Chest Physiotherapy What Is It and How Does It Work?

Most cystic fibrosis patients suffer from excessive mucus build up in the lungs and respiratory organs. This mucus is a normal substance found in every person but in patients with cystic fibrosis it becomes abnormally thick and sticky. It sticks to the lining of the passageways that go to the lungs and digestive tracts and disrupts the work of those organs.

Cystic fibrosis is common in Latinos and Native Americans. It is especially prevalent in the Pueblo and Zuni tribes although it is uncertain why they have a higher risk factor. Cystic fibrosis is less common in African Americans and Asian Americans. The disease is believed to evolve from the body's defense against the disease of cholera. That fact has not been scientifically proved.

One of the most classic methods of dislodging the thick mucus is called chest percussion. This involves tapping on the chest and the back. This seems a cruel way to ease the suffering of a cystic fibrosis patient but has been effective. The parent of a CF child is taught how to tap the chest and back to loosen the mucus and without hurting the child. Another method is to change the patient's position as often as possible.

New devices are being used now to loosen and dislodge the thick mucus from the lungs including a vibrating vest. The patient wears the vest and it vibrates, loosening the mucus allowing it to be expelled from the body. There are breathing devices used now available to help rid the body of the mucus buildup. The OPEP, which is an oscillatory positive expiratory pressure device, can be used to loosen the mucus. Exhaling into this device creates vibrations that can loosen the mucus in the lungs and airways.

Fighting infections and keeping your child as healthy as possible is your priority. The cystic fibrosis gene does not affect the immunity system but the children have a harder time fighting off the infections that normal children get. The mucus that coats the linings of the organs and keeps the body lubricated is too thick to pass through the system. It collects in the air passageways that cause infection to flourish.

Cystic fibrosis is a disease that demands daily care including pulmonary therapy, a special diet high in fats and vitamin supplements to prevent dehydration and proper growth. Special oral doses of enzymes for the pancreas may be required as well as an antibiotic to combat lung infections. A child may be given a mucus-thinning drug to keep their mucus thin and flowing.
New research is taking place on a new drug that goes into the system through the inhalation process and delivers normal copies of the mutant gene number seven. This new gene therapy is undergoing clinical trials in many different health and medical centers throughout the United States. Lung disease is common in most patients with cystic fibrosis causing disability and a shorter life span.

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