Good News Week

Despite the weather trying to dampen our spirits this has to be seen as good news and,

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate The British Lung Foundation and Asthma U.K., who have both this week been celebrating victory, with the welcomed  announcement of the Governments, National Outcomes Strategy to tackle Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma, which hopefully in the future has the potential to halve hospital admissions from these medical conditions.

They have both been campaigning for many years to get the COPD and Asthma Outcomes Strategy published.

Every seven minutes someone with asthma is admitted to hospital, and asthma costs the NHS more than £1billion per year and BLF research shows that there are 3.7 million people suffering with COPD which is the second highest reason for emergency hospital admission across the country. Eight million people across the UK. suffer with lung disease.

The National Outcomes Strategy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma in England recommends that patients should have a prompt and accurate diagnosis, standardised care across the country, shared decision-making regarding their treatment and the ongoing support to manage their condition themselves.

There is still a great deal to do to make sure that patients receive the improved outcomes set out in this strategy especially at a time of budget cuts but maybe the sun is starting to come out after all.

To read further about this announcement or to support the organisations campaigning on your behalf follow the links below:

Asthma U.K http://blog.asthma.org.uk/department_of_health.html

The British Lung Foundation http://www.lunguk.org/media-and-campaigning/media-centre/latestpressreleases/British-Lung-Foundation-victory.htm

Nebuliser Spares and Accessories

Back in spring it became apparent that many of you were making travel plans. For some of you it was a day at the beach, for others an exotic adventure. Well if your chance for a getaway has finally arrived this is just a quick reminder to double check you have everything you need, which amongst the thousands of other items should include an ample supply of your medication and sufficient spares and accessories if you’re taking your nebuliser. Click HERE to stock up.

We wish all our customers a happy and healthy holiday wherever you have chosen to travel and for those of you caught out at the last minute, don’t forget we can post or courier to any UK address if you are holidaying over here so no need to panic, you can call us on 01942 701210 or get in touch via email.

Nebuliser News Blog

What is a blog?

A Blog can be a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

A blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.

With the Evergreen blog we aim provide a little of all of the above. Primarily related to nebulisers but also keeping you up to date with news from our kindred spirits who can help you to access the independent advice you need on all respiratory conditions.

We welcome any input from you personally, be it a reflection of how your chest condition affects your life, a link to a a blog, forum or website you feel will be of interest to others or just a charming little ditty.

We strive, through our many links, to bring resources together which will help you move forward. Hints and tips ranging from choosing the right nebuliser for you or your family member, understanding just what is available and what you can expect from each unit, to the care and maintenance.

By linking together the information surrounding nebulisers as well as exploding a few myths we hope to help you achieve the best therapy possible and at the same time enable you to continue to live your life as independently as possible.

In gathering together news from manufactures, evidence based research as well as your own personal experiences, our ambition is to present well rounded, factual and practical information which enables you to make an informed choice when purchasing your nebuliser.

In simple terms, a blog is a website, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. We hope you find the stuff we write useful and beneficial If you feel you have any hints tips or ideas that can help people along the way please feel free to join in.

Nebulising Colloidal Silver and other Complimentary therapies.

More and more we are getting calls from those of you who have sought the advice of an alternative or complimentary therapy practitioner. Often your practitioner has already suggested an complimentary remedy, such as colloidal silver , and the nebuliser unit they think appropriate for the purpose. However we also get many calls from you asking us to recommend an alternative therapy and a suitable nebulising unit and you can view our range by clicking HERE

Recommending complimentary remedies is way beyond our knowledge base and we have had no training in this regard other than the information available to all on the internet and occasional feedback from customers, so we wouldn’t know where to begin.

A nebuliser is a medical device and can have serious side effects, as can the medicine that’s used in it. In the U.K. nebulisers and nebuliser medications are licensed and monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency

Always do your research thoroughly. Some alternative and complimentary therapies, such as acupuncture, are more regulated and researched than others. Some complimentary preparations can be dangerous and react with many prescription medicines, or lead to a build up of chemicals in your body.

The British Lung Foundation recommend that you always:

Discuss it with your doctor or nurse.

Keep taking your prescribed medication.

Check whether the therapy is available on the NHS.

Make sure that any therapist you consult is a member of the relevant professional body.

Make sure that your therapist knows about any medication or treatment you are using.

Never try to diagnose or treat yourself.

Avoid buying products (in shops, by post or over the internet) that you have not been 

advised to buy by a qualified therapist.

You can find more information about various therapies and their governing bodies HERE.

If following careful consideration you decide that a complimentary therapy may be beneficial to you we can assist with your choice of nebuliser and the nebuliser questions you need to ask your therapist are really the same as when choosing a nebuliser for prescription medication. How many times a day will I need to nebulise and for what period of time? How sticky or viscous is the remedy and what sort of quantity of liquid will I be nebulising? These are just the nebuliser questions you need to consider but there are many other questions you should asking.

You may find other beneficial information throughout this blog, and remember nebulisers are designed to drive a strong solution deep into your lower airways. They are not suitable for everyone and, as a medical device, carry their own warnings and contra indications. Only make an informed decision after checking with your G.P. first

Do you suffer from Sinusitis, Acute or Chronic or Rhinitis?

