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Archive for the ‘Respiratory’ Category
Posted on: December 6th, 2012 by JurosMedicalBlogger
The drier, cooler air of the late fall and winter can bring disease, infection and other difficulties with it. Especially here in Montana where the average winter high temperature is in the low 30s, diseases like the common cold, the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia and more illnesses associated with the cold are an ever present threat.
 The drier air of winter can make breathing harder, especially for seniors and those with respiratory conditions. The dry late fall and winter air poses risks to everyone, but especially to those with chronic respiratory issues. Here are a few tips to help keep your respiratory system kicking as the temperature drops:
Drink plenty of liquids- water, orange juice and more water! This will keep you hydrated, allowing your respiratory system to function as it should.
Add humidity- a humidifier can add much needed moisture to the air around your home, helping to keep your airways moist and functioning at their best.
Breathe through your nose- your nose is a natural air warmer and filter, so when you’re outside, focus on breathing in through your nose.
Avoid illness- this may seem obvious, but it still needs to be said. If there is someone you know with a cold, flu or other illness, just avoid them. They won’t take it personally.
Keep your nose clean- as mentioned before, your nose is a filter, and it works overtime during the winter. Flush it out with a tissue and use saline solution to keep it moist.
Stay healthy- in short, this means eat healthy and exercise. Exercise improves cardiovascular and respiratory health, so keeping a healthy weight and staying in shape will reduce the risk of respiratory difficulties.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but these tips will help you throughout the late fall and winter. If you do encounter respiratory issues, Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness is here to help. We carry a variety of respiratory and oxygen therapy equipment to help you breathe easier as the mercury drops. Browse our online catalog or come by today!
Posted on: November 15th, 2012 by JurosMedicalBlogger
For all of the great awareness days and ribbons and fundraisers that go towards cancer education and finding a cure, the cancer that takes the most lives every year is one that could be largely prevented: lung cancer. While lung cancer can develop from causes other than smoking, most cases are caused by years of smoking. However, during National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, stereotypes and stigmas are replaced by a need to educate, inform and act to ensure that lung cancer takes fewer lives this year than it did last year.
 While most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking, there are some caused by inhaled toxic chemicals and others that are hereditary. Nearly 157,000 Americans died from lung cancer last year, more than the combined total of lymphoma, kidney, leukemia, liver and breast cancer deaths combined. So, where does this leave those of us wishing to help create awareness and prevent lung cancer from becoming a problem for us, our loved ones and our community?
Nov. 13th is recognized as the day for the National Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil, in which thousands of lung cancer survivors, sufferers and their supporters gather together all over the United States for candlelight vigils. You can go here to see the complete list, or you can create a vigil in your community if there is not already one in your area.
You can also create other Lung Cancer Awareness events in your area, have a lung cancer survivor you know write an editorial to your newspaper, contact your Congress members and tell them to support the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act and more.
As an integral part of the Billings community, Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness strongly encourages you, your family and friends to do all that you can to bring attention to this life-taking disease. There were 5,690 people in Montana that died from lung cancer last year. Let’s all work together to reduce that number this year and into the future.
Posted on: September 25th, 2012 by JurosMedicalBlogger
We published a post at the beginning of summer about various health risks the summer weather posed to your breathing and how to keep your respiratory health up during the summer months. As we transition into fall and colder, dryer weather, there are other things we need to be aware of to not only keep our respiratory system functioning at full capacity, but also how this can help keep us free from illnesses like the cold and flu. These items are especially important if we or our partner or family member have a respiratory condition.
 As the air becomes cooler and dryer, it is imperative to stay on top of your respiratory health.
First and foremost, be sure to stay hydrated. It may be harder to drink cold liquids as the weather grows colder, but water and pure fruit juices can benefit our respiratory system by keep our mouth and throat and moist and less likely to crack to let in infection. For food, follow a healthy diet and try to keep weight off during the winter months.
A humidifier can help to keep your nasal passages from becoming irritated and cracked, which invites infection. You can also breathe through your nose when you’re outside in the cold air. This helps to warm the air you breathe, reducing coughing spells and reducing the harsh effect cold air has on the airway. Also, replace the air filter in your central heating system before turning it on and dust regularly to help keep your airways clean.
As always, regular exercise that gets your heart rate up can greatly benefit your cardiovascular system, helping breathing become easier even for those with respiratory conditions.
It’s also important to make sure your or your loved one’s oxygen or respiratory equipment is functioning and up to date. Juro’s Medical offers a variety of respiratory equipment for those that may need help breathing easier year round. This and following the above tips will help you and your family to experience better respiratory health this fall and winter.
Posted on: August 28th, 2012 by JurosMedicalBlogger
The progression of oxygen portability has been astounding looking back over the last decade or so. Starting with simple E-tanks on wheels, the portable oxygen industry has produced smaller, but more efficient compressed air, liquid air and oxygen concentrators for easy use when the patient is on the move.
