Autogenic Drainage Technique (Step-By-Step Guide To Clear Mucus From Airways)

One to know about, ready for allergy season usually starting next month!

Clearing things up

Autogenic drainage is an airway clearance breathing technique designed to loosen and move mucus so you can clear it more effectively.

Step by step:

• Preparation: moisten your throat with warm water, blow your nose, and sit upright to set up effective breathing.
• Body position: place your hands on your chest and upper abdomen and breathe so your upper abdomen rises and falls, showing you’re using your diaphragm.
• Humidification phase: breathe in normally, then breathe out slowly and fully while resisting the urge to cough, ideally breathing in through your nose to humidify the air.
• Low-volume breaths: after breathing out fully, take small breaths in followed by full breaths out to help loosen secretions.
  • A rattling sound in your lungs means mucus is loosening and moving.
• Keep on going: move to larger mid-range breaths in with controlled breaths out, then finish with full breaths in followed by controlled breaths out.
• Finishing up: once secretions have moved, clear them with a cough or preferably a huff cough.

For more on all of this plus visual illustrations, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

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Take care!