When you have a disability or chronic illness, one of the most important things you can do is to learn as much as you can about it.  The more you know, the easier it should be to get a handle on those days when you feel like it is a constant battle and you are not sure you are winning.

Knowing the language or words that go with COPD/Asthma is a great way to start or to continue to refresh a person’s knowledge of the ins and outs of the lifelong health companion which we are dealing with.

With that, we discuss some of what we call ‘must know words’ of life with COPD/Asthma – and today we will discuss briefly the importance of knowing the word(s) ‘Transtracheal Systems’.

What is ‘Transtracheal Systems’?

While those folks battling COPD and/or severe Asthma, having supplemental oxygen is normally provided through a nasal cannula, using a ‘Transtracheal System’ a person would have medical experts inject a catheter style tube through a small hole made in the trachea (windpipe) through which supplemental oxygen can travel to the lungs.

People must understand that this is not the same as a tracheotomy, they are entirely different.

A ‘Transtracheal System’ has been in use for long-term oxygen therapy and treating chronic hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) for getting close to 30 years.  More than 25,000 people have used this system during this period, with the majority of whom have experienced a significant improvement in the quality of their lives.

‘Transtracheal Systems’ are more than just a device to supply oxygen, it is a program of care.

When is a ‘Transtracheal System’ to be considered?  It can be considered for anyone on long-term oxygen therapy as a desired improvement in oxygen-flow requirements, if the person is willing to participate in and will care for the catheter tubing.  As with any treatment, a person fighting COPD and/or severe Asthma should always talk in depth with the physician and pulmonologist about whether a ‘Transtracheal System’ should be an option.

Those who may be recommended would be those who meet current guidelines for long-term oxygen therapy, are currently mobile outside of the home at least part of the time, are motivated to remain active and will comply with oxygen therapy and the proper care and cleaning of the catheter system.

A ‘Transtracheal System’ could also be considered for those who require higher oxygen flows and want to remain active by using lower flows of oxygen, and don’t want to wear the nasal cannula due to irritation of the nose or nosebleeds.

Among the benefits found with a ‘Transtracheal System’ could be an improvement quality of life for anyone suffering from COPD, advanced fibrotic lung disease such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and bronchiectasis.

Other benefits will include reducing the amount of oxygen flow needed to achieve healthy oxygen levels, improve activity levels and mobility, improve exercise capacity, improve the response to oxygen treatment, reduce the length of hospitalization, reduce shortness of breath (dyspnea) while improving the persons physical, social and mental functions.

Like with any therapy, a ‘Transtracheal System’ will include some possible side effects that a person would always need to be watching for.  These possible side effects could include increased infections, tube slipping, injury to the windpipe and mucus balls blocking the tube.

With that, we like to ask a QUESTION OF OUR READERS and today we ask, “If your battle with COPD and/or severe Asthma was deemed severe enough to possible consider the ‘Transtracheal System’ as a solution to your breathing and oxygen issues – would you consider doing it?

As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

Remember – ‘a person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer, reprinting or reuse of this article is restricted without written permission.)

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

Know that you can follow all the writings by CrossDove Writer pertaining to COPD/Asthma by following at wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

(Information gathered from various books and internet sources discussing COPD, Asthma and other lung diseases)