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A Look at the Main Types of Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory therapists (RTs) are healthcare professionals specializing in assisting patients with chronic lung conditions affecting their breathing and airways. These conditions include asthma, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Respiratory therapists are usually found in hospitals working alongside doctors and nurses and can practice in different areas of hospitals such as maternity wards, emergency rooms, and intensive care units. Their services are not limited to any gender or age group. They are also very conversant with advanced technological equipment like mechanical ventilators and oxygen concentrators. The subject of respiratory therapy is a broad one with many areas. Therefore, RTs can't have the expertise for all types; however, they can specialize in one or more areas.

One of the most common types is emergency respiratory therapy which usually happens in the hospital. Respiratory therapists working on emergency and urgent care cases can help patients by providing ventilation, especially mechanical ventilation, to aid patients who need assistance breathing. They help determine the right solution to relieve patients of blockages to their airways and closely observe patients for respiratory symptoms.

In addition, RTs can perform intubation on patients when needed. Intubation refers to a process whereby RTs insert a flexible airway tube into their patient's nose or mouth to pump and suck out air to and from the lung. They can also abet doctors during complex surgeries and can commence life support for patients when needed.

One of the most critical requirements of working as an emergency respiratory therapist is thinking very fast and responding swiftly to situations.

Pediatric respiratory therapy is another area of this healthcare profession. As the name implies, it happens in neonatal units and pediatric wards where newborns, especially the premature ones, are closely observed to detect possible breathing problems. Pediatric RTs can also treat newborns with pulmonary conditions.

Although most of their work relates to newborns, pediatric RTs also assist toddlers and older children. For newborns, every medical procedure relating to respiratory therapy happens strictly in the hospital. Still, pediatric RTs are sometimes required to provide outpatient care for non-life-threatening cases for older children.

Adult respiratory therapy is also a common area of specialization. This type of therapy happens in the hospital, outpatient, or at home. It helps adults who suffer chronic respiratory conditions like cystic fibrosis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, or asthma.

Adult respiratory therapy also includes programs to help people quit smoking and pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehab is a supervised exercise and education routine developed by RTs to help patients with long-term lung diseases. This program offers adult RTs to help patients improve their lung's breathing capacity after surgery. They may do it outside of the hospital.

An adult respiratory therapist can also work in sleep laboratories to help diagnose and treat adults suffering from sleep apnea.

Geriatric respiratory therapy is the last major type of respiratory therapy and has to do with aging people. As human beings age, so does every part of their body, and the lungs are not an exception. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in seven middle-aged and older individuals suffers long-term lung disorders like respiratory tract infections, Phenomena, and COPD.

Therefore, older people must get geriatric respiratory therapy, which can happen anywhere from hospitals to outpatient facilities or homes. It is crucial for RTs to consider their patient's pre-existing medical conditions before commencing treatment.