Respiratory Care

What is respiratory care?

Respiratory care includes treatments that help you breathe easier if you struggle with asthma, allergies, COPD, or other conditions that affect your lungs. The experts at The Maxwell Group offer advanced breathing treatments to reduce unpleasant symptoms and help you get a full breath of air.

What are the symptoms of respiratory problems?

If you have asthma, COPD, bronchitis, or another lung disease, you may notice some of the following symptoms:

• Chest tightness
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing during exercise
• Chronic coughing with mucus
• Fatigue
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Ankle, leg, or feet swelling
• Unexplained weight loss

Your symptoms could be mild or severe. In some cases, they can be life-threatening. When left untreated, COPD and similar conditions may increase your risk of heart problems, depression, lung cancer, and high blood pressure in your lung’s arteries.

Why might I need respiratory care?

The cause of lung disease isn’t always known, but common risk factors include:

• Family history of asthma or allergies
• Smoking
• Secondhand smoke exposure
• Dust, airborne chemicals, fumes, or pollution exposure

Not smoking is one of the best ways to reduce your need for respiratory care.

Is respiratory care right for me?

To find out if you’re a candidate for respiratory care at The Maxwell Group, your provider reviews your symptoms, medical history, medication regimen, and lifestyle habits. 

They check your vital signs, complete a physical exam, listen to your heartbeat and breathing, and have you complete pulmonary function tests. Upon doing so, you breathe into a specialized device before and after using an inhaler.

You might also need lab testing, chest X-rays, a CT scan, or other diagnostic tests to diagnose your condition and determine the most effective treatment plan. 

What are the common respiratory care treatment options?

If you need respiratory care, your provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Healthy weight management
• Regular exercise
• Using an air conditioner
• Using a dehumidifier 
• Not smoking
• Avoiding chemical irritants
• Inhalers
• Allergy treatments 
• Oral medications
• Oxygen therapy
• Pulmonary rehabilitation 
• In-home noninvasive ventilation therapy 
• Bronchial thermoplasty

The Maxwell Group team personalizes each respiratory care treatment to match your needs, lifestyle, and preferences. They monitor you regularly to ensure the treatment works effectively and make changes to your treatment plan when needed.

To learn more about respiratory care at The Maxwell Group, call the office or use the online booking tool today.