You may have portions of your treatment performed by a physical therapist or a respiratory therapist.
Pulmonary Hygiene Methods
There are several facets of pulmonary hygiene.
They all entail the use of physical manipulation techniques to help you cough up sticky mucus.
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You and your therapist may use any combination of techniques during a pulmonary hygiene session.
Controlled Coughing
Controlled coughingis one of the most effective means of airway clearance in lung disease.
A physical therapist should be able to instruct you in the most effective breathing techniques for your condition.
As you breathe in slowly and deeply, it measures how much air you are breathing in.
This measurement can be used as a benchmark for you to exercise your lungs.
The vest vibrates and is either plugged in or run on a battery.
Coughing is done throughout the session and afterward to expel mucus.
Your physical therapist or respiratory therapist will tell you exactly how to position yourself for this procedure.
Postural drainage is often performed along with chest percussion, which breaks up mucus in the lungs.
Pulmonary hygiene is only one of several ways of preventing atelectasis.Other physical methods and prescription medicationscan help as well.
you could also use pulmonary hygiene techniques along with other methods of clearing your lungs.
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