Airway clearance therapy
Airway Clearance Therapy
Airway clearance therapy (pronounced: AIR-way CLEAR-ance THER-uh-pee), also known as ACT, is a group of techniques that help people clear mucus from their lungs. These techniques may include physical activities, devices, or medications.
Etymology
The term "airway clearance therapy" is derived from the English words "airway" (the tube that a person breathes through), "clearance" (the act of removing something), and "therapy" (treatment for a disease or disorder).
Techniques
There are several techniques used in airway clearance therapy. These include:
- Chest physiotherapy (CPT): This involves physical manipulation of the chest to help loosen and remove mucus.
- Positive expiratory pressure (PEP): This technique uses a device to create back pressure in the airways during exhalation, which helps to move mucus towards the mouth.
- High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO): This technique uses a device to create rapid, small bursts of air pressure against the chest wall, which helps to loosen mucus.
- Autogenic drainage (AD): This technique involves breathing in a specific way to move mucus from smaller to larger airways, making it easier to cough out.
Related Terms
- Bronchiectasis: A condition that causes mucus to build up in the lungs, often treated with airway clearance therapy.
- Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disorder that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, often treated with airway clearance therapy.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe, often treated with airway clearance therapy.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Airway clearance therapy
- Wikipedia's article - Airway clearance therapy
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