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Respiratory Therapist/Questions Answered by Expert Karel Sleis
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Proper Nebulizer Use | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: My 63 year old husband has COPD & moderate Emphysema treated with Advair, Combivent and a Nebulizer ... A: Unless he uses it as directed its useless. if it calls for one vial every 6 hours thats what it ... | |
| Breathing problems | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I am a 35 year old female. I have always been a very active person and have been a runner for as far ... A: If you have mild asthma, you should take your inhaler or nebulizer treatments. also i you take ... | |
| sarcoidosis | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I am suffering from sarcoidosis from past 6 years , I have a Persian cat in my house , what do you ... A: The symptoms you describe can be from both asthma and sarcoiddosis. You should go to your pulmonary ... | |
| post nasal drip | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: i have problem of post nasal drip, i have visited many ENT doctors who said is due to nasal ... A: It could be that the room you sleep in is too dry. You should buy a cold air humidifier. They sell ... | |
| COPD | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: what would you consider to be the best home air purifyer? thanks A: Yes the best one is the vicks pediatric size cool mist humidifier. It sells for 39.99. The ... | |
| Asthma? | 3/20/2011 |
| Q: I really hope you can help me, I am completely at a wits end with my health. Since the summer of ... A: First of all you are not crazy, but you need to get to a pulmonary doctor not a regular md. ... | |
| Chronic Bronchitis | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: I was diagnosed about 20 years ago with Chronic Bronchitis I have 3 inhalers that I use on a regular ... A: You should get a cool mist humidifier machine put out by vicks or cvs. They sell also on ... | |
| allergic rhinitis | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: Can asthma be diagnose with stethoscope. and second question that there are difficult in inhaling or ... A: Yes asthma can be diagnosed by hearing wheezing in the lung but to see how bad it is a pulmonary ... | |
| allergic rhinitis and mucus | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: i am suffering from allergic rhinitis without sneezing and runny nose and post nasal drip from four ... A: If it feels like mucus in chest and you are spitting up yellow or green it could be bronchitis. If ... | |
| vicks chest rub and oxygen | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: bad chest cold and on oxygen is it ok to vapor chest rub A: Vicks is not good for the chest as the smell of it can make it even harder to breathe. If a person ... | |
| oxygen litre flow | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: Please explain how 40% oxygen delivered through hi flow nasal cannula in hospital translates to ... A: Nasal cannula the prongs in the nose deliver approximately from 28 to 44% 1-5 lpm. 5 liters per ... | |
| I struggle breathing when lying down | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: I'm 14 years old, and I'm having trouble to breath when I'm lying down to go to sleep. I've only ... A: First of all you should show this to your parents. You need to go to a doctor to get cardiogram and ... | |
| chest,cough and loss of voice | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: i'm suffering with a prob of having a cough coming almost all the time.my chest gets flamy and my ... A: If you are bringing up phlegm you could have bronchitis You need to go to md get chest xray and ... | |
| oxygen level at night | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: My oxygen level drops to 88% at night so my doctor has put me on oxygen at night. It's fine during ... A: Oxygen level usually drop due to lung trouble mild emphysema or copd, which is chronic obstructive ... | |
| Second hand smoke as a child | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if being exposed as a child to second-hand smoke ( less than a pack a day, so light ... A: Its hard to say we all have been around second hand smoke in our lives, its hard to stay away from a ... | |
| Congestion Esophagus | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Since last three months, I have been suffering from secretion of mucus in throat. It sticks in the ... A: You should see a pulmonary doctor if you didnt and get another pulmonary function test. A normal ... | |
| second-hand smoke | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: Where I work, other employees smoke. In a shift,if I pass by them when they do smoke, I may inhale ... A: You have to be around them at least 5 days a week. lungs to not get rid of the toxic chemicals ... | |
| oxygen levels in blood | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: I recently went to Winnemucca,Nevada(high altitude), I live in South Texas, where we are at or below ... A: Most probably yes, you should have taken your cpap machine or next time find a home care company ... | |
