Daily Tips and Exercises for the COPD Patient - Coughing Exercises (From Lincare)
CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING THIS OR ANY OTHER EXERCISE
Hydration
Thick, sticky mucus is difficult to cough up, especially with a weakened cough reflex. It is important that you drink enough fluids to keep your mucus thin and loose. Check with your physician to determine how much fluid you shoud drink daily to keep your cough effective.
Humidify your home or at least the rooms you sleep in or spend most of your time in. Keep your humidifiers clean, as they are a possible source of infection.
Do not smoke, as smoking takes moisture out of your mucus and makes the mucus thicker.
Cough
Remember, control your coughing since uncontrolled coughing can make you short of breath. Discuss with your physician which type of coughing exercise is best for you.
You should perform these coughing maneuvers whenever you feel the need to cough, or as instructed by our physician. A good controlled cough is especially helpful when you first get up in the morning and about an hour before bedtime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sit up straight in a chair when attempting these coughing exercises. Have a tissue handy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exercise A
1. Sit straight on a hard-backed, stable chair, and relax.
2. Take in 2-3 deep breaths through your nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips.
3. Fold your arms across your abdomen.
4. Take in a comfortable, deep breath through your nose.
5. Lean forward, pressing your arms against your abdomen, and cough while leaning forward.
6. Relax; rest 5-10 minutes.
7. Perform again if needed.
Exercise B
1. Sit up straight; relax.
2. Take in 2-3 breaths through your nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips.
3. Take in a moderately deep breath, hold breath, and make a "huff" sound in your throat.
4. When you feel comfortable with this exercise, try to to "huff" 3-4 times while exhaling.
