Lung Disease
Proper Cough Technique and Clearing Your Lungs
Breathing Exercises
Your narrowed airways and damaged air sacs make it more difficult to exhale (breathe out). Air becomes trapped in your lungs. A breathing technique called pursed-lip breathing is used to allow you to reduce the amount of air that is trapped in your lungs so that more fresh air can be breathed in.
Pursed-lip breathing:
1. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
2. Breathe out, through pursed-lips (pretend you have a drinking straw between your lips).
3. Do this slowly and evenly.
4. Try to take twice as long to breathe out as you did to breathe in.
5. Repeat this exercise 10 times in the morning, afternoon and at night.
Perform difficult activities while exhaling through pursed-lips, for example, take steps up stairs while exhaling through pursed-lips. Stop and rest while breathing in.
Another helpful exercise is diaphragmatic breathing. This exercise helps to strengthen the diaphragm, which is the most important muscle for breathing.
Diaphragmatic breathing:
1. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
2. Relax your shoulders and neck muscles.
3. Push out stomach out while breathing in (try to fill up your stomach with air).
4. Breathe out through pursed-lips.
5. You can practice this while standing, sitting, or lying in bed.
6. Practice this exercise 10 times in the morning, afternoon and at night.
Improper coughing can use up oxygen and energy, therefore, it is important to know how to cough properly in order to improve your breathing.
Proper cough technique:
1. Sit up straight while in bed or in a chair.
2. Take a deep breathe in; hold it for 3-5 seconds.
3. Place your hand firmly on your stomach for support.
4. Lean slightly forward.
5. Cough as hard as you can.
6. Repeat this proper cough technique at least two to three times as needed to remove mucus.
Your health care provider or respiratory therapist can help you practice these exercises. Call the Respiratory Care Department at 410-550-0563.
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