- Individuals in a coma and others with serious injury or illness are unable to breathe on their own. Instead a respiratory therapist connects them to a ventilator which breathes for the patient by pumping in and releasing oxygen from their lungs. Ventilators are usually computerized, which allow respiratory therapists to set the amount of pressure and type of air a patient requires for their specific needs.
- To measure a person's lung capacity a respiratory therapist uses a spirometer. The patient takes a breath and blows into the spirometer tube until they have exhaled all the air from their lungs. The machine records the amount of air released from the lungs as well as its intensity. This data is then compared by a respiratory therapist against the baseline for a person of the same age, sex and height. A major difference between the patient's blowing ability and the baseline can indicate diseases or injury in a person's lungs.
- The amount of oxygen in a patient's blood is generally 95 to 100 percent at sea-level elevations. Respiratory therapists can draw blood from a patient and use a blood gas analyzer to determine if a patient has the correct percentage of oxygen in their blood. Below 90 percent is considered low and is referred to as hypoxemia.
- Respiratory therapists work with patients suffering from diseases associated with the lungs such as pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis and lung disease. A common respiratory tool used in the therapy for these diseases is a volumetric exerciser. They help the patient measure and exercise their lung capacity by performing breathing exercises into the mouthpiece. The respiratory therapist teaches a patient how to use the exercise and develops a therapy plan aimed at increasing their lung capacity and efficiency.
- Inhalers and nebulizers provide instant medication to aid in breathing when people are suffering from an asthmatic attack or other breathing problem that constricts or closes their airways. Respiratory therapists teach people when and how to properly use their inhaler or a nebulizer for a small child or infant. They also can work with them on therapeutic, breathing exercises that have the potential to minimize or eliminate asthmatic attacks and other breathing problems.
