Wagamaga OP t1_jbseesx wrote
Research around a new breathing device developed by pulmonologists at the University of Cincinnati offers promise for improving their lives.
The new device not only improves symptoms of breathlessness and quality of life for people with COPD, it also offers benefits for people dealing with stress and anxiety and those practicing mindfulness, meditation or yoga.
The research was published in the journal Respiratory Care.
The device, called PEP Buddy, was created by Muhammad Ahsan Zafar, MD, and Ralph Panos, MD. Zafar is an associate professor in the Department of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the UC College of Medicine while Panos is a professor emeritus in pulmonary and critical care at the UC College of Medicine and is the director of national tele-ICU program for the U.S. Veterans Affairs.
“Dr. Panos and I both see patients with COPD, and it’s a huge population,” says Zafar. “Their life really changes when they have COPD. They were active individuals but now they’re debilitated and limited, so we wanted to come up with something easy that helps improve their life.”
For people with COPD, it takes longer to get inhaled air out of their lungs with each breath due to tighter air tubes. Therefore, when they breathe fast, like during physical activities, air is retained in the lungs. This air stacking or “dynamic hyperinflation” is the main reason for breathlessness and also leads to lower oxygen levels. As the breathing gets difficult during physical activity, people become less and less active and more isolated.
aqa5 t1_jbsjunf wrote
ok, so now we know who invented it and which persons it might help. But how does it look like, how does it work? The article costs $30...
MedicalJargon-itis t1_jbsz8uo wrote
It's called a hand-free positive airway pressure device, so my guess is it mimics pursed lip breathing. It probably functions like if you exhaled through a straw (probably larger diameter than a drinking straw), but had a valve so you can breathe in unrestricted. I'm guessing it fits like a mask, hence the hands-free part.
That exhaling against resistance helps stent open the terminal bronchioles to allow CO2 to more effectively escape. We'll often coach patients to "smell the flowers, blow out the candles" for a breathing exercise to do this same thing. Breathing out through pursed lips creates "auto-PEEP" or auto Positive End Expiratory Pressure.
I would point out that when they're talking about exertion, it's not referring to jogging. Advanced and end-stage COPD folks get trouble breathing with simply walking to their car or to the bathroom. Many need walkers or canes, so having a hands-free device would indeed be important.
ManJesusPreaches t1_jbvho0q wrote
So I actually have one of these one the way (recommended to me by my doc for anxiety, though), and will try to remember to report back how it functions.
ManJesusPreaches t1_jcglfaz wrote
Reporting back as promised. It definitely helps control and slow breathing during anxious moments. I'm actually kind of impressed with how effective it is. Keeping breathing slow is usually really difficult for someone in the midst/verge of a panic attack. This device definitely helps.
wolf_bird_nomad t1_jbta22a wrote
Just search PEP Buddy. They have a website that sells them and explains the tech.
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