Introduction to HMEs

Key points

• Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HMEs) can improve your quality of life after a laryngectomy by heating and humidifying the air you breathe.
• There are multiple types of HMEs that work best in different situations – from when you are active and talkative to when you are asleep.

Introduction

It is likely that you have heard a lot about Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HMEs) already, but how much do you really know about what they do? Let’s take a look at what they do and the different HMEs available for different situations.

HMEs explained

Your Heat and Moisture Exchanger (HME) is placed over your stoma and designed to:

• Heat and humidify the air you breathe
• Filter out larger particles
• Aid speaking

How do they work?

Your Provox Life HME contains a foam that has been treated with a special type of salt called calcium chloride. This traps heat and moisture from the air you breathe out and transfers it to the air you breathe in.

In other words, HMEs ‘condition’ the air you breathe by keeping it at the right temperature and humidity for your lungs to function well.

Different HMEs to suit your lifestyle

Provox Life Home HME

Provox Life Home HME is designed to improve your lung health when you are taking it easy at home. Provox Life Home HME The foam in this HME has smaller holes which allows for more heat and moisture to be trapped. Many choose this HME for at-home activities that don’t require deep breathing.

Provox Life Go HME

Provox Life Go HME provides lower breathing resistance, helping make it easier to breathe when you are engaging in daily activities. This is because the foam inside the HME has larger holes, which makes breathing easier. This HME also has a low profile and a smooth rounded form for a more discreet look.

Provox Life Night HME

Provox Life Night HME helps reduce coughing for more restful nights. It offers high humidification which helps reduce mucus production and coughing, allowing you to rest while improving lung health.

Provox Life Energy HME

Provox Life Energy HME is an HME that has good humidification and low breathing resistance, which is perfect for when you are physically active. So now you can choose your HME to suit more active situations and get more out of life after a laryngectomy.

Provox Life Protect HME

When you are away from home and need extra protection, e.g. travelling on buses, trains or airplanes; or when shopping or spending time outdoors, Provox Life Protect HME has a comfortable breathing resistance that not only warms and humidifies the air you breathe. It also effectively filters bacteria, viruses, dust, and pollen. Since you breathe through your neck stoma, it is important to protect your airway upon inhalation.