Children suffering from cystic fibrosis and adults suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema have one thing in common ---- they need to clear accumulated mucus from their lungs daily so that they don't run the risk of developing pneumonia or other potentially serious illnesses. Cystic fibrosis patients' mucus becomes unusually thick and sticky, making it difficult for them to cough it up, while COPD and emphysema patients lose lung function, making it difficult to cough strongly to expel accumulated mucus.
Postural Drainage
Step 1
Lie on your back with two pillows under your hips and one pillow under your head. Put your arms along your sides. Move one hand to your stomach and the other to your chest and breathe in.
Step 2
Push your stomach out as far as you can so that you feel the hand on your stomach move out. The hand on your chest should not move out at all.
Step 3
Breathe out so you feel the hand on your stomach move back in. Keep breathing in this position for five minutes, then do the same breathing exercise as you lie on both sides. Your chest should be lower than your hips by using two pillows under your hips and breathe for five minutes on each side.
Step 4
Switch to your stomach, put your arms by your head and repeat the same breathing exercise for five minutes.
Chest Percussion
Step 1
Make a cup with your hand and tap lightly on your chest. Your doctor or respiratory therapist can show you the best areas to tap.
Step 2
Continue the process across your upper body.
Step 3
Get someone to help you complete percussion on your back, but avoid both your backbone and your spine, so you don't injure yourself.
Controlled Coughing
Step 1
Sit on the edge of a chair with both feet on the floor. Lean forward and breathe in slowly through your nose.
Step 2
Place both arms across your stomach. Exhale, lean forward and push both arms against your stomach.
Step 3
Cough two to three times, exhaling through your mouth. Each cough should be sharp and short as you push on your stomach with both arms. Inhale one more time gently through your nose.
Step 4
Repeat as needed and rest between coughing sessions if necessary.
Tips and Warnings
- Complete postural drainage on an empty stomach and about 30 minutes after using your inhaler. Make sure you drink clear fluids ---- water is the best liquid ---- so the mucus in your respiratory system stays thin. The chest percussion exercise is similar for a young cystic fibrosis patient. Have your child sit with his chest exposed. Clap or tap rhythmically on your child's chest to help loosen the secretions in his lungs, according to Cystic-L Handbook online, which provides a general overview for families with a child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. As you clap on his chest, it will stimulate him to cough accumulated mucus out of his lungs.
- Ensure that the fluids you drink are alcohol-free and caffeine-free.
