breathing

Not much is known about Burkholderia cenocepacia or Burkholderia multivorans-- two genetically similar bacteria which prey upon those with cystic fibrosis. Both are highly contagious, difficult to kill, and have become resistant to numerous drugs. And recently, both have been turned into virtual models by researchers at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine.

Spring is here! Which means plenty of sunshine, rain and unfortunately--pollen. But don’t worry; by taking these precautions you can limit your exposure to pollen and enjoy the springtime without your allergies going crazy.

This month one of our most popular nebulizers, the PARI Vios, has literally gone green. Both the Standard and Pediatric models now come in Emerald Green rather than the old Blue and Yellow. The new design is part of PARI’s commitment to going green for a better tomorrow.

A father is blaming his daughter’s death on a negligent school district. 12-year-old Laporshia Massey, daughter of Daniel Burch, died on September 25th of an asthma attack that started while she was in class at Bryant Elementary School.

Several different news sites have written on the fact that the FDA is banning all inhalers which use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of this year. This includes Primatene Mist, currently the only over-the-counter asthma medication in the US. And judging by the comments on these articles, asthmatics are furious.

This week we were fortunate enough to get to interview popular asthma blogger Becky Giles, who just recently made Healthline’s list of Best Asthma Blogs. For anyone who’s not yet read her blog, you can find it at http://theanticsofabrittleasthmatic.blogspot.com. Becky lives with brittle asthma or persistent severe asthma as it’s known in the US.

Summer is coming to an end, school is back in session, and soon the trees will be sporting some impressive foliage. Unfortunately, apple cider and cozy sweaters aren't the only things in store this fall. Even though spring may reign supreme over allergy symptoms, fall usually comes with the highest levels of ragweed, mold, and bed bugs – three of the biggest allergy and asthma triggers around.

A nebulizer is a breathing machine used to treat pulmonary conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other respiratory illnesses. They administer medication in the form of the mist that is inhaled directly into the lungs, via a mask or mouthpiece. Because inhalers cannot be used by infants and can be difficult for children to use effectively, pediatric nebulizers are often the best option when it comes to treating youngsters’ respiratory conditions.

If you need a little extra oxygen, don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to get it! From traditional face masks to innovative oxygen eyeglasses, here are the most popular oxygen delivery methods.

Modern nebulizers don’t resemble the clunky machines of old – they’re small, easy-to-use, and offer quick treatment times. Even with these recent innovations, human errors can result in an ineffective treatment, wasting medication, money, and time. By far the biggest culprit is improper cleaning; if you don’t keep your nebulizer in top condition, bacteria can grow in the tubing and console, clogging it up and increasing your risk of infection.

Summer’s in full swing and you know what that means: it’s hot, hot, hot. With record-breaking temps and torturous humidity levels exerting their chokehold on the nation, the last thing anyone wants is to be sneezing, sniffling and stuffy. Unfortunately, allergies are just as persistent in the summer as they are in the spring months – and perhaps even more so.

A peak flow meter is a device that is used by people with asthma to measure how well air moves out of the lungs during exhalation. This measurement is called your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), a number that details how open the airways are; as asthma gets worse, the PEFR decreases.

As many of our readers know, it can be scary to have a child who suffers from asthma especially when their symptoms get worse. Fortunately, nebulizers are readily available in America and most people can afford one. But not everyone is so blessed.

According to CDC estimates, there are 7.1 million children in the United States currently living with the condition, and that number is expected to rise even higher in the coming years. Asthma is a common culprit for missed school days and sports practices, hospitalizations - even deaths.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is, for lack of a better term, the Bible of abnormal psychology. It’s the definitive authoritative text on the classification of mental disorders, and it’s used by pretty much everyone - clinicians, health insurance companies, the legal system, even the government – to ensure that clinicians and patients have the “right” diagnosis when it comes to mental health problems.