As a Respiratory therapist, I see just how vital lung health is as we do not notice our breathing until it is compromised. Prevention, early detection and education are critical. I see so many people in Northern Alberta, where farming, logging, oil & gas, construction, and many other types of work can and have caused lung issues. Short-term, long-term, and permanent concerns can affect your life drastically when you still need to work and provide for your family. Sometimes lungs can heal and improve, but a lot of the damage is irreversible. Safety measures, equipment, and policies have greatly improved over time, but there is still a risk, unexpected exposures, and situations that can arise.

At Strategic Health, we believe it is important to have the availability of Spirometry testing and consultation with a Registered Respiratory Therapist for the industry and corporate community. Spirometry measures lung function through the amount and speed of air forcefully exhaled. It is used to help diagnose lung diseases and conditions, monitor current lung conditions, assess the effectiveness of lung treatments, and screen for occupational-related lung disorders. Performing Spirometry pre-employment gives a baseline of your current lung condition at hire. Then follow-up spirometry is done periodically, post-exposure, annually or semi-annually (depending on your employer’s regulations/policies). This testing also helps indicate lung fitness for the work/tasks you may perform throughout your employment.

As a Respiratory Therapist, I can also provide respiratory assessments and direction to seek further physician assessment or other services and testing should the need arise. Education and information on current or new lung conditions/occupational exposures/triggers/inhaled medications/respiratory precautions/coping and how to work with shortness of breath/breathing techniques with exercise to improve endurance and ability to work/conserve your energy to work effectively/controlled coughing/tobacco/vaping cessation and discuss other respiratory concerns.

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