What Is Respiratory Therapy?
The ability to inhale deeply is something that most people take for granted. Both minor respiratory infections and significant respiratory disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) impair respiratory function and can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. Respiratory therapy is a type of treatment that aims to reduce symptoms and restore normal breathing function.
A respiratory therapist (RT) is a licensed healthcare professional specializing in lung treatment. They are well-versed in advanced technology, such as mechanical ventilators. RTs collaborate with physicians and nurses and work in various medical settings, including emergency rooms, labor and delivery units, and therapy offices. Certain RTs even provide care to individuals in their homes.
Respiratory therapists assist patients with asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, lung injuries, and other diseases in improving their conditions. RTs can examine the patient’s breathing, make exercise recommendations, and track their progress.
Respiratory therapy comes in a variety of forms. An RT may focus on one or more of these.
Emergency respiratory therapy takes place in a hospital. RTs support emergency department personnel and assist patients recovering from heart surgery or lung failure. Certain RTs assist physicians during complex procedures. Ventilators have a significant role in emergency respiratory therapy. RTs are also responsible for managing or initiating life support for persons in need.
Another type of therapy is adult respiratory treatment. Treatment takes place in a hospital, outpatient facility, or at the patient’s home. An RT may aid with routine care for chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis. Adult respiratory therapy frequently includes emphysema treatment. RTs are occasionally in charge of programs designed to assist individuals in quitting smoking.
Pulmonary rehabilitation enables the lungs to restore their total capacity for breathing following surgery or a traumatic event. An RT may administer this type of therapy outside of the hospital setting. They also assist in detecting and treating sleep apnea in sleep labs.
Pediatric respiratory therapists specialize in newborn and pediatric cardiopulmonary disorders. They occasionally work in hospitals, caring for patients in inpatient facilities, particularly infants in neonatal critical care units. Certain pediatric respiratory therapists provide outpatient care for children and adolescents with asthma.
Almost one in seven middle-aged or older adults has a chronic lung condition. As a result, older adults and those requiring long-term care frequently need respiratory therapy support. Like adult respiratory treatment, geriatric respiratory treatment may occur in a hospital, an outpatient facility, or the individual’s home.
Respiratory therapy has the following benefits for people with breathing problems.
Respiratory therapy helps patients speed recovery from acute illnesses such as respiratory infections, allergies, and influenza. With other treatments, respiratory therapy can accelerate the healing process, allowing patients to do what they used to do.
Respiratory therapy’s healing advantages include enhanced immune function. Having a weakened respiratory system can increase the risk of contracting an illness. Additionally, respiratory problems can quickly worsen, and increasing general immune function can help keep one on the path to recovery.
Steroids and anti-inflammatories are critical components of respiratory care. However, drugs are not always the most effective treatment. Breathing treatments and supplementary oxygen can help improve breathing when combined with medications.
Being diagnosed with the same respiratory ailment as someone else does not mean that the treatment options should be the same for every patient. The most successful treatment entails a tailored care plan, which primarily emphasizes respiratory care.
Conditions of the respiratory system can substantially impact one’s quality of life. When respiratory distress is evident, going outside or performing routine household duties can become challenging. This disruption of regular activities may result in despair and anxiety. Respiratory therapy gives the necessary respite to allow the individual to resume some of their everyday functions.
