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

The Sidestream Plus is now available

Slightly earlier than anticipated the Sidestream Plus from Philips Respironics is now available for those of you who need to nebulise steroids or antibiotics.

If you are unsure as to which system would be the best for you, the Sidestream,  the Sidestream Plus or the LC Sprint  from Pari, there is lots of information in this blog, and on our website:
https://evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk/
or simply give us a call on 01942 701210 and we will be happy to help.

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 

Pick and Mix with The Pari Mini

First we had the new Pari Turbo Boy SX, which when combined with the Pari LC Sprint offers you a highly efficient drug delivery system capable of nebulising steroids and antibiotics as well as bronchodilators.

Now Pari have launched the ingenious Pari Mini

Perfect for using at home, this latest addition to the Pari family is dual voltage, petite, quiet and has the capability to nebulise all of your medications, when used with the supplied LC Sprint, wherever you may be. If you want adventures to out of this world destinations or a simple a trip to the shops you only pay for the features you need. So why not pick and mix your accessories, be it a multi volt mains cable to to use in the car or a rechargeable lithium battery so you can nebulise even on the top of a mountain. The Pari Mini is a versatile, practical and affordable addition to the Pari range. For further details or to place an order click HERE

What ever happened to the Ventstream?

It is being replaced by the new durable Sidestream Plus medication chamber from Philips Respironics and is designed for the delivery of inhaled steroids and antibiotics such as Budesonide or Colomycin, as well as bronchodilators such as Salbutomol

It provides you with a faster and more accurate drug delivery by producing up to 68% of the output smaller than 4 microns, enabling more of the medication to reach your lower airways. However the real benefit of the Sidestream Plus is that the low-resistance one-way valve means it responds to your breathing pattern ensuring you get more drug on inspiration and waste less on expiration. 

It can be sterilised by boiling and gives a consistent performance for at least a year. Supplied complete with a vent hose and with an option of a filter attachment with filter pads which minimises aerosol going into the atmosphere, protecting members of the family from breathing in your medication which is particularly important when you are nebulising antibiotics or steroids.

Why not take a look at the new Innospire Deluxe Sidestream Plus 
https://evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk/philips-innospire-deluxe-nebuliser

 

Blue inhalers at the supermarket

Reliever inhalers will be on sale in Supermarkets costing £7 which is just less than the current prescription charge. Sales of Salbutamol inhalers will be carefully monitored by an online G.P. service and the pharmacist.

So far reaction to this news appears to mixed. For those of you already prescribed this medication it will be a little less expensive, perhaps more convenient and more accessible, especially at times such as when you are away from home. The news does have a downside though and as most of our Kindred Spirits point out,

Relying on a nebuliser when you are feeling more breathless than usual and taking extra doses of nebulised relievers will only disguise and delay the need to seek medical advice. British Lung Foundation

We also see a slightly different cause for concern. One that prompted us to recently revisit the basics of nebuliser therapy Many people don’t always grasp just what a nebuliser or an inhaler actually does. The news is calling them Asthma inhalers but many of you have been prescribed salbutamol for lots of other clinical conditions, and as we witness on an almost daily basis, many people believe that an inhaler or nebuliser will help cure a multitude of passing symptoms such as a cough, dry mouth, sneezes, wheezes, and all manner of upper respiratory infections as well as minor annoying tickles.

It will certainly be interesting to see what unfolds. Why not check out our Kindred Spirits and read their opinions on the subject.

Olympic Games London 2012

Just a quick note as I’m sure everyone has heard lots of news about preparations for the Olympic Games taking place in less than two weeks time.

We have had assurances from our courier that they have taken every step possible to minimise any disruption in our delivery service to those of you who live in areas that may be affected. Hopefully you will continue receive a prompt and efficient service as always.

Coincidentally we have had many more overseas visitors to this blog checking for information as to whether their nebuliser will operate on U.K. voltage. If you have friends, family or visitors coming over this summer it may be just worth a mention. European nebulisers should operate in the U.K. but for visitors who arrive from countries where the voltage is only 110v, unless they were purchased with a dual voltage facility, they won’t.

You can find more information on dual voltage nebulisers here

https://evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk/blog/travelling-with-a-portable-nebuliser 

It sounds simple but honestly it has been overlooked on so many occasions its worth a little forward planning, checking the nebuliser voltage and ensuring friends and family travel with sufficient medication and accessories, so even if the British weather doesn’t come good for London 2012 and the traffic gets a little frustrating you can all breathe easy