When do you need to do deep breathing and coughing exercises? This activity is helpful, especially following an operation. Deep breathing and coughing exercises can lessen the danger of lung complications after surgery. In fact, practices such as this can also be used for surgeries like cataract removal, abdominal surgery, etc. Doing this can help speed your recovery and decrease the risk of having breathing issues. Let’s find out the different types of breathing exercises on this page and when you can use them.
Breathing Exercises: The Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBT)
The ACBT is a breathing exercise, also known as respiratory exercise, consisting of three segments: breathing control, chest expansion exercises, and huffing expiration method.
You can use this breathing technique to clear excess sputum and enhance lungs ventilation. You can also perform this in any breath-improving position.
Furthermore, doing respiratory exercises can help various health and medical conditions. These include:
- Interstitial lung disease
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Undergoing lung, chest, or abdominal surgery
- Undergoing surgery for a lung transplant or lung cancer;
- A muscle-wasting disorder that affects breathing muscles
- Those who may be immobile for whatever reason.
Though there are a lot of medical treatments that can help improve breathing issues, you can just click on this link. Doing respiratory exercises can prevent breathing complications, especially after surgery.
Important Exercises Following Surgery
After a surgical procedure, doing the following can help promote a quick recovery period.
Deep Breath Exercises
Performing deep breathing exercises is usually the most recommended exercise following an operation. You can do this activity every hour once you are awake.
To do a deep breathing exercise, you have to breathe in profoundly and gradually through your nose. This enlarges your lower rib cage and allows your abdomen to push ahead. Then, hold that position for a count of 3 to 5 and exhale slowly through pursed lips. Remember to avoid forcing your breath out. After that, take a break, and then do it again ten times each hour. If you feel lightheaded or dizzy, rest longer.
Coughing Exercises
Performing a coughing exercise is better when you are comfortable. A health care staff or home doctor will inform you if you should not need to do coughing exercises.
In any case, to do this activity, start by lying down on your back, then bend your knees and rest your feet on the bed. This can only be applied if your health care team suggests you can.
Depending on the operation you get, you have to support your wound firmly with a small pillow or your hands before you try to cough. Then, inhale deeply and cough firmly. If you have some mucous, use a tissue to clear it so you can repeat the process until there is not any more mucous. However, if you cough up a lot of mucous, you might have to take a rest, so you prevent from overdoing it.
Changing Positions
Changing your position after surgery is essential. You can change your position each hour while awake or as instructed by your nurse. Move frequently to forestall issues such as weak muscles, blood clots, and a lung infection.
Walking
For your protection and security, have a health care staff or physical therapist with you the first time you get up, and make sure to wear suitable footwear.
It is typical to feel lightheaded and uncomfortable when you first get up. Just make sure to move gradually. If you feel dizzier or have more pain, inform your nurse or physical therapist.
It is crucial to practice deep breathing and coughing activity to help your recovery and improve your breathing process. You can learn more by clicking on this link. Doing these exercises are better if you are in a sitting-up position. In addition, moving and changing your position often are also necessary. In fact, position changes can help make your breathing and coughing exercises work better.
Other Types of Breathing Exercises
Other breathing exercises that can help improve your breathing issues:
Pursed Lip Breathing
This exercise helps to lessen how hard you need to work on breathing. Also, pursed-lip breathing exercises can help release the air trapped in the lungs. Another thing about this activity is that it helps reduce shortness of breath and promote relaxation.
To do pursed-lip breathing exercises, start by keeping your mouth closed and then inhale through your nose for two seconds. The breath does not need to be profound. In fact, an average breathe-in will do. After that, put your lips together as though you are going to whistle or blow out candles. While proceeding to keep your lips tightened, gradually exhale by counting to 4. Remember to avoid forcing the air out, yet instead, breathe out slowly through your mouth.
Diaphragmatic breathing
The stomach muscles play an essential role in every breathing activity. In general, individuals with COPD will depend to a greater degree on the accessory muscles of the shoulders, neck, and back to breathe instead of on the diaphragm.
Abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing helps to keep this muscle working more effectively. To do this, put your hand on your chest and place the other on your stomach. This is ideal when you are lying down or sitting with your shoulders relaxed. Then, take a deep breath in through your nose, counting to 2. Your stomach should move outward than your chest. After that, purse your lips and slowly exhale through your mouth, squeezing softly on your stomach. This will improve your diaphragm’s capacity to release air. You can repeat the activity as you can.
Furthermore, if you are experiencing difficulty, inform your doctor or respiratory therapist.
Conclusion
Performing breathing and coughing exercises can help improve lung function and recovery. Just make sure that you follow the instruction of your nurse or physical therapist. This will guarantee that you do the exercises accurately.
References:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html
8 Deep Breathing Exercises to Reduce Anxiety.
https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115
What is pursed lip breathing?
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