Did you know that the average person breathes in between 2,100 and 2,400 gallons of air every day?¹ The respiratory system plays an essential role in delivering oxygen throughout the body. However, if the respiratory system is not functioning properly due to illness or chronic conditions, it may be a sign that respiratory therapy is needed.

Here is more information on respiratory therapy and who can benefit from it.

What is Respiratory Therapy?

Respiratory therapy is a form of therapy that helps treat people who have lung disease, respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, or difficulty breathing after an injury or surgery.² Some examples of conditions respiratory therapists help treat are:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a group of respiratory illnesses that can cause people to feel breathless and not be able to exhale normally.³ Respiratory therapists may do pulmonary rehab, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary function testing as part of respiratory therapy treatment.⁴
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is a respiratory condition that occurs when fluids build up in the lungs, preventing enough air from reaching them.⁵ Respiratory therapists will treat their patients with extra oxygen through a mask or a mechanical ventilator for severe cases.⁶
• Lung Cancer. Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. People with lung cancer often have trouble breathing.⁷ To help manage this, respiratory therapists will provide their patients with pulmonary rehabilitation.⁸

Types of Respiratory Therapies

If someone has chronic lung disease or a respiratory illness, it is important that they receive respiratory therapy if prescribed by a doctor. Some examples of respiratory therapies are:

Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a type of rehabilitation that focuses on improving breathing issues and other symptoms of lung diseases such as COPD, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. A respiratory therapist may have their patients exercise, retrain their breathing, and undergo chest physiotherapy and airway clearance.⁹

Tracheostomy Care. Tracheostomy is a procedure in which a surgical opening is made in the trachea, and a tube is inserted to help the patient breathe more easily. Patients with chronic pulmonary disease, diaphragm dysfunction, or a chest wall injury may undergo tracheostomy.¹⁰ Respiratory therapists provide tracheostomy care by having their patients do chest clearance exercises, breathing techniques, and respiratory muscle strength training.¹¹

Ventilator Weaning. A ventilator is a machine that breathes for those who cannot breathe on their own or have difficulty breathing. It has tubes that are placed in the patient’s mouth or through their tracheostomy.¹² Patients with a ventilator may have COPD, asthma, or acute respiratory distress syndrome.¹³ Respiratory therapists help with ventilator weaning by using expiratory muscle-strength trainers to help their patients cough, clear their airways, and lower the risk of getting pneumonia.¹⁴

Picking a Respiratory Therapist

If you or your loved one is in need of respiratory therapy, it is important to choose a respiratory therapist who will fit your needs and provide care with compassion and professionalism. Additional things to keep in mind are:

• Ensuring a respiratory therapist has the essential credentials to provide treatment¹⁵
• Possessing patience, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving skills¹⁶
• Being up to date with the latest treatment options¹⁷

It is important to note that your doctor and medical team can help you go through all of the qualifications and qualities in a respiratory therapist that are important to you and help you choose the therapist that will be the best for your care.