 | Associate Professors Cynthia A. Padula and Evelyn M.J. Yeaw assist in test of breathing device.
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Heart patients may breathe a little easierTwo University of Rhode Island College of Nursing professors have been awarded a $144,000, three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop methods to increase respiratory functioning in cardiac patients.
Associate Professors Evelyn M.J. Yeaw and Cynthia A. Padula are researching whether certain exercises done by such patients will help them to breathe better and thus make it easier to carry out basic daily living activities.
Called “inspiratory muscle training,” the therapy uses a small device, which resembles an inhaler, to strengthen the muscles for respiration. The newly funded study is based on results from two successful pilot programs. The professors are now working with five doctors to recruit patients and test the method on a wider population of congestive heart failure cardiac patients.
“The patient breathes into the hand held device under a prescribed amount of pressure. The pressure is increased over time as respiratory strength improves,” said Padula.
“Our goal is to improve the quality of life for cardiac patients,” Yeaw said. “We believe this treatment will improve their muscle strength and potentially help them to do things they haven’t done in years.”
By Sarah Emmett
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