John Bottrell, RRT

When it comes to healthcare, a lot of abbreviations are thrown our way! I created this cheat sheet to help you understand some of the common abbreviations associated with heart...

As a respiratory therapist, I have observed a curious phenomenon: People with heart failure (HF) may have audible wheezing, even when their condition is stable. While this may seem perplexing...

Whether you are having new heart failure symptoms or just feeling a bit off-kilter, you may need to make a beeline for the emergency room (ER). Once there, you'll encounter...

In my role as a respiratory therapist, I often conduct EKGs at the hospital. During a recent session with a kind gentleman in his 70s, the computer interpretation revealed an...

I'm a respiratory therapist in a small town hospital. And I’ve been writing here in this community since its inception in February of 2019. I thought it would be neat...

As a respiratory therapist, I have a clear role in helping patients with heart failure. So, at what point would I be called to help you? Here’s what to know...

You have just been diagnosed with heart failure. And while your doctor might have covered the basics, it is normal for questions to flood your mind once you are back...

Along with this community, I also spend quite a bit of time in our COPD.net community. One of the hot topics there is the difficulty navigating showers – especially when...

Thanksgiving beckons a spirit of gratitude. And even amidst the challenges posed by heart failure, there remain compelling reasons to be thankful. Here, I will explore 6 such reasons. At...

We recently had a question about Barostim from a community member. I will be honest – I had never heard that term before. So I decided to do some research...

I am a respiratory therapist with 25 years experience. A good part of my job involves working in the emergency room (ER) and taking care of people with heart failure...

Many people with a heart failure history do not need home oxygen therapy. But there are some in this community who do benefit from it. A majority of those who...

So, sometimes heart failure causes flare-ups (exacerbations), and flare-ups often require you to seek help, which often results in a trip to the emergency room (ER). Once in the ER...

I am aware there is a high risk for heart disease in my family. My mom and her 7 siblings all have/had high blood pressure, and of those who passed...

Being out in the cold winter air may trigger symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath. Physical activity, such as shoveling snow in the winter cold air, may worsen...

As with any chronic disease, it often takes time to learn the dos and don’ts of living with heart failure. Here are a few to keep in mind. Do seek help...

I work in a hospital as a respiratory therapist. I take care of anyone who is short of breath. If you come to the hospital experiencing severe shortness of breath...

I am a respiratory therapist. I started this job in 1997. Back then, we were told by our teachers that the median life expectancy of heart failure patients was 2...

Usually when we refer to heart failure, we are talking about left heart failure. However, there are some people in this community who also experience right heart failure. What is...

Researchers have learned the heart may have its own immune cells. This could hold the key to a future treatment for heart failure. Here is what we know about this...