1983: Mom’s Voice and the Nice Respiratory Therapist

The highlight of any hospital stay was when my mom came to visit. She usually arrived early in the morning and stayed until the overhead announcement declared, “Visiting hours are over.”

During those visits, Mom would read to me. One time, when she ran out of my usual books, she read a story from Reader’s Digest. The story was too complex for me to follow—or maybe I was just too hyped up on all the medicines I was taking for my asthma—and I had trouble paying attention.

Still, I loved hearing Mom’s voice. It was almost as therapeutic as Sus-Phrine, that asthma medicine I relied on. There was something soothing about her reading that relaxed me in a way nothing else could. I treasured those moments and wished she had read to me more often.

But in our busy household, the only times I really remember her reading were in the doctor’s waiting room or when I was in the hospital bed. I’ll take those memories wherever I can get them.

One day, when I was eleven, Mom had just left, and a young respiratory therapist named Star came into my room. She was really nice, probably because she actually paid attention to me.

Star would sit on the edge of my bed and watch TV with me. I remember one time we landed on a program showing naked Aboriginal people. I started to change the channel, but Star told me to leave it on.

I wasn’t interested in learning about them—I was too busy laughing. She gently scolded me for laughing, but I didn’t mean to. I was just giddy, probably from all the meds.

The next day, Mom brought my brothers to visit, but she had to take them home soon after. Once Mom left, I went to look out the window. That’s when Star came back in. She gave me my treatment and said, “Let’s play some cards.”

Mom had left a deck of cards on my table, and although I don’t remember which game we played, Star stayed with me for quite a while. It was so nice to have someone pay attention like that. I was happy to have a therapist who helped pass the time.

But then an overhead page came, and Star had to rush out. Still, those moments meant a lot.

Sixteen years later, when I was hired at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington as a respiratory therapist, Star became my co-worker. She would later tell me I had been a very excitable kid.

When Fresh Turns to Frazzled: The Stack-Up That Burns Out an RT

You know that feeling when you come back from days off, rested and ready, only to have your first few shifts slowly grind you down?

Yeah, me too.

Right after my six-day break, I dove back into the chaos — running those critical, useful treatments that actually help patients breathe better. But then there’s the rest of it. The stuff that piles up and drains you.

Like spending two hours at a code in the ER where it’s painfully obvious the patient—maybe someone in their late 80s with end-stage COPD and stage 4 cancer—is already gone. But the family is at the bedside, and the team keeps working, because... well, family presence matters. I get that. But it’s emotionally exhausting.

Or getting called to place a Zio patch in the ER—something that’s not urgent but just “on the list.” Then, ding! — a new patient to see on the floor. But before that, I have to rush back to the ER for a treatment I know is ordered more for “mom satisfaction” than medical necessity.

The ER doc even told me, “In the past, I wouldn’t order treatments for a kid with a simple cold, but after one mom got mad and left a bad review, now I do it every time — just so moms think we’re doing something.”

Then, to add to the fun, your coworker is tied up with outpatients. So you’re on the inpatient side handling everything yourself. And when she’s stuck doing a PFT—which takes an hour—you get pinged for an outpatient EKG that just came in. Suddenly, you’re doing all the inpatient stuff and the outpatient stuff too.

You see, all of these little things—important or not—stack up.

We have patients who genuinely need us, and if that was all we did, maybe burnout would be just a faint worry.

But when the useless, the unnecessary, and the “just for show” get piled on top, it hits you hard — sometimes within hours, even fresh off days off.

So yeah, those upcoming ten days off? They look really, really good right now.

Note to self: This stacking of pointless tasks? It’s the fuel behind what I call respiratory therapy apathy syndrome. When you do too much useless stuff, you stop caring—not because you don’t want to, but because it’s a defense mechanism.

If you’re feeling this too, you’re not alone. And maybe it’s time we all started talking about the real stuff behind RT burnout.

