COPD Health Center

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term illness that makes it hard to breathe. When you have COPD, air does not flow easily into and out of your lungs. You may be short of breath, cough a lot, and have a lot of mucus in your lungs. Learning to clear your lungs may help you save energy and oxygen and may also help prevent lung infections.

Key points

There are three things you can do to clear your lungs:

• Controlled coughing. This type of coughing comes from deep in your lungs. It loosens mucus and moves it though your airways.
• Postural drainage. You lie down in different positions to help drain mucus from your lungs.
• Chest percussion. You lightly tap your chest and back. The tapping loosens the mucus in your lungs.

Normally, mucus in the body is thin and fluid. Mucus protects and moistens the lining of body organs, such as the lungs, stomach, and intestines. It also helps remove bacteria.

But if you have COPD, your airways may make more mucus than normal. The mucus may be so thick that it gets stuck in your lungs and airways. This makes it hard to breathe and easy to get infections.

Infections in the airways and lungs cause coughing, wheezing, and breathing problems. An infection may lead to more mucus in your lungs that becomes thicker and harder to move. The mucus may also change color.

You can't undo the damage to your lungs. But doing controlled coughing, postural drainage, and chest percussion can help drain mucus from your lungs. This can:

• Open your airways and make it easier to breathe.
• Help prevent infections. If you have fewer infections, you will likely have fewer lung problems.
• Help you manage your symptoms and feel better.

Controlled coughing

Coughing is how your body tries to get rid of mucus. But the kind of coughing you cannot control makes things worse. It causes your airways to close. It also traps the mucus in your lungs.

Controlled coughing comes from deep in your lungs. It loosens mucus and moves it though your airways. It is best to do it after you use your inhaler or other medicine. Follow these steps for controlled coughing:

• Sit on the edge of a chair, and keep both feet on the floor.
• Lean forward a little, and relax.
• Breathe in slowly through your nose, and fold your arms over your belly.
• As you exhale, lean forward. Push your arms against your belly.
• Cough 2 or 3 times as you exhale with your mouth slightly open. Make the coughs short and sharp. Push on your belly with your arms as you cough. The first cough brings the mucus through the lung airways. The next coughs bring it up and out.
• Inhale again, but do it slowly and gently through your nose. Do not take quick or deep breaths through your mouth. It can block the mucus coming out of the lungs. It also can cause uncontrolled coughing.
• Rest, and repeat if you need to.

Postural drainage

Postural drainage means lying down in different positions to help drain mucus from your lungs.

Hold each position for 5 minutes. Do it about 30 minutes after you use your inhaler. Make sure you have an empty stomach. If you need to cough, sit up and do controlled coughing.

Follow these steps for postural drainage:

• Lie down on a bed or the floor. Use pillows to help you with different positions.
• To drain the front of your lungs
  • Lie on your back. Make sure that your chest is lower than your hips. Put two pillows under your hips. Use a small pillow under your head. Keep your arms at your sides.
  • Then follow these instructions for breathing: With one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, breathe in. Push your belly out as far as possible. You should be able to feel the hand on your belly move out, while the hand on your chest should not move. When you breathe out, you should be able to feel the hand on your belly move in. This is called belly breathing or diaphragmatic (say "die-uh-fruhg-MAT-ik") breathing. You will use it in the other drainage positions too.
• To drain the sides of your lungs
  • Do this step as you lie on one side. Then turn over, and do it on the other side.
  • Place two or three pillows under your hips. Use a small pillow under your head. Make sure your chest is lower than your hips. Use belly breathing. After 5 or 10 minutes, switch sides.
• To drain the back of your lungs
  • Lie on your stomach.
  • Place two or three pillows under your hips. Use a small pillow under your head.
  • Place your arms by your head.
  • Use belly breathing.

Chest percussion

Chest percussion means that you lightly tap your chest and back. The tapping loosens the mucus in your lungs.

Follow these steps to do chest percussion:

• Cup your hand, and lightly tap your chest and back.
• Ask your doctor where the best spots are to tap. Avoid your spine and breastbone.
• It may be easier to have someone do the tapping for you.

Controlled coughing, postural drainage, and chest percussion may not work for everyone. Talk with your doctor about these methods to clear your lungs.

It is important to remain active and to exercise when you have COPD. Activity and exercise can:

• Build muscle strength and endurance. This will help you be more active. And you will be able to do more activities for longer amounts of time.
• Reduce shortness of breath.

Always talk with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

For more information, see the topic:

COPD: Using Exercise to Feel Better.

If you have questions about this information, print it out and take it with you when you visit your doctor. You may want to use a highlighter to mark areas or make notes in the margins of pages where you have questions.

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