Medical Health Encyclopedia

[For more information, see Well-Connected Report #94, Colds and Flus.]

Breathing Exercises

Pursed-Lip Breathing. A technique called pursed-lip breathing can help improve lung function before starting activities. It takes about 10 minutes. When first learning the technique, the patient should lie flat on a bed with his or her head on a pillow. Later, the technique can be performed while walking or enduring any activity requiring extra air.

• First, the patient inhales through the nose, moving the abdominal muscles outward so that the diaphragm lowers and the lungs fill with air.
• The patient then exhales through the mouth with the lips pursed, making a hissing sound.
• The exhalation should be twice as long as the inhalation, so that pressure is experienced in the windpipe, and chest and trapped air is forced out.

Breath Holding and Coughing. A simple technique is to inhale deeply and slowly, holding the breath for five to 10 seconds. Then the patient coughs on exhalation.

Controlling Secretions

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Fluids and Humidity. Patients who experience congestion and heavy sputum can benefit from maintaining good fluid intake and keeping their homes humidified.

Expectorants. Although unproven, many patients report benefits from using over-the-counter expectorant drugs that thin mucus. These drugs should not be used during an acute acerbation of COLD, however.

Chest Therapy. Chest therapy involves rhythmic inhalation for three or four deep breaths followed by coughing to produce sputum. Tapping the chest may also help in loosening and raising sputum. This should be avoided during an acute exacerbation of COLD.

Postural Drainage. The patients should also practice postural drainage. This involves leaning over the side of the bed, head down with elbows on a pillow placed on the floor. A family member or caregiver thumps gently on the back while the patient coughs.