MSGID: 1:317/3 640c03f2   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Innovative breathing aid developed    
    Hands-free device improves breathing in people with COPD    
      
     Date:   
         March 10, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Cincinnati   
     Summary:   
         One in 10 adults suffer from the debilitating effects of chronic   
         obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research around a new   
         breathing device developed by pulmonologists 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.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   One in 10 adults suffer from the debilitating effects of chronic   
   obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 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.   
      
   Panos and Zafar developed a hands-free device that is the size of   
   a whistle.   
      
   Zafar said he looked at positive-expiratory pressure (PEP) breathing   
   devices on the market and they were handheld, big and bulky, so they   
   tried to come up with something that is very simple, lightweight and   
   easy to use. The device is designed to be worn around the neck with   
   a lanyard for day-to-day use and inserted into the mouth when needed,   
   during or after exertion.   
      
   In the study, they examined people with COPD who were short of breath   
   and gave them two tasks. "We conducted a six-minute walk test with   
   and without the device," says Zafar. "They were given the device to   
   take home and use in their daily routines. In two weeks, there was a   
   follow-up to see how PEP Buddy use impacted their shortness of breath and   
   quality-of-life scores."  The study found 72% of the participants had a   
   significant impact in reducing their shortness of breath and improving   
   their quality of life. Among those who would drop their oxygen levels   
   during walking, 36% of them did not drop oxygen levels when using PEP   
   Buddy. This is the first mechanical device to show such an impact on   
   oxygen levels in people with COPD.   
      
   Maja Flannery, a PEP Buddy user with chronic lung disease and airflow   
   obstruction, says the device has changed her day-to-day living.   
      
   "I am so happy that I was lucky enough to be part of the study and able   
   to use this great little device to breathe better," Flannery says. "I use   
   it when I get up in the morning. It helps with the air requirement when   
   changing position from laying down to standing and exercises my lungs   
   to get them more prepared for the day. I find it helpful in getting the   
   trapped air out as I am active, so I can play longer points during tennis,   
   and also recover between points more quickly. My friends at tennis laugh   
   that it is my 'magic whistle.'"  UC's Zafar says the next step in this   
   research is to conduct a long-term study to see the impact on the use   
   of rescue inhalers, emergency department visits and long-term symptoms   
   and functional capacity in people with COPD. PEP Buddy may also be   
   a promising addition to pulmonary rehabilitation programs for faster   
   improvement and sustaining better outcomes. They are also exploring   
   other uses of PEP Buddy in health care.   
      
   "As a physician I feel gratified that we are providing something new   
   that can actually improve people's lives," says Zafar. "That's where my   
   passion is.   
      
   These people are really debilitated with not many tools in their hand   
   to improve their symptoms right now. PEP Buddy will be one such tool."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # COPD # Lung_Disease # Alternative_Medicine # Elder_Care   
             o Mind_&_Brain   
                   # Obstructive_Sleep_Apnea # Mental_Health # Intelligence   
                   # Caregiving   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o COPD o Yoga_(alternative_medicine) o Obstructive_sleep_apnea   
             o Palliative_care o Meditation o Air_pollution o Bronchitis   
             o Panic_attack   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Cincinnati. Original   
   written by Bill Bangert. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Muhammad Ahsan Zafar, Ashley Cattran, Rachel Baker, Roman Jandarov,   
      Ralph   
         J Panos. A Hands-Free, Oral Positive Expiratory Pressure Device   
         for Exertional Dyspnea and Desaturation in COPD. Respiratory Care,   
         2023; 68 (3): 408 DOI: 10.4187/respcare.10278   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230310123846.htm   
      
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