 Portable oxygen concentrators like the Inogen One can be used on airplanes for oxygen therapy as you fly. But what about flying on an airplane? What is allowed and what’s not? The Air Carrier Access Act passed in 1986 and revised in 2009 prohibits airlines from discriminating against those with disabilities, which includes those that need to use portable oxygen/oxygen concentrators.
The best bet for being able to receive oxygen on your flight is to bring a portable oxygen concentrator, which uses ambient and gives the user a purer form of it. Compressed air can only be used if it is supplied by the airline, and liquid oxygen is considered to be a hazardous substance by the Federal Aviation Administration and cannot be used. The Inogen One concentrator, carried by Juro’s Medical, is one model that is approved by the FAA for use on an airplane.
If you intend on traveling with your portable oxygen concentrator (POC), you will need to inform your airline 48 hours before hand in most cases. With most airlines you will need to provide a statement from your physician on their letterhead to be able to use your POC. Another restriction of POC use is not being able to plug in your device to the airplane’s electrical system. Because of this, you will need to make sure your POC’s batteries are fully charged and bring backups in case of a long flight.
While not complicated, traveling with your POC is centered around planning in advance. Knowing your airline’s regulations about notification and your physician’s statement and what all that needs to include are key to avoiding problems at the airport and enjoying your trip. For any of your portable oxygen needs be sure to give us a call or come by!
Posted on: June 22nd, 2012 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Living with a partner who has symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be a difficult proposition. At night, their snoring and gasping for air can keep you awake, and the restless shifting from position to position can prevent you from sleeping. During the day their fatigue may prevent them from being able to help out at home. However, talking with your partner about getting a sleep study done is the first step toward both of you sleeping all night and waking up in the morning feeling refreshed.
 CPAP machines allow for a quieter, better night's sleep for your partner and you. In the event that your partner is diagnosed with sleep apnea, it will mean that there will be some changes in your lives. Most notably, your partner will have to wear a CPAP mask and receive their therapy while they are sleeping. But what does this mean for you? Will you be able to sleep with their machine going?
Most CPAP machines are between 28-32 decibels, or little more than a whisper in a library, as compared to the 70-90 decibels most snoring is at. In various help forums for those with sleep apnea, the sound has been described by their partners as something similar to your house’s air conditioning system or a fan in the room. Complete silence may be a lot to ask for, but it’s easier for you deal with minimal noise when you know that your partner is breathing safer and at a normal rate.
If there is a problem with noise, it will most likely be from a leaking mask, but the fix is rather simple. Simply wake your partner and have them adjust the straps on the back of their mask, as that will more than likely take care of the noise.
A rested body is one that is capable of taking on life’s tasks with zeal, but your body begins to suffer letdowns if you’re continually getting less sleep than you should. If your partner’s snoring or restlessness at night is resulting in both of you being fatigued during the day, call Juro’s Medical for a sleep apnea screening. Our respiratory technicians will forward the results of your screening to your doctor with your risk rating. Once a diagnosis is established, they can help work with them in their treatment so that you both can get a better night’s sleep.
Posted on: June 9th, 2012 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Over the course of a day, humans average about 17,280 breaths. And while breathing is obviously essential for us to live, the air that fills our lungs isn’t always the cleanest. That is why it’s important to understand how to keep our lungs and respiratory system healthy even when the air around us can contain dangerous pollutants. In the spirit of the upcoming summer when most of us will be outside, here are some tips to getting and keeping yourself in good respiratory shape.
 Keep your family in great respiratory health this summer by getting outside and exercising. First and foremost… in keeping yourself in good respiratory health is to quit smoking immediately. The carcinogens in cigarettes alone can damage your respiratory system as well as cause conditions exclusive to smokers like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Be sure to eat… lots of fruits and vegetables packed with Vitamins A, C and E, especially tomatoes. Avoid eating lots of processed foods.
Have a glass… of wine, particularly white wine, with dinner. Studies have shown this helps your lungs function…as long as you don’t overdo it.
Keep your home… dust and irritant-free by avoiding clutter and by dusting and vacuuming on regular basis.
Know… what days to stay inside and what places to avoid. Windy days, days with high pollen counts and places where you can encounter lots of second hand smoke should be avoided as much as possible.
Exercise. Getting your heart rate up, whether it’s through jogging or shooting hoops in your driveway, helps keep your heart and lungs in good shape.
Keep being (or start being)… an optimist. A Harvard study of 670 men with an average age of 63 found that those who considered themselves optimists had both better lung function and a slower rate of lung function decline than those that considered themselves pessimists.
It’s also important to remember that you should have a full physical examination every year and report any breathing difficulties to your doctor. Hopefully this and the other tips above will have you breathing great and staying healthy all summer long!
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