Facts About Respiratory Therapy And Respiratory Therapists

The respiratory system is classified as one of the most vital and important systems in the human body. It is the system that brings in oxygen coming from the atmosphere, which is very helpful in the different cell and tissue processes. Aside from this, the respiratory system also helps in the excretion of the body's waste products in the form of carbon dioxide. This system is made up of several organs or structures including the lungs and trachea just to name a couple.

However, the respiratory system can also experience a lot of health problems. Its structures could be affected by different types of diseases and ailments that could definitely impair the overall functioning of the system. Once the functions of the respiratory structures are affected, the situation could cause a life threatening problem. Fortunately, there are available methods and processes in order to take care of this system. One of these is through the use of respiratory therapy. But what is respiratory therapy?

Respiratory therapy is defined as a treatment or a management that targets different chronic and acute disorders, with the aid of respirators and other respiratory equipment. It also includes the administration of respiratory medications in the form of aerosol. Nowadays, there are a lot of people enrolling to different accredited schools in order to practice respiratory therapy. This is the reason why a respiratory therapist is considered a healthcare professional. They are sometimes called respiratory scientists and respiratory care practitioners. These therapists work independently and are considered a member of the health team in providing cardiac and pulmonary care to patients.

A respiratory therapist aids in treating patients who have breathing and other cardiopulmonary problems. Since these disorders could affect anyone, the therapy can also be applicable to all ages. Trained therapists are given the responsibility of diagnosing, evaluating and treating the different cardiopulmonary diseases. However, these therapists function under the supervision and guidance of doctors. Nevertheless, they are also provided the right to make a decision in managing those diseases associated with the respiratory system.

Other practices used in this particular type of therapy include chest physiotherapy, the use of asthma inhalers and nebulizers and the application of oxygen. Respiratory therapists are also able to interview and examine patients, provide lectures on how to properly use asthma equipment like inhalers, and monitor the ABG results or O2 levels of the patient's blood.

These therapists are also capable of administering the proper amount of oxygen depending on the diagnosis, doing pulmonary rehabilitation, adjusting medical machinery, making use of ventilators or artificial breathing devices for clients and testing the patient's lung capacity. These are the things that therapists can do for their patients in order to effectively provide quality respiratory care service.

By: Jeremy C. Winters

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