Topic Thursday | PCDsmiles

Written by PCD Smiles on 01 February 2024. Posted in Topic Thursday.

ACT Series, 3; Coughing

As we continue our deep dive into airway clearance our first, most basic, and by far the easiest airway clearance technique is coughing. Coughing is used in tandem with all other airway clearance techniques to move the mucus out of the large airways of the lungs. Not coughing or suppressing the cough allows bacteria laden mucus to pool in the airways increasing the chance that the bacteria trapped inside the mucus bed will start to breed and turn into infection, and cause airway inflammation and airway destruction. Coughing can be involuntary, intentional, controlled, or directed. Over-coughing should be avoided as it can stop the mucus from moving through the airways and makes the airways feel tight. Staying hydrated is important for any form of airway clearance natural, artificial, or therapeutic because dehydration dries out the secretions/mucus in the airways which can make the mucus extra thick and harder to shear off the airways walls using any type of airway clearance. Intentionally coughing to clear the throat and the exit of the mucociliary escalator prior to performing any other airway clearance techniques including controlled or directed coughing is important to make sure the airway clearance session is productive. It’s important to note that coughing alone will not clear secretions/mucus the have slipped into the small airways (the alveoli), more aggressive airway clearance techniques are required to get these secretions out of the smaller airways of the lungs.

ACT Series, 2; Abnormal Airway Clearance

As we continue our deep dive into airway clearance we turn to abnormal airway clearance. Abnormalities which alter the body’s natural airway clearance can be primary (congenital) or secondary (acquired). These can involve things like damage to the airway and it’s structures, infection and inflammatory processes, exposures to pathogens, therapeutic interventions, diseases, airway obstructions (congenital or acquired), and any congenital or acquired condition that alters any part of the cough reflex.

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Written by PCD Smiles on 17 January 2024. Posted in Topic Thursday.

ACT Series, 1; Introduction to the Body’s Natural Airway Clearance

Over the next few weeks we will take a deep dive into airway clearance. Although evidence whether airway clearance therapy is effective or even which type of airway clearance therapy is effective for patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is lacking. The over all consensus is that the body’s natural airway clearance is impaired in patients with PCD. In, “ACT Series, 1; Introduction to the Body’s Natural Airway Clearance” we will be discussing the body’s natural airway clearance so that we can better understand how to apply airway clearance techniques and which ones might be beneficial to the patient’s unique set of circumstances and their overall health picture.

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Written by PCD Smiles on 06 December 2023. Posted in Topic Thursday.

just say NO, Buffets & Food Boards; a patient’s perspective

A patient’s perspective from our Founder:

Well you all know me and know I like to talk about the little know areas of PCD life, like this new spin on buffet type meals; food boards. For most people food boards are awesome, for me it’s a nightmare… Let me explain.

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Written by PCD Smiles on 12 October 2023. Posted in Topic Thursday.

Flying with PCD

A few years during a family medical crisis involving my father I went a jumped on the first plane out of Minniapolis bound for my home state of Ohio. I wasn’t actively sick with and infection, but still in declining pulmonary status myself. I didn’t ask anyone, I just jumped on a plane bound for home as my father wasn’t expected to pull through. I did notice it took me extra time to get through the security and to the gate for my plane. But I did have two medical bags with me, on top of my carry on and personal item. My checked luggage was already taken care of. Due to my hearing I did request early boarding so I could get on the plane and not miss my announced times over the intercom. Those announcements I’m usually oblivious to, so the early boarding makes sure I’m not left behind.