| respiratory therapist | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: how can we see respiratory therapist in the future? A: Respiratory therapy was in my opinion a good field to go into, and very rewarding. Unfortunately ... | |
| hi! | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: it z the end of winter here my friend has a bit serious problem with his respiratory system after an ... A: It sounds to me that he may have seasonal asthma. He needs to see a pulmonary doctor and have a ... | |
| copd and retaining fluid and bloating | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: can you tell me what will help i seem to bloat after i take my duoneb and pulmacort A: If you are taking these pulmacort duoneb these have steroids however inhaled corticorsteroids ... | |
| Health Hazards of burning garbage | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: 1. what are the health hazards of burning garbage? 2.what are the diseases people can get from ... A: Basically health hazards from burning garbage is the smoke it makes, its self explanatary the smoke ... | |
| asthma and second-hand smoke | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: How important is it for the mother of a 7 y/o severe asthmatic to quit smoking, even outside the ... A: Yes the mother should stop smoking, as the smell even if outside carries on ones clothing. As far as ... | |
| chronic cold | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm a 5o yr.old female in almost perfect health. I've had a "cold" & cough for the past 6 weeks. ... A: You most probably still have an infection if yellow flegn is coming up. You should alert the md, ... | |
| Oxygen via nasal cannula in infant | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: How to calculate the Fio2 when using nasal cannula for infant with flow is 0,25 L/min, 0,5 L/min, ... A: While i never worked with infants and now do home care you might try the link below ... | |
| Oxygen Level | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: My Husband who is 52yrs old, Stays drained and keeps a headache all the time, his oxygen level stays ... A: Altitute affects people in different ways, but not just all of a sudden. An o2 level should be at ... | |
| chest infection ten weeks | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: i am on my third bought of anti biotics and I am still coughing up green mucus. my nose has been ... A: I suggest you take another chest xray for pneumonia, try asking for antibiotic levaquin and ... | |
| heliox | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: continuous aerosal with heliox. How would you calculate the fio2 using 100% O2 and 70/30 heliox. ... A: While Ive never worked with a blender I suggest you call the manufacturer of it and ask for customer ... | |
| bronchiles | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: Do you what meds over and off the counter, home remedies to open up your bronchiles? ANSWER: ... A: Brownish /yellow flem is a sign of blood and infection . You need to go to the doctor for ... | |
| bronchiles | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: Do you what meds over and off the counter, home remedies to open up your bronchiles? A: Basically there is a bronkaid mist. However the best thing is to purchase from your local drugstore ... | |
| Allergy | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I am living in kuwait.I have asthma problem. Whenever climate changes i am very much affected with ... A: When sputum is yellow its signs of infection, when its brown it could be a sign of bleeding ... | |
| bronchitis | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: "Hello Dr. I suffering from bronchitis disease. doctor prescribed me medicines ... A: No these are all the right treatments. Especially if the bronchitis is chronic. If it does not go ... | |
| Asthma | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: My mother has been suffering from asthma for the past 5 years. She has cough/cold most of the time ... A: What a respiratory therapist does is show the person how to properly use her inhaler. Some ... | |
| asthma | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: Child weighing 20kg admitted with diagnosis of acute asthma. Orders as follows: Nebulizer-Albuterol ... A: Its hard to say it depends what his/her status was when bought in , if was turning blue then no.Go ... | |
| phlegm | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: how can i cough up phlegm without gagging & throwing up, will my body get rid of it if i just caugh ... A: First of all you should try and not drink anything thick like milk, basic water is good also by an ... | |
| Medical Oxygen | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: My wife has just been put on oxygen. Can you tell me what levels we should maintain and for how ... A: 98-100% is normal. If its in that range she doesnt need to wear the o2 . However if she is a severe ... | |
| congestion in throat ,postnasal drip that seems to sit in bottom of esophagus | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: About 2 months ago i caught a terrible head cold that turned into sinus and blocked my ears causing ... A: You could havee allergies as well in which case you should see an allergist. You also can have ... | |
