How to Cough and Clear Phlegm - Physiotherapy Guide
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Published 2020-03-15
Effective Coughing involves:
1. Correct coughing posture sitting upright with the back well supported
2. Deep breathing exercises to encourage increased ventilation and movement of lung secretions (phlegm) to the central bronchi (airways). These exercises involve expanding the base of the rib cage with slow deep breaths and allowing the air to passively leave the body without force.
3. The Huff (forced expiratory technique) to draw phlegm from the outer lungs to the central airways making it easier to cough up phlegm. This technique involves taking in a medium size breath and then breathing out forcefully through an open mouth and glottis. The huff creates negative pressure in the lungs that draws phlegm towards the large central airways from the smaller outer airways.
4. Coughing after the huff technique with your mouth covered in the direction away from others helps prevent the spread of virus and bacteria. The cough will often become more productive during the hour or so following the huff exercise.
How Many Times to do this Coughing Routine?
The technique demonstrated can be performed 1-2 times in a row no more than once hourly. Doing this whole breathing, huffing and coughing routine twice a day, ideally morning and night help can help you clear your chest and cough more effectively. During exacerbation for example with bronchitis, virus or pneumonia (resolution) this technique can used more often throughout the day if required. Limit using the technique to every couple of hours to avoid feeling breathless.
The Coughing and Breathing Cycle (ACBT) involves:
*Correct upright posture
*3-5 deep breathing exercises
*Relaxed breathing
*3-5 deep breathing exercises
*Relaxed breathing
*1-2 huffs
*Cough
Transcribe video: youtube.com/timedtext_video?ref=share&v=bXJkZ5fGU7…
Reference: van der Schans CP (1997) Forced expiratory manoeuvres to increase transport of bronchial mucus: a mechanistic approach. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis.52(4):367-70.
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All Comments (21)
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Here is the link to all the Physiothjerapy Covid recovery exercises I have released recently, I hope these help your recovery all the best youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqo18HBnle8wHHjCthWQuWi…
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Who else is coughing a lot and feels like dying?
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I’ve been TERRIFIED of coughing up phlegm because I hate gagging and throwing up BUT THIS WORKED SO GOOD!! I was mentally preparing myself for so long because I was scared but I coughed up so much. I feel relieved thank you thank you thank you
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This helped me so much!! I got phlegm out in the first try! I've been trying to cough it up for days now, and it's just so uncomfortable when it comes up close to my mouth but it's still too far away to cough it out and the natural reaction is to swallow it back in. Thank you so so so much Dr Michelle!!
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I’m currently suffering from flu and have been having trouble breathing. I just did this exercise and 30 seconds later an ungodly amount of mucus came out of me. It sounds horrific but I have never been so grateful for a YouTube video
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I just did this technique cos I know I have mucus in the lungs. I've just coughed up a small amount of green mucus. Thanks😊 very much.
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Sitting here with a miserable cold & this just made me cough up a lot that I couldn’t before, thank you for the tips🤧
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I've had really bad coughs for the past 3 days. I'd be puking a few minutes after I'd eat. I did this 4 times in a row and I don't know if I puked the phlegm out or just did it right but now I have less phlegm after days of coughs and pukes! Thank you!
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I searched this up because I figured this out on my own, but was worried if I had damaged myself. I was having phlegm in my lungs for a week and no matter how deep or hard I coughed it remained. It felt unreachable and it was annoyingly noticeable whenever I laughed. Out of frustration I did this technique on my own over the bathroom sink, I just breathed out as long as I could and to my surprise I felt the phlegm move. Then immediately with some light coughing it started coming out. I also tried curving and twisting my upper body and neck to either side with this technique then lightly coughing, thinking it would help by stretching out the lung. Not sure if it did that, but it worked for me. Now I'm so relieved and pretty much phlegm free. Glad to see this video sharing this technique, it needs millions of views. Why don't they just teach this everywhere??
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I’ve done this technique a few times now, and each time I don’t expel much mucus, however I do notice that I’m breathing deeper and easier. Thank you so much this is brilliant.
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This technique helped me clear the mucous in my lungs. I had been coughing for a couple of hours. I had used my inhalers and flutter valves and was struggling. I struggle every day due to asthma,COPD, PND, and GERD. I was desperate to stop and went on line and found you. Thank you. 🙏🏻💜
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Thanks a lot Michelle. I was having this really heavy feeling on my chest and had great difficulty in breathing. I was having really low energy as well. Your method has helped me cough up all that phlegm a lot more efficiently. I feel a lot better after using this technique in the morning and at night on a daily basis. I cannot thank you enough for making a video on this. Glad that I found this video.
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I been struggling to breathe for the past three months, took four different types of prescribed antibiotics and vitamins but I realized for the past few weeks I started breathing through my nose and out my mouth and every time something came out when I coughed and my lungs felt a little relieved. I tried this method today and already feel better then I have in awhile. Thank you!
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Sitting in my car and just jacked up more than I have allowed in my life. I appreciate the tips
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I caught a flu and have been coughing constantly, literally non-stop with a lot of phlegm. After practising this breathing and huffing techniques, the coughing has subsided. Thanks so much. I feel like it literally saves my life from coughing a lung up.
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So many times I'd been hospitalized with pneumonia and all types of bronchial infections (with a mystery cough lasting on and off since 2009 due to weakened muscles from MG). I have met and been attended by more respiratory therapists than I could count, always having issues with coughs not being productive and ever lasting scratchy feeling. Not once had anyone ever brought this up..THANK YOU SO MUCH. will use this with my own clients now as well ...
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I’ve been trying to get rid of flem four days!!! this video really helped me. Thank you so much
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I've been having this throat problems for so many years. You saved my life. Thank you!
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Thank you Michelle.I had a persistent dry cough with cracking and bubbling in my lungs when breathing.With your technique I managed to cough out some phlegm and realised some moments later that my impulse to cough had gone away!Thank you.thank you Michelle!
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Thank you so much. I’ve been dealing with chest congestion for the past few days and had no clue what to do because I’m not coughing. For about an hour it was coming all out.
