When Would You Meet Me in the ERAs 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... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Questions to Ask Your Doctor After Your DiagnosisYou 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... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Tips For Managing ShowersAlong 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Things To Be Thankful ForThanksgiving 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... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
What Is Barostim?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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What To Expect In The ERI 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Let's Discuss Nasal CannulasMany 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
What Is Intubation and What Are Ventilators?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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
5 Ways To Prevent Heart DiseaseI 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Tips for Staying Healthy in the Cold Winter AirBeing 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Heart Failure Dos and Don’tsAs 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why Are You Short of Breath? What a Respiratory Therapist Needs to KnowI 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... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Life Expectancy Studies: Changes Over TimeI 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... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments11 comments
What Is Right Heart Failure? 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... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Your Heart May Hold Its Own Cure for Heart FailureResearchers 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... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How Good Are You At Taking Your Medications? Most of us here have a chronic disease. Being this is a heart failure community, obviously many here have heart failure. But, there are many others here who also have... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
4 Tips For Getting The Most Information From Your DoctorsMembers of this community have spoken, and many of you have expressed concerns over some doctors doing a poor job of explaining. This often leads to misunderstanding, confusion, and even... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What Is a Stroke? Some people in this community have experienced strokes. Others may be getting treatment to prevent them from occurring. So what are strokes? What are the links between heart disease and... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
What Causes Abdominal Swelling? Some people with heart failure develop abdominal swelling. This is when your stomach gives the appearance of fullness. You may feel bloated or full. So, what is it about heart... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
7 Things We Expect From Our DoctorsMe, I don’t want just any doctor. I think most of us are this way. We try to find doctors who cater to our specific needs and we also try... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments