AirPhysio Side Effects, Safety and Who Should Not Use It
AirPhysio contains no drugs, so it has no chemical side effects. It does change the pressure in your airways, and that makes it unsuitable for some people. Read this page before you buy.
Do Not Use AirPhysio If You Have
This is the manufacturer's own warning:
- An untreated pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Tuberculosis
- Oesophageal surgery
- Right-sided heart failure
- Middle ear pathology, such as a ruptured eardrum
Published coverage of the device category adds coughing up blood without a known cause and uncontrolled high blood pressure or other unstable heart conditions.
Talk to Your Doctor First If You
- Have asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or another diagnosed lung condition
- Are being treated for a lung or heart disease
- Have had recent chest, lung, ear or abdominal surgery
- Have chest pain or breathing difficulty that has not been explained
- Are pregnant
- Are buying it for a child
What Is Normal During Use
- A vibration or flutter in the chest
- An urge to cough, sometimes strongly in the first sessions
- A rattling sound as mucus moves
- Mild light-headedness if you breathe out too hard or too fast
If you feel light-headed, stop, breathe normally for a minute and use a gentler breath next time.
Stop and Get Medical Help If You
- Have chest pain during or after use
- Cough up blood or blood-streaked mucus
- Feel dizzy or faint
- Become short of breath and it does not settle
It Does Not Replace Your Medication
AirPhysio is an airway clearance device. It is not an inhaler and it is not a treatment for asthma, COPD or any other disease. Keep taking prescribed medication, and do not change your treatment without your doctor's agreement. The manufacturer's own advice is that if symptoms persist you should talk to your health professional.
Hygiene
A device that is not cleaned and dried can grow bacteria or mould. Wash it after each use, let it dry fully and do not share it.
Safety of OPEP Devices in General
A study in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease describes OPEP devices as having low safety risks compared with drug therapies. That is a statement about the category, used under appropriate guidance, and not a promise about any one person.
Common Complaints
- "I do not feel anything." Almost always the angle. Hold it level.
- "It makes me cough a lot." That is the mucus moving. Ease off if it is uncomfortable.
- "It did not help." If mucus is not the cause of your symptoms, an OPEP device will not address them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AirPhysio have side effects?
It has no drug side effects. Some people cough a lot or feel light-headed in the first sessions. Stop and get medical help if you have chest pain, cough up blood or become short of breath.
Who should not use AirPhysio?
The manufacturer says not to use it with an untreated pneumothorax, tuberculosis, oesophageal surgery, right-sided heart failure or middle ear pathology such as a ruptured eardrum.
Is AirPhysio safe for asthma or COPD?
Ask your doctor first. It is not a replacement for prescribed inhalers or medication.
Can children use AirPhysio?
The manufacturer sells a Kids version. Children should use it only with adult supervision and a doctor's agreement.
Can AirPhysio damage your lungs?
OPEP devices are described in medical literature as low risk when used appropriately, but they are not safe for people with the conditions listed in the manufacturer's warning.
Want the Full Overview?
Our home page covers how AirPhysio works, who it suits and where the brand sells it.
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