When Vodka Was a Breathing Treatment for Heart Failure

Today, respiratory therapists treat pulmonary edema with CPAP, BiPAP, and diuretics like Lasix. But there was a time—especially in the early to mid-20th century—when another, more surprising remedy was used: alcohol. And not just ingested alcohol, but inhaled alcohol—sometimes even vodka—administered as a breathing treatment.

Why Alcohol?

In cases of acute heart failure, fluid backs up into the lungs, leading to pulmonary edema. This can cause the patient to froth at the mouth—literally—as fluid mixes with air in the alveoli and upper airways, creating a white, foamy sputum.

Alcohol, especially ethanol, is a known anti-foaming agent. When nebulized and inhaled, it reduces surface tension in the foam, essentially collapsing the bubbles. This makes breathing easier by improving gas exchange and reducing the pink frothy sputum that characterizes severe pulmonary edema.

How It Was Used

In the 1920s through the 1950s, nebulized ethanol (typically 30-50%) was commonly given via facemask or oxygen tent. When hospitals lacked pharmaceutical-grade alcohol, staff sometimes used vodka or gin as a substitute—whatever was on hand that contained a high enough proof to work. There are even anecdotes of vodka being poured directly into the endotracheal tube (ETT) in emergency situations.

Respiratory therapists (then often called inhalation therapists) or nurses would add alcohol to a nebulizer, often connected to humidified oxygen. The mist was inhaled by the patient, calming the froth within minutes. It was a low-tech but effective intervention at the time.

When Did It Fall Out of Favor?

The use of inhaled alcohol declined sharply in the 1960s and 70s as better pharmacologic treatments for heart failure became available. Furosemide (Lasix) was introduced in 1966, providing a fast and reliable diuretic effect that removed fluid at its source. Positive pressure ventilation also became more common, offering mechanical support to improve oxygenation.

Eventually, studies raised concerns about potential complications of inhaling alcohol—like mucosal irritation, systemic absorption, and delayed clearing of secretions. As more effective and safer treatments became standard, alcohol nebulization was abandoned.

Still in the Literature

Although rare, you may still see inhaled alcohol mentioned in older nursing or respiratory therapy textbooks and journals. It's one of those fascinating chapters in medical history—a time when we used what we had, and sometimes, what we had was vodka.

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Sources:

• Donnelly WH. "Nebulized Ethyl Alcohol in Pulmonary Edema." JAMA. 1946.

• Pinsky MR. "Historical Perspectives on Pulmonary Edema Management." Chest. 2004.

• Furosemide FDA approval: U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1966.

/John Bottrell's Facebook

Zio Patch for All

I put on Zio patches at work. It’s a simple task: slap on a sticker, give them some info, send people home to wait. Most of the time, patients don’t even know why they’re getting it. Lately, I’m not so sure I do either.

There’s been a noticeable trend: anyone who has a stroke gets one, whether or not they’ve had even a blip of arrhythmia. You can be on telemetry for days with a rock-solid sinus rhythm, not so much as a premature beat, and still go home with a Zio patch stuck to your chest—just in case.

Doctors say they’re “ruling out paroxysmal atrial fibrillation,” which makes sense—once. But when every stroke patient automatically gets one, even the guy whose stroke was clearly due to uncontrolled hypertension and a pack-a-day habit, it starts to feel less like a diagnostic strategy and more like a reflex. Like ordering a side of fries every time someone coughs.

Studies say Zio patches only catch meaningful arrhythmias in about 5–15% of stroke cases. That means up to 95% of these things are just tracking heartbeats that were already normal for 14 days straight. It’s like filming a pond to catch a shark.

But hey, at least someone’s heart is being monitored while they're trying to figure out how to shower without getting the sticker wet. That’s something.

And if you’ve ever wondered why your patient went home with a cardio sticker after a neuro event—now you know. It's just standard protocol. Like putting everyone with a fever in an ice bath just to be safe.

How To Order Acapella (a.k.a. Crapapella)

What They Teach in RT School

Description & Indication:
The Acapella device is a medical tool designed to help loosen and remove thick, stubborn mucus from the airways. When a patient exhales into the mouthpiece, it generates vibrations that travel through the airways, helping to dislodge mucus. This device is commonly used for people with lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or COPD. It is particularly helpful for patients who struggle with coughing up phlegm or have difficulty clearing their airways.

