Cleaning Your Tracheostomy Inner Cannula and Skin

Clean your trach tube and the skin around it at least once a day. Your health care provider may advise you to clean it more frequently. Here are reasons to keep your tube clean and instructions to help you do so effectively.

Chronic Lung Disease: Controlling Stress

Stress and anxiety can make breathing harder. When it's hard to breathe, it's natural to get anxious and start to panic. This makes you even more short of breath. This sequence is known as the dyspnea cycle--common among people with COPD. The good news is, you have the power to break the cycle.

Having an X-ray

An X-ray uses a small amount of radiation to create images of your bones and internal organs. X-rays are most often used to detect bone or joint problems, or to check the heart and lungs (chest X-ray).

Living with Latex Allergies

Once you are diagnosed with a latex allergy, you can take some steps to protect yourself. Read on to learn more.

Using a Peak Flow Meter

A peak flow meter measures how fast you can push air out of your lungs. This tells you how well you are controlling your asthma. Measure your peak flow as many times a day as your doctor tells you to.

Transfer: Bed to Wheelchair

If your loved one will use a wheelchair, you need to know about transfers. For safety's sake, learn how to help your loved one in and out of the wheelchair. One basic method is shown here.

Vascular Doppler Ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound uses harmless sound waves to evaluate and create pictures of blood flow inside your blood vessels. This test can detect narrow or blocked arteries and veins due to an abnormality pressing on them or blood clots inside.

Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler

An inhaler is a pressurized sprayer that delivers a measured amount of medicine. Follow these steps if you're using an inhaler.

What Is a TIA?

A TIA (transient ischemic attack) is an early warning that a stroke (also called a brain attack) is coming. A TIA is a temporary stroke. It causes no lasting damage. But the effects of a stroke, if it happens, can be very serious and lasting. Here are symptoms to watch for.