Kids Discover: Lungs issue
This month, Kids Discover covers “Lungs!”
Sample text:
“They’re squishy like sponges and stretchy like balloons. You use them every day – and night, too – no matter what you’re doing. And, most likely, you never even think about them. They’re you’re lungs – those elastic bags with millions of tiny air pouches inside. All day long, those sacs in your chest fill and empty with the breath that feeds your body the oxygen it needs to stay alive. But, breathing isn’t the only way these pouches help you be you.”
via missewon
ArtLung Blog : Archives : » Bronchoscope, 1993
If I’d have had rhonchi.com up and running last year I’d have posted this here too:
At UVa I was one of the Respiratory Therapists on the bronchoscopy team. Basically we assisted on bronchoscopies for patients who needed to have their lungs looked at with fiber-optics. I assisted on some odd ones. I remember one very critically ill patient, their circulation was supported heavily with vasopressors and I think he was an ARDS on top of preexisting pulmonary fibrosis—the inside of their lungs seemed to be filled up with black tar. Really terrible. I worked the night shift at UVa, so there were no “day in day out” bronchoscopies, it was usually people who were very sick. The Pulmonologists were all really cool, and it was fun to be in that assist role. They want saline, you have the saline ready. We maintained the bronch cart and assured we were ready for anything. It was actually quite fun, despite the seriousness of the job.
Cystic Fibrosis, Hypertonic Saline, and Surfing
South Bend Tribune: Surfers inspire new cystic fibrosis treatment
Hypertonic saline treatment was inspired by some surfers in Australia who, like Devon, also have CF.
They told their doctors that what made them feel especially good was a day on the ocean waves.
Researchers down under and also at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill put the surfers’ tale to the test.
With backing from the U.S. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, they had a group of CF patients inhale 7 percent saline solution twice daily for a year while a control group inhaled normal saline.
Those receiving salty mist had improved lung function and, more importantly, fewer serious lung infections requiring hospitalization.
