One of the hallmark symptoms of COPD is increased mucus production which, over time, can build-up and block the airways. The pooling of mucus in the airways then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria which, in turn, can lead to lung infections like pneumonia.
Learning how to clear mucus from the lungs takes time and may not ascertain immediate results. But, airway clearance is an important part of COPD treatment, especially because it can help you breathe better and reduce your risk of lung infection.
Here are some important airway clearance techniques that are simple yet effective:
1. Coughing - The Best Airway Clearance Technique of All
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COPD patients often have great difficulty mustering up a strong, productive cough due, in part, to weakness and dyspnea. Learning how to cough effectively, however, is one of the best airway clearance techniques that you can teach yourself.
2. Chest Physiotherapy
Artwork by Carolyn Russell
Chest physiotherapy (CPT) can be performed either manually, using chest percussion and vibration, or with an airway clearance device. Manual chest physiotherapy involves clapping on the chest and/or back to help loosen thick secretions. Airway clearance devices for home use are generally hand-held and can be an affordable alternative to manual CPT.
3. Postural Drainage
Artwork by Carolyn Russell
Often coupled with chest physiotherapy, postural drainage is an airway clearance technique that uses gravity to assist in the removal of secretions from the airways. There are at least 12 different positions in which postural drainage is performed, depending upon which area of the lungs you are trying to concentrate on.
4. Expectorants
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5. Mucolytics
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