How to order them? An RT will recommend one and give it to the patient if it's needed. 

What They Teach in Medical School

Description & Indication:
The Acapella device is a magical contraption that helps patients bring up secretions—whether they have secretions or not. Clear lung sounds? No problem! This device can apparently summon mucus from thin air. Need to "treat" someone who has absolutely no issue coughing? Perfect! The Acapella is your go-to device for solving problems that don’t exist.

How to order them? If you think of it order it. It can't hurt. Who cares about RTs complaining that they are overworked. 

The Link Between Anxiety and Asthma: What You Need to Know

Anxiety is a natural response to stress or challenging situations, but when it becomes overwhelming, it can negatively impact your health. For people with asthma, anxiety can further complicate management of the condition. Various studies have shown a connection between asthma and anxiety, with one potentially exacerbating the other. Understanding this relationship is crucial for effective asthma control. Here's what you need to know.

Anxiety and Asthma: The Statistics

A 2004 study found that approximately one-third of children with asthma also experience anxiety. Among adults with asthma, 6.4-24% reported having panic attacks (1, Katon). In comparison, the general population only sees about 1-4% of individuals with diagnosed panic disorders (2, Deshmukh). These statistics suggest that anxiety is more common in people with asthma than in the general population, highlighting the need for awareness and management of both conditions.

Theories Behind the Connection

Several theories help explain why asthma and anxiety may often occur together.

1. Dyspnea-Fear Theory
   One theory suggests that severe asthma attacks may trigger a heightened fear response to breathlessness, making individuals more likely to develop anxiety or panic attacks in response to various stimuli later in life. This "dyspnea-fear" cycle could lead to an ongoing pattern of anxiety (3, Ley).

Managing Anxiety for Better Asthma Control

If you have asthma and experience anxiety, addressing the anxiety may help improve your asthma control. Both conditions can be managed with the right approach. Here are a few key strategies:

• Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often recommended to help manage anxiety. This can help break the cycle of fear and breathing difficulties.
• Breathing exercises: Learning how to control your breathing can be an effective tool for reducing both asthma and anxiety symptoms.
• Medication: Sometimes, medication may be necessary to manage either condition, so working closely with your healthcare provider is essential.

Conclusion

The connection between anxiety and asthma is clear, and addressing both conditions can lead to better overall health. By understanding the theories behind their relationship and seeking proper treatment, individuals with asthma and anxiety can gain greater control over their health and well-being.

References:

• Katon, W.J., et al. “The relationship of asthma and anxiety disorders.” Psychosomatic Medicine, 2004 May-Jun;66(3):349-355.
• Deshmukh, V., et al. “Anxiety, panic, and adult asthma: a cognitive behavioral perspective.” Respiratory Medicine, 2007 February, 101(2):194-202.
• Ley, R. “Respiration and Emotion.” Springer, 2001, pages 65-74.

New Study Shows Hypertonic Solution Cures Everything

Back in the 1970s, doctors frequently prescribed hypertonic saline (salt water) as a treatment. The idea was that the salty solution would draw water out of the airways, thinning mucus and making it easier to cough up. However, this theory was later disproved, and by the 1990s, hypertonic saline was largely phased out as an aerosolized treatment.

Fast forward to 2020, and a shift in medical thinking emerged: the longer the treatment, the better the potential outcome. This led to renewed interest in hypertonic saline, particularly for cases involving mucus plugging, often identified through X-rays or CT scans.

Common symptoms:  Excessive mucus production tied to conditions like asthma, COPD, or bronchiectasis—or sometimes, a vague “other” category when the cause isn’t entirely clear but the treatment is worth trying.

Frequency: Typically prescribed every six hours.

Effect: Designed to thin mucus by creating a hydrating, salt-infused "hurricane" in the airways. Even if no visible sputum is produced, the treatment is believed to work on a microscopic level.