We no longer stock the RC Cornet N. However it can still be found on the internet here

Sinusitis, Acute or Chronic and Rhinitis can be painful and debilitating. The RC Cornet-N is a non medicinal but effective way to help relieve your symptoms.

RC Cornet-N liquifies sticky mucus, widens narrow sinus passages, improves the passage of mucus and stimulates blood and lymph flow in the nose and throat, all of which help to reduce any swelling.

So how does it work?

Its made up of a nose piece and a rubber valve hose in a curved tube. Blowing into the nose piece causes pressure fluctuations and vibrations which in turn push and pull on the mucus blockages in your sinuses

Using the RC Cornet-N twice a day will massage and stimulate the cilia (tiny hairs) which transport excess mucus away as well as help increase blood supply to the airway lining (mucosa), which in turn will help fight the inflammation. It will also extend the small passages of your sinuses and help to restore them to normal pressure.

Okay, it doesn’t sound or look very pretty but it is effective and results can be felt as quickly as 10 minutes after therapy as the mucosal swelling starts to reduce and blockages slowly begin to dissolve. Luckily its very easy to clean and can be sterilised either in a pan of boiling water, in your dishwasher or by soaking in a antiseptic solution.

So if you’re suffering from nasal congestion, sinus headaches, sneezing, an itchy nose, post nasal drip or a tickley cough, whatever the initial cause, be it an infection, hay fever, or other allergies why not give it some thought. The RC Cornet-N isn’t particularly glamourous but it won’t make you drowsy or carry the side effects that some medications can.

Sinus Relief

Sinusitis is often overlooked by both patient and healthcare providers though symptoms can be painful and persistent. Your sinuses are hollow air pockets in the bones of the face and head which are lined with a thin layer of tissue. Its purpose it to make a layer of mucus which keeps your sinus’s healthy, lubricated and to flush away any germs.

Rhinitis, Acute Sinusitis and Chronic Sinusitis, occur when these linings become swollen  and produce extra mucus which may not drain freely as it should. This can lead to nasal congestion causing pain or pressure in your teeth or face (especially at either side of your nose). Other symptoms may be a raised temperature, nasal discharge, headache, earache, an inability to smell, fatigue or a cough.

Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages and is often caused by allergies such as hay fever, colds or a reaction to some medications, and for some people it can be a life long condition with no discernible cause. Symptoms can include nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, a runny nose, and the sensation that mucus is draining down the back of your throat (post nasal drip).

Acute Sinusitis is quite common, often caused by infection, usually viral, such as following a cold. It comes on quickly and lasts less 12 weeks.

Chronic Sinusitis is more persistent and can last for many months or occur multiple times in one year. Causes can vary and include  infection, nasal polyps, allergies and even some medical conditions may mean you’re more at risk, such as Cystic Fibrosis

Possibly the first person to speak to should be your pharmacist as some symptoms can be relived by over the counter medications such as decongestants, nasal sprays and analgesics. He may suggest a visit to your G.P. who could prescribe further  medication such as antibiotics or may even refer you to an E.N.T. specialist

A non medicinal and effective way to relive your symptoms is the RC Cornet-N which can be found here

NHS Hospital Nebulisers

We often get requests from customers for the “the nebuliser they use in hospitals”

However there isn’t a standard model chosen by the NHS and having supplied, serviced and repaired hospital nebulisers for over 20 years we know it can vary quite widely. Hospitals, wards, clinics, specialist nurses and consultants have their own criteria which can be based on many different factors including the latest research, cost, suitability for purpose, performance capability and just which nebuliser may suit your individual needs. To check out our many different models click HERE

Choosing the “same” unit for perhaps an elderly relative who is comforted by its  familiarity is a good decision but not necessarily the right decision for everyone.

We have blogged before about the important aspects to consider when choosing a nebuliser to be used at home. One size definitely doesn’t  fit all. A general all purpose unit that stacks easily on a shelf is not necessarily going to be the most suitable to allow you to continue going about your daily life, nor will it take you out and about. It may also be quite unsuitable for the medication you have been prescribed. It may need an annual service, and could prove quite costly if the spares and accessories aren’t fit for purpose or readily available. Check out the red clickable links in this blog to explore further.

So don’t forget to stop and think. Our frequently asked questions and other posts cover a wide range of questions you should consider before purchase. Your Respiratory Nurse may already have a specific nebuliser in mind which they feel will be beneficial to your treatment plan and our kindred spirits and useful links will be able to give you independent 

advice based on years of experience.

Manufactures continually upgrade their products and research into nebulisation is an on going process. Medications are reassessed, protocols change and many professionals strive to make a concerted effort to bring you the most effective treatment available, so that in the words of Trevor Clay, who was the founder of Breathe Easy, a General Secretary for the Royal College of Nursing as well as having Emphysema, “people should live with their lung condition” and not “suffer from it”

Initially choosing the right nebuliser to suit your needs may seem overwhelming. There is a lot of information out there but it's not as daunting as it might seem and we and many others are here to help, so feel to call us on 01942 701210, email HERE or post below.