Is bronchial mucus a problem?

Do you suffer from an acute or chronic disease of your lower airways? Is one of your symptoms an unproductive cough? 

Like many of our customers who have asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis you may find a mucus clearance device beneficial in helping you clear those sticky irritating secretions that regular coughing just won't budge.
Not sure what they are or how they work? There are several pages of information on the link HERE
You can take a look at the Flutter, Pari O-Pep, and Shakers by clicking HERE on our website, call us on 01942 701210. Why not start now with a chat with your nurse, doctor or therapist or you can research through our useful links and kindred spirits to see if you would benefit too.

What is a Pari O-PEP?

The Pari O-PEP, what a brilliant name. Even though personally I wouldn't benefit from a mucus clearance device I would still love to own one just for the name. It lives up to its title too, it's jaunty looking and comes in a perky little red bag. 

Of course mucus clearance devices aren't suitable for everybody and you can read HERE just who would benefit from using one. I have to say when used appropriately many of you find they bring not just the benefits expected but for some of you a whole new lease of life. Many of you report you dread not having it by your side. This brings me back to that perky little red bag for the Pari O-PEP, we get many calls from those of you who have left your mucus clearance device behind in a hotel room or it has simply been mislaid. Well take a look HERE, you would find it difficult to forget to pack this one.

 If you are looking for an Oscillating Positive Pressure device the why not choose the new Pari O-PEP you can order HERE

Oscillating Positive Pressure Devices, or mucus clearance devices to you and me!

I have been asked to post a quick recap of the information about Oscillating Positive Pressure Devices or as known to you and me the Shaker, the Flutter and the Pari O-PEP. To see our range click HERE

For some of you mucus in your airways becomes stickier making it difficult to clear and this can lead to infection making your airways swell and produce even more mucus. This in turn results in further infection which can eventually lead to lung damage. One possible treatment of these symptoms along with mucolytics is airway clearance techniques  It is vital that these are recommended and monitored by a Physiotherapist or Respiratory Nurse as everyone is an individual and they are not suitable for everyone


When you breathe out through these devices, pressure builds up in your lungs, helping to keep the airways open wide and allowing air to get behind the sputum, moving it upwards. The vibrations transmitted through the chest wall from the device help to loosen any sputum stuck to the sides of the airways. 
Your health professional should show you how to use these devices and each unit comes with full instructions, but as a quick guide


Treatment can be carried out in sitting or any postural drainage position (where possible).
Relaxing your stomach muscles take a few normal breaths before starting.
Close your lips around the mouthpiece and make sure to make a  good seal.
Start by taking a slightly bigger than normal breath in through your nose, then breathe out through the device. You may feel vibrations on your chest wall.
Repeat this eight to ten times. You should then put the device down and cough to clear any sputum. Then relax before starting again.
Aim to continue for about 15  minutes or until you have cleared all your sputum.

Customer feedback with all these devices is always very positive especially when recommended by your heath professional and with the new Shakers and the Pari O-PEP even the cost is less prohibitive. If you have any questions at all please call us on 01942 701210 and you can explore further through the clickable links in this blog, our kindred spirits or for our website click HERE

Shakers

New to the Mucus Clearance Device range or to give them their proper name Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Devices is the Shaker and the Shaker Deluxe.
It was as a result of your many enquires about the Shakers that we decided to investigate further and take them on board. So far your feedback has been very positive. To view them click HERE

For those of you unfamiliar with Mucus Clearance Devices you can find out more about who may benefit from using one or how they work from the red clickable links in this page, this blog or from our web site

As with all medical devices they may not be suitable for everyone and most customers who we speak to have been guided by their G.P. Respiratory Nurse or Physiotherapist. If you have questions at all please give us a call on 01942 701210 or for further independent advice there is always our kindred spirits 

Exercising your airways

Its hard to avoid Christmas jingles and Christmas carols as everyone up and down the country gets swept along in the preparation for the festive season. So why try? Even if you have no great Dickensian holiday plans singing and humming are good for your health.

We have been singing Christmas Carols since Roman times and everyone has their favourite. Choirs and singing groups are increasingly popular and research is proving it can be beneficial for those of you struggling with many different medical conditions, and for those of you with respiratory problems it may help you learn to breathe more easily as singing warms the muscles up just as athletes warm up theirs.

