Chest Physiotherapy Helps Clearing Airways & Strengthen Lungs

COVID-19 triggers inflammation in the respiratory system, resulting in breathlessness and the production of mucus, as we all know. When suffering from COVID-19 and post-infection, it is important to take the required steps to improve the lungs and clear the airway. Lung and breathing exercises, also known as chest physiotherapy, are one of the simplest and safest ways to do it. While recovering from COVID-19, we'll show you some simple exercises that you can do at home. Remember to start slowly and progressively increase the number of repetitions, or you'll end up out of breath. Manual or mechanical procedures are used to promote the mobilisation of secretions found in the airways of the lungs, which aids in the prevention of infection and improves lung function. Chest clearing, breathing procedures, and physiotherapy chest exercises are all terms used to describe these techniques. In this case, a physiotherapist is needed to demonstrate these procedures to the patient.

People who smoke, people who are regularly exposed to air pollution, and people with chronic respiratory conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis can benefit from lung cleaning techniques. Inhaling pollutants such as cigarette smoke and other contaminants can harm the lungs and even cause health problems. It is important to keep the lungs safe in order to keep the rest of the body healthy.

Benefits of Clearing Airways

It's crucial to remain hydrated when using the procedure, or you won't be able to quickly get rid of mucus. The easiest way to keep airways moist is to stay hydrated, but patients should also try steam inhalations.

Is it Possible to Cleanse Your Lungs?

The fitness of one's lungs is critical to one's overall well-being. The lungs are self-cleaning organs that will begin to regenerate until they are no longer exposed to toxins, such as when a person stops smoking. A person's chest may feel full, congested, or inflamed after being exposed to pollutants, such as cigarette smoke. Mucus builds up in the lungs to trap bacteria and toxins, contributing to the heaviness. People may be able to alleviate chest congestion and other unpleasant symptoms by using various procedures to rid the lungs of mucus and irritants. Most of these techniques can also help to open up the airways, increase lung capacity, and minimize inflammation, both of which may help to reduce the impact of pollution and smoke on the lungs.

Techniques to Clear Airways

Diaphragmatic Breathing

When breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, also known as abdominal breathing or belly breathing, entails completely engaging the stomach, abdominal muscles, and diaphragm. It helps to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate. How to do it:

Step 1: Lie flat on the ground or in bed, knees and head supported by a pillow.

Step 2: Relieve your shoulders by placing one hand on your belly button and the other on your stomach.

Step 3: Take a 2 second inhale through your nose and note how your stomach swings when you breathe.

Step 4: Slowly exhale through your mouth while contracting your abdominal muscles and forcing all of the air out of your stomach.

Pursed Lips Breathing

You inhale through your nose and exhale slowly by pursing your lips in pursed lips breathing. Slowing down your breathing rate allows you to keep your airways open for a longer period of time, allowing you to expel the air trapped in your lungs. How to do it:

Step 1: Sit comfortably in a chair with your back straight and your hands on your thighs.

Step 2: Take two deep breaths through your nose. Instead of using your lungs, try to fill your belly with air.

Step 3: Squeeze your lips together or pucker your lips and exhale slowly for 4 to 6 seconds.

Active Cycle of Breathing Technique

In three steps, the active period of breathing technique (ACBT) helps to remove excess mucus from the lungs. Regulated breathing comes first, followed by deep breathing or a thoracic expansion exercise, and finally, huffing or forced exhalation (FET).

Step 1: Take a comfortable seat in the chair and put your hands on your abdomen. Engage the main breathing muscles to begin taking deep breaths.

Step 2: Second, perform the thoracic expansion exercise, which entails inhaling for 3 seconds, holding for 4 seconds, and exhaling for 5 seconds. Take a deep breath in through your mouth and out through your nose.

Step 3: Take a deep breath through a half-open mouth during the final process of huffing or forced expiration. Exhale forcefully but steadily through your mouth after holding your breath for 2-3 seconds.

Balloon Blowing Exercise

Exercise with a balloon increases lung function, cardiac function, and respiratory muscle ability.

Step 1: Without the balloon in your mouth, take a deep breath through your nose

Step 2: Take a deep breath and exhale all of the air from the balloon. As much as you can, try to inflate the balloon.

Exercising with Spirometer

Using a spirometer to slowly breathe enables the lungs to expand to their maximum capacity. It aids in the breakdown of fluid in the lungs, which can cause breathing problems and pneumonia. To breathe in, hold the spirometer straight, and to breathe out, turn it upside down

Step 1: Take a seat in a chair or at the foot of your bed.

Step 2: Maintain a straight stance with your spirometer. To create a seal, cover the mouthpiece tightly with your lips.

Step 3: To lift the balls, slowly breathe in through your mouth as much as possible.

Step 4: To lift the balls, turn it upside down and exhale through the mouthpiece. Do not do more than 10-12 repetitions because this will cause you to become out of breath.

Ways to Clear the Lungs

Steam Therapy

Inhaling water vapour to clear the airways and help the lungs drain mucus is known as steam therapy or steam inhalation. In cold or dry air, people with lung conditions may find that their symptoms worsen. The mucous membranes in the airways can become dry and limit blood flow in this environment. Steam, on the other hand, brings warmth and moisture to the air, which can aid with breathing and loosening mucus in the airways and lungs. Inhaling water vapour can help people breathe more quickly and provide instant relief.

Controlled Coughing

Coughing is the body's normal method of expelling toxins contained in mucus. Coughing with control loosens excess mucus in the lungs and sends it up the airways. COPD patients should do this exercise to help clear their lungs, according to doctors.

Drain Mucus from the Lungs

Postural drainage entails lying in various positions to allow mucus to drain from the lungs using gravity. This technique will improve breathing and aid in the treatment or prevention of lung infections.

Exercise

Exercise can improve people's physical and mental health while also lowering their risk of developing a variety of diseases, such as stroke and heart disease. Exercise makes the muscles function faster, which raises the body's breathing rate, allowing more oxygen to reach the muscles. It also enhances circulation, allowing the body to remove the excess carbon dioxide produced during exercise more efficiently. Regular exercise can cause the body to adapt to meet the demands. Muscles can learn to use oxygen more effectively and emit less carbon dioxide as a result of this training.

Takeaway

Toxins inhaled from cigarette smoke or air pollution can affect the entire body. Toxins get stuck within mucus over time. The ability of the body to expel mucus from the lungs and airways is critical to good respiratory health. People with weakened lungs can have a harder time removing mucus from their systems than others. Excess mucus development or excessively thick mucus can clog the lungs in chronic conditions like COPD, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. Mucus can be dislodged from the lungs and airways using lung cleaning methods such as postural drainage, chest percussion, and breathing exercises. People who suffer from congestion or chronic respiratory conditions can find that steam therapy provides temporary relief.

Frequently Asked Questions