Registered Nurses´ Association of Ontario
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Secretion Clearance Techniques
Secretion clearance consists of deep breathing, controlled coughing and huffing.
Deep breathing: Do deep breathing exercises 4 to 5 times a day, sitting or standing.
- Relax your shoulders.
- Take a deep breath in through your nose.
- Breathe out slowly through your nose.
- Breathe out longer than you breathe in.
Count to 1 when you breathe in.
Count to 3 when you breathe out.
Count to 3 when you breathe out.
- Repeat 5 deep breaths as above and rest.
- Try 5 more deep breaths in and out and rest.
Try blowing the air out through pursed-lips. Shape your lips like you are going to whistle, then blow out slowly. This will help you breathe easier.
Controlled Coughing: Controlled coughing should be done after each set of breathing exercises:
- Take a deep breath in.
- Cough deeply 2 times with your mouth slightly open.
- Follow each set of breathing exercises with 2 controlled coughs.
Huffing: If it is hard for you to cough, try huffing:
- Take a medium breath in.
- Make a sound like “ha” to push the air out very fast with your mouth slightly open.
- Do this 3 to 4 times, and then cough.
