If you have been taught ‘Pelvic Floor Exercises’ in the past then you should continue to do these again. Try to contract your pelvic floor muscles during your Airway Clearance Technique or when coughing and sneezing. Using an Airway Clearance Technique to clear sputum from your lungs reduces how much coughing is required to clear […]
Other Airway Clearance Technique and devices can be tried to help you to clear your sputum. To get the best from these you should speak to a respiratory physiotherapist. Other techniques that a respiratory physiotherapist may use with you are: Autogenic Drainage (AD). Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP). Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure. You can find out […]
The main Airway Clearance Technique used in COPD is the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT). ACBT is easy to learn. It can be adapted to your needs. You don’t need any equipment or assistance so can be done anywhere at any time. It is usually the first Airway Clearance Technique of choice for people […]
Drink and tissues. Be prepared with a drink, and something to cough into such as a tissue or pot, before you start. Inhalation therapy. If you take bronchodilator inhalers or nebulisers such as Salbutamol, use these prior to performing your Airway Clearance Technique. This will open up your airways and make it easier to move […]
Physical activity can be one of the best ways to help clear sputum out of your lungs. Physical activity that makes you breathe more deeply and quickly which will loosen the sputum and move it through your lungs, towards your mouth. It is important to be active and use an Airway Clearance Technique. Physical activity […]
To get the most out of your Airway Clearance Technique you must drink fluids (not alcohol) and stay well hydrated. When you are dehydrated your natural lung clearance methods don’t work as well. Hydration – How much you should drink per day? This will vary depending on your size, how active you are, how warm […]
Coughing alone will only clear the sputum that is sitting in your trachea/windpipe. By using an Airway Clearance Technique you will give the whole of your lungs a proper clear out – right down to the tiny air sacs (alveoli). You will not need to cough as much when you use the breathing exercises in […]
It is not normal to be aware of your sputum. If sputum is troubling you, practising an airway clearance technique can help you to manage this. You will need a physiotherapist to show you these techniques. Clearing your chest everyday should become as normal in your routine as brushing your teeth. If you have a […]
Airway Clearance Techniques are different types of breathing exercises that help you to get sputum out of your lungs. This is a term that may be used to cover lots of different ways that you may be taught to clear sputum out of your lungs. May also be referred to as ‘Chest Clearance’, ‘Breathing Exercises’ […]
