others. But after gaining experience with them, I think that impression was based on the fact that perhaps I wasn’t using them correctly.
Thankfully, several resources are available online to learn everything we need to know about them. We can also ask our doctors or other members of our healthcare team to explain them to us.
One of the first devices I received after being diagnosed with COPD is an inhaler. There are many types of inhalers, and the technique for using each one is different. The COPD Foundation has a great introductory video on the three most common types of inhalers: metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and soft mist inhalers. Each one relies on a specific technique for usage.
I use Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol), a multidose, dry powder inhaler. My rescue inhaler is a metered dose one.
The second device you may be given is a nebulizer. My pulmonologist ordered this device for me, but unfortunately, it was delivered without any instructions included. Thankfully, I found instructions online. Funnily enough, my first nebulizer back in 2013 was made for kids, so it was shaped like a panda. I still have fond memories of it.
Another item you might use, which is also the latest one I was prescribed after a bout with pneumonia, is the Acapella, an airway clearance device — meaning, it helps to remove mucus. Along with that, my healthcare team taught me the huff coughing technique, also known as huffing. As the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation explains, this technique “involves taking a breath in, holding it, and actively exhaling.” I use the Acapella and then I huff cough.
Inhalers, nebulizers, and airway clearance devices are all tools that we can use to keep our lungs clear and stay as healthy as possible, hopefully easing the burden of COPD.
What are some of the tools in your healthcare toolbox? Please share in the comments below.
Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
About the Author
Comments