Respiratory Disorders We Treat

Asthma

Asthma is a common condition that affects the airways. Typical asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe, and include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Respiratory physiotherapy aims to normalise breathing patterns, reduce breathing rates and educate on control of breathing during or preceding an attack.

Breathlessness

Shortness of breath is an unpleasant awareness of difficult or uncomfortable breathing that is greater than you would normally expect during exercise. Respiratory physiotherapy aims to identify the cause and help manage breathing problems with specific breathing exercises and techniques.

Breathing Pattern Disorders

A breathing pattern disorder means not breathing in the most efficient way for your body. There are various ways your breathing may have changed: you might be breathing too fast, too slow, taking bigger breaths than necessary, breathing through your mouth, breathing at the top of your chest, or experiencing irregular breathing patterns. Respiratory physiotherapy can help to change the way you breath to alleviate symptoms you may have.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is an abnormal widening of one or more airways, leading to extra mucus which in turn makes the lungs more vulnerable to infection. The main bronchiectasis symptom is a cough which produces a lot of sputum. Respiratory physiotherapy aims to teach self-management of this condition through breathing exercises and airway clearance techniques.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for people with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. With COPD the airways lose their elasticity and become restricted; symptoms of COPD include coughing and shortness of breath. Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to improve the control of symptoms through breathing re-education, medication advice and gentle exercise.

Emphysema

Emphysema falls under the umbrella term of COPD (see above). It involves damage to the air sacs in the lungs making patients progressively shorter of breath which leads to the avoidance of certain activities. Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to improve the control of emphysema symptoms through breathing re-education, medication advice and gentle exercise.

Hyperventilation Syndrome

Hyperventilation Syndrome or Dysfunctional Breathing is caused by over-breathing, i.e. breathing more than is necessary to meet the body’s needs. This can cause many unpleasant symptoms including anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue. Respiratory physiotherapy aims to educate patients about symptoms and re-educate breathing patterns through gentle breathing exercises.

Persistent Cough

A cough is a reflex action to clear your airway of irritants such as mucus and dust. However, sometimes a cough becomes chronic – either dry and irritable or regularly productive of mucus. Respiratory physiotherapy aims to identify the cause of the cough and treat with breathing re-education including the STOP cough technique or airway clearance exercises.

Recurrent Chest Infections

The cause of recurrent chest infections may be unknown, but often tests will have been carried out by a GP or specialist. Respiratory physiotherapy aims to teach patients how their breathing may be making them more susceptible to chest infections, re-educate breathing patterns and teach airway clearance techniques to prevent continued infection.