Huff coughing (ACBT)

[floating_]

Does anyone here have to do this to help get rid of mucus? I feel as though it's not working for me. I will be letting my respiratory physiotherapist know, but was wondering if anyone has any tips for it? Thanks!

[PortlandPinks]

Hi, Yes I suffer with that too. My consultant put me on Montelukast which thinned the mucus down somewhat but still at times I feel as though I am choking and end up retching. I am sorry I have no advice other than that you are right to mention it to your respiratory nurse or GP.

[Bella-Bestia]

Hi, Just a thought, but are you drinking plenty fluid?When our secretions are more moist that helps the mucous to move more easily.

Also coughing will only move the mucous- either coughing up or swallowing (if you find it difficult, I do) once it’s moved out of the lungs into the upper airways. Otherwise stick to the breathing exercises to move it along.

Also changing position sometimes helps? It’s important to support/ relax the trunk. If tense it doesn’t help.

Don’t know if you are already doing the above?

Hope you can get some progress soon.

Take care,

Bella- Bestia

[Itswonderful]

My Respiritory physio advised to avoid coughing to get mucus up. Take short diaphragm breaths to settle lungs and once you’re relaxed take a deeper breath, though not overly deep and hold just for a count of 4. Then relax throat, tongue neck and mouth and let the jaw drop open and relax it and breathe out until you have pushed your diaphragm a bit. Not overly though. Do it sitting or laying on your side. You can repeat. This is to settle your airways down so they are not reactive and ‘twitchy’. The mucus will gently make its way out of your airways and you can swallow or spit it out but the key is to do everything calmly and gently. You might want to check with your own health care workers that this is right for you, don’t do it if it is going to upset your lungs further. You also need to drink several litres of water every day. Have some with you all the time and for when you wake in the night and first thing when you wake in the mornings. You produce two litres of mucus alone in your airways every day and that’s without all the other fluids we produce in other systems so we need a lot of liquid to keep the mucus thin and easy for our lungs to waft up and out and for our body to replace. Best wishes.

[Poobah]

I was using the huffing technique taught by my respiratory physio, however, I found this video explaining the additional use of arms and found it very effective. It just adds to the effectiveness of the original technique. youtu.be/ZXsWJcQ5TbE(Not working as expected?)