according to the bureau of labor statistics the field of respiratory therapy is projected
to grow by 23 throughout the year of 2030. this is a much faster growth rate than the average
for all occupations there are several reasons why respiratory therapists are in high demand and will
continue to be for the foreseeable future which is what we're going to discuss in this video so
if you're ready let's jump into it one of the primary reasons why respiratory therapists are
in demand is that humans are living longer than ever before this is due to advanced technology
and improved treatment modalities in the health care field as people live longer they're more
likely to experience age-related respiratory problems such as copd asthma and emphysema
until science can manipulate how humans grow old more people will reach a higher age which
means that more respiratory therapists will be called upon to provide treatment for this
aging population another reason why respiratory therapists are in demand is that sleep disorders
are becoming more prevalent in our society sleep apnea is a disorder that is characterized by
pauses and breathing during sleep it's a condition that affects an estimated 25 million americans
and when left untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious cardiopulmonary health problems
as the prevalence of sleep apnea increases more respiratory therapists are needed to provide
care for patients with this condition another reason i should mention is that smokers are
transitioning to vaping smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the united states
while the number of smokers is on the decline there's been an increase in the number of people
who are using electronic cigarettes vaping is not without its risks and can lead to respiratory
problems such as the infamous condition known as popcorn lung as the use of vaping increases the
need for respiratory therapists is also expected to increase in order to treat the potential
long-term effects that it has on the lungs another reason respiratory therapists are in demand is
simply because people want to prevent disease in recent years there has been an increased focus on
prevention and wellness people are becoming more aware of the importance of taking steps to prevent
chronic respiratory disease such as copd this has led to an increase in the demand for respiratory
therapists who can provide education on how to prevent these diseases the prevention model has
become popular in the healthcare industry and it is expected that this trend will continue
in the coming years this means that respiratory therapists who are skilled in disease prevention
will be in high demand another reason that you may not have thought of is that our environment
is changing the environment is changing and this is having an impact on our respiratory health
air pollution is a leading cause of respiratory problems and it is expected to get worse in the
coming years as the air quality continues to decline the number of people with respiratory
problems is expected to increase this means that more respiratory therapists will be
needed to provide care for these patients in addition to air pollution climate change is
also expected to have an impact on respiratory health as the earth's temperature continues to
rise the number of people with heat-related respiratory problems is expected to increase
for example inhaling hot humid air can cause an increase in acute episodes of people with asthma
this is especially true for those who live in urban areas where the heat island effect is more
pronounced this is when the temperatures in the urban area is higher than the surrounding rural
areas as the number of people affected by the environment increases the demand for respiratory
therapists is also expected to increase the next reason on our list is that respiratory care
is becoming more accessible the awareness of respiratory care has increased over recent years
therefore it's becoming more accessible to those who need treatment for lung disease
as the prevalence of lung infection and breathing disorders continues to increase
the size of respiratory care departments and hospitals around the world has grown
to follow suit this means that there are now more respiratory therapists than ever before
as such this is yet another reason why rts will continue to be in high demand for years to come
the next reason that we need to discuss is concerning increased lung infections since the
coven 19 pandemic the number of lung infections has been on the rise this is due to the fact that
the virus primarily affects the respiratory system as a result there has been an increase in the
number of people who need treatment and thus an increase in the demand for respiratory therapists
the lingering effects of cova 19 can also lead to other types of lung infections such as pneumonia
and it just so happens that rts are one of the primary healthcare professionals who treats
patients with these types of conditions another reason respiratory therapists are in demand is due
to high burnout in healthcare workers burnout is defined as a state of physical emotional
and mental exhaustion it's a common problem among healthcare workers and respiratory therapists
are no exception in fact a poll conducted by the aarc found that nearly 80 percent of respiratory
therapists who participated admitted to some level of burnout this high level of burnout in
the healthcare industry is due to the fact that professionals often work long hours and deal
with lots of stress therefore this means that there are plenty of job opportunities available
this also gives respiratory therapists the ability to potentially find a position that offers better
working conditions and a good work-life balance and of course one of the main reasons rts are in
demand is simply because respiratory therapy is a rewarding career that's right it's important
to mention that a career in respiratory care offers the opportunity to make a difference in
the lives of others one respiratory therapist was quoted as saying that there is no better feeling
than helping a patient breathe this can be an extremely rewarding experience and it's one of
the main reasons why many respiratory therapists continue to work in this field it's also one of
the primary reasons that prospects choose to enter the field of respiratory care in the first place
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it and there should be some other helpful videos popping up on your screen right about now that
i think you'll enjoy and just a quick reminder we're not doctors this video is for informational
purposes only thank you so much for watching have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend