“Can respiratory therapy help chronic bronchitis?”
My doctor told me I have chronic bronchitis because of the amount of years that I've been smoking, and it really affects my life. Should I consider a respiratory therapist for treatment?
1 Answer
Dear patient,
Smoking for many years can unfortunately lead to many respiratory ailments, including chronic bronchitis, COPD and emphysema among others. Many of these conditions share similar symptoms due to the damaging effects of the toxins found in processed tobacco on the structure of the lungs itself as well as the airways. Shortness of breath is a common symptom to all of those conditions, and with chronic bronchitis it is usually associated with a cough, chronic in nature and productive of clear or slightly discolored phlegm- what is commonly known as a smoker's cough. In addition to benefiting from an inhaler regimen that your pulmonologist would tailor to your needs, many patients with chronic bronchitis and COPD also benefit from a program known as pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a well structured program spread over 36 sessions, done at a facilities under the supervision of a respiratory therapist. These facilities are specialized and are not usually found at any regular physical therapy place, unless they specifically state it. It involves a combination of exercises aimed at improving upper body strength and general endurance, while your vitals and oxygen levels are being monitored. Medicare and other insurances usually cover it 100%. It is extremely important that you follow through on the program with no or minimal interruptions, otherwise you would lose all the benefits that you acquired prior to the interruption, and you would not be eligible to restart again from the beginning. Patients who benefit from it the most are those who experience difficulty breathing on exertion and those who have a limited endurance with activity. Patients who are either totally or partially oxygen-dependent also benefit from it significantly. I do suggest to all my patients that they continue their therapy with maintenance sessions at whatever facility they go to, usually about twice a week, even after you complete the 36-session program. Though that may imply a fairly affordable out-of-pocket expense cost, it will help preserve and maintain all the benefits that you would have acquired through the program.
Good luck in your decision, and I hope this information has been somewhat helpful to you.
Elie Mansour MD, FCCP
Smoking for many years can unfortunately lead to many respiratory ailments, including chronic bronchitis, COPD and emphysema among others. Many of these conditions share similar symptoms due to the damaging effects of the toxins found in processed tobacco on the structure of the lungs itself as well as the airways. Shortness of breath is a common symptom to all of those conditions, and with chronic bronchitis it is usually associated with a cough, chronic in nature and productive of clear or slightly discolored phlegm- what is commonly known as a smoker's cough. In addition to benefiting from an inhaler regimen that your pulmonologist would tailor to your needs, many patients with chronic bronchitis and COPD also benefit from a program known as pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a well structured program spread over 36 sessions, done at a facilities under the supervision of a respiratory therapist. These facilities are specialized and are not usually found at any regular physical therapy place, unless they specifically state it. It involves a combination of exercises aimed at improving upper body strength and general endurance, while your vitals and oxygen levels are being monitored. Medicare and other insurances usually cover it 100%. It is extremely important that you follow through on the program with no or minimal interruptions, otherwise you would lose all the benefits that you acquired prior to the interruption, and you would not be eligible to restart again from the beginning. Patients who benefit from it the most are those who experience difficulty breathing on exertion and those who have a limited endurance with activity. Patients who are either totally or partially oxygen-dependent also benefit from it significantly. I do suggest to all my patients that they continue their therapy with maintenance sessions at whatever facility they go to, usually about twice a week, even after you complete the 36-session program. Though that may imply a fairly affordable out-of-pocket expense cost, it will help preserve and maintain all the benefits that you would have acquired through the program.
Good luck in your decision, and I hope this information has been somewhat helpful to you.
Elie Mansour MD, FCCP