A choir for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has been set up by the The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health in Canterbury with the aim of improving the breathlessness associated with this condition and for the past couple of years Asthma UK has organised The Big Sing Song to raise funds and awareness. Breathe Easy and other groups up and down the country organise singing for breathing workshops and stories from the Cystic Fibrosis community should surely inspire us all.

It would appear from a survey  conducted by Asthma UK that we aren’t easily embarrassed to have a sing-a-long but for those of you who are why not hum a long? Even humming could possibly be beneficial to anyone who suffers from sinus problems and at this time of year when we are surrounded by coughs and colds and the winter blues why not add exercising your airways to your daily routine and join in with the celebrations?

The Flutter, the Shaker and the Pari O-PEP

Our lungs start at the back of the throat with the windpipe which divides into two airways, one for each lung. In each lung, the airways branch like a tree, getting smaller and smaller until eventually, they form small air sacs called alveoli. Its in the very smallest of these where the oxygen passes into the bloodstream and at the same time waste gases are discarded. The lining of our airways continually produce mucus, which keeps the airways moist, trapping dust and debris that may enter our lungs. Cilia or tiny hairs line our airways and continually move this mucus up to our throat so it can be cleared. 

However for some of you this mucus becomes stickier making it difficult to clear and this can lead to infection making your airways swell and produce even more mucus. This in turn results in further infection which can eventually lead to lung damage. One possible treatment of these symptoms along with mucolytics is airways clearance techniques  and it is  vital that these are recommended and monitored by a physiotherapist as everyone is an individual.

Increasingly many of you have been recommended by your health professional to try Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure devices such as the Flutter the Shaker or the Pari O-PEP. These work by vibrating your airways and applying a “back pressure” during a breath out. This helps to open up your airways by getting air behind the secretions and moving them further up.

The Flutter  is usually used in a sitting position and the angle at which it is held needs to be adjusted to where maximum vibrations can be felt in your chest

The Pari O-PEP is a similar shape to the Flutter and has a jaunty red storage bag


The Shaker comes in the 'classic' shape or you can choose the deluxe version with its more comfortable mouthpiece

To compare our mucus clearance devices click HERE

Having checked with your health professional, those of you who may benefit from a product such as The RC Cornet or Flutter include anyone suffering from medical conditions which result in sticky mucus secretions in your airways, such as COPD, Bronchiectasis,  Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema or Asthma. As with any medical device caution is always wise and they aren’t suitable for everyone.

Shaker, Flutter or the Pari O-PEP ?

Do you have difficulty clearing sputum or phlegm from your lungs? Then one of these devices may be recommended as part of your treatment. 

What is the Flutter

Its a pipe shaped device made up of four parts: a mouth piece, a semicircular cone, a steel ball and a perforated cover.   

The Pari O-PEP is a similar shape to the Flutter but comes with a handy red bag  

The Shaker

Is available in the 'classic' shape or as the new deluxe version with its more comfortable mouthpiece
To compare our mucus clearance devices click HERE

How do they work? 

When you breathe out through either device, pressure builds up in your lungs, helping to keep the airways open wide and allowing air to get behind the sputum, moving it upwards. The vibrations transmitted through the chest wall from the device help to loosen any sputum stuck to the sides of the airways.

Are there any risks?

The Flutter, the Shaker and the Pari O-PEP are not suitable if you suffer from Pneumothorax, Tuberculosis, Right Sided Heart Failure or if you have been coughing up blood and although we are not aware of any reported problems with these airway clearance techniques, if you are worried about your chest, become short of breath, or have chest pain it is important that you contact you Health Professional without delay.

So how do you use it? 

Your health professional should show you how to use these devices and each unit comes with full instructions, but as a rough guide;

Treatment can be carried out in sitting or any postural drainage position (where possible).

Relaxing your stomach muscles take a few normal breaths before starting.

Close your lips around the mouthpiece and make sure to make a  good seal.

Start by taking a slightly bigger than normal breath in through your nose, then breathe out through the device. You may feel vibrations on your chest wall.

Repeat this eight to ten times. You should then put the device down and cough to clear any sputum. Then relax before starting again.

Aim to continue for about 15  minutes or until you have cleared all your sputum.

Is it easy to clean?

As with all airway clearance devices it is very important that equipment is kept clean to prevent infection therefore both products should be taken apart every day and cleaned according to manufactures instructions. Hot soapy water is all you will need. Dry throughly and remember to take care when reassembling the Flutter as it could crack if dropped on a hard surface.