| congestion in throat ,postnasal drip that seems to sit in bottom of esophagus | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: About 2 months ago i caught a terrible head cold that turned into sinus and blocked my ears causing ... A: I strongly suggest you get a pulmonary function test which is not just spirometry but other ... | |
| Albuterol | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been taking albuterol in 4 sprays every 4 hours (roughly) since at least 2004. My ... A: Have you tried singulair or advent or pulmicort along with the atrovent. also as long as the md ... | |
| Albuterol | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I have been taking albuterol in 4 sprays every 4 hours (roughly) since at least 2004. My ... A: As far as the drug not being covered you need to speak to your insurance company and ask them who do ... | |
| Asthma | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: Can mold and/or radon levels affect asthma sufferers? Can asthma cause COPD? A: Yes, indoor outdoor mold can affect asthma, keep drip trays under fridge clean, close all dirty ... | |
| cat allergy? | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I have had a cat for 4 years and did not think I had any problem, but in recent days (weeks?) I am ... A: It sounds to me like you are developing an allergy to him. You might want to see an allergist who ... | |
| house fire plastic smoke inhaltion clean up question | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: Please advise if you can. My house had a small fire Sunday nite. I suffered plastic smoke inhalation ... A: If you and your wife have any breathing problems and are under a doctors care have the md write on a ... | |
| sats | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I am an L.P.N.working on a prvate ped.'s case- it is a preemie with a trach- the parents were ... A: i WOULD THINKIFITS A PEDCASE AND CHANGES ARE SO FAST THAT IF IT WERE ME i WOULD ALSO CALIBRATE EACH ... | |
| Lung Pain in Upper Right Side | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: I frequently get a pain on the upper right side of my lung just below to the clavicle. The pain ... A: clear fluid could be the start of asthma, emphysema, its when the sputum is yellow or green that ... | |
| Lung Pain in Upper Right Side | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: I frequently get a pain on the upper right side of my lung just below to the clavicle. The pain ... A: any type of lung pain needs an xray, there is a possibility that your asthma is acting up or you ... | |
| Blood Oxygen Level | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: My 80-yr old father is hospitalized with pneumonia and cannot eat. Yesterday is blood oxygen level ... A: 98-100% IS NORMAL , aNYTHING UNDER 90 can cause heart bre4athing problems. However my guess is that ... | |
| breathing | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: would really appreciate some advice. Have had asthma since childhood and have the common allergies ... A: I have never heard about that breathing, basically with asthma you should try to breathe as normal ... | |
| capnography | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: If I have to perform a capnography test and the patient's HR remains within normal limits but the RR ... A: Im sorry but I am in the home care field and am not up to par on my vents however if you go to the ... | |
| Attacks where I cant breathe | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: The past two nights I've woken up in the night and not been able to breathe. I dont remember waking ... A: What comes to mind is 2 things. Perhaps what was a cough was an upper respiratory infection or post ... | |
| COPD | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I have end stage COPD, however, I still push to stay off the oxygen full time, I am on it at night. ... A: It could be however tingling may be a vascular problem, i would consult your md. You might want to ... | |
| asthma and chest congestion | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: I have been prone to catching chest infections for the last two years (ie ... A: Yes you should see a pulmonologist or get a referral or paper to have a pulmonary function te4st ... | |
| nite jumps | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: i have sleep apena for at least 9 years the last 6 months i have nite jerking where it wakes me up ... A: I suggest you speak to your physician .You may also along with the apnea have restless leg syndrome, ... | |
Respiratory Therapist
Answers by Expert:
Karel Sleis
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Basic questions on coping and maintaining asthma, copd, emphysema.Basic questions on oxygen therapy at home, no ventilators.
Experience
I have been a Respiratory Therapist since 1989
Organizations
American Association of Respiratory Care
Education/Credentials
University of Mississippi Respiratory Care Program
NYC Dept of Education Respiratory Therapist License
Past/Present Clients
Have been n expert on sleep disorders also on this website for years
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