3 Ways to Clear the Lungs of Fluid

The fear is real. If you do catch the coronavirus or something else nasty enough to give you a serious lung infection, your odds of going to the ICU or needing a ventilator can rise significantly. As a community, we are palpably ignorant of ways to help ourselves and possibly increase our chances of being alright when the lungs get involved.

What we do to keep our lungs clear if an infection strikes could make the difference between staying at home and winding up in the ICU. Let's look at three ways to clear the lungs: postural drainage, breathing techniques and steam. These methods, applied appropriately, may reduce the chances of suffering fluid buildup and therefore the need for hospitalization.

Postural Drainage and Percussion to Clear the Lungs

It may help prevent fluid build-up to use postural drainage techniques at the beginning of congestion symptoms. For congestion in the lower-back part of the lungs, lie down, stomach down, propping up the hips with pillows so that gravity can help move the mucus from the lower lungs. If the bulk of the congestion is concentrated in the front, do the same but on the back. Either way, the goal is to make it easier to cough up all that mucus trying to pool deep in the lungs. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes each day to help move it from the lower chambers to the upper where it can be expectorated.

To help maximize drainage, percussion can help move things along. This works by loosening trapped mucus from the tiny air sacs, so it can be coughed up. To do this, cup the hands and drum or smack song the back so that it makes a popping sound from the cupped air in the hands. Pop-pop-pop from the lower ribs up to the shoulders, drumming and using that vibration to help loosen and move the mucus toward the upper areas where it can be coughed out. Do this for 3-8 minutes, stopping for any need to cough. Another way is to vibrate hands over the area while the person who has fluid in their lungs, and is inclined, slowly exhales. Never hit the backbone, kidneys or stomach. Talk to a doctor for specific training in percussion and postural drainage or if you have any concerns.

Breathing Techniques to Help Clear the Lungs

In addition to postural drainage, certain breathing techniques could save a life. Consider the techniques Dr. Sarfaraz Munshi shares in this video.

He instructs us to start these techniques as soon as possible upon the development of a lung infection, or even before one begins.

His technique follows these steps:

• Take five deep breaths, holding each one for 5 seconds before breathing out.
• Take the sixth breath, but instead of breathing out, give a good, strong cough.
• Repeat.

This process may make some people feel a little dizzy, so it's best to do this while sitting down. After you’ve completed the two cycles, move into the postural drainage position and take slow, deep breaths for about 10 minutes.

To Help Keep Lungs Clear: Steam Your Airways

A little steam can go a long way. Breathing difficulties that aren’t severe enough to require emergency care, may be relieved by sitting in a hot shower or breathing in the steam from a hot bath. (Please do take care to stay hydrated when subjecting the body to arm and hot water.) Never use hot steam to treat young children, as doing so may run the risk of scalds.

It may also bring some relief to increase the humidity in the person's bedroom. Not only might this help with lung function, but it may also reduce the viral load in the air of that room in case the person has been releasing anything with their coughs and sneezes. This is especially important for those who don’t live alone or have other people regularly entering the premises.

Even with all of the right precautions, we may not be able to avoid getting sick. And the stories that are coming out about this illness are scary, to say the least. Take the time to care for the lungs if an infection does strike; it could save a life. If anyone's breathing difficulties are severe, be sure to seek medical attention immediately — don't wait, and don't try these techniques first—doctor first, attempts to clear the lungs, after. Be well friends. And take care out there.

Copyright 2020, Wellness.com