Deep Coughing
Deep coughing helps keep your lungs clear. If you’ve had surgery, this will help you get better faster. Deep coughing also helps you breathe easier and may prevent a lung infection. Follow these steps to do deep coughing.
Step 1
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Sit on the edge of a bed or a chair. You can also lie on your back with your knees slightly bent.
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Lean forward slightly.
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If you've had surgery on your chest or stomach, hold a pillow or rolled-up towel firmly against your incision with both hands. The concept is to hug the pillow.
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Breathe out normally.
Step 2
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Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
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Then breathe out fully through your mouth. Repeat this breathing in and out a second time.
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For the third time, take a slow, deep breath through your nose. Fill your lungs with as much air as you can.
Step 3
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Cough 2 or 3 times in a row. Try to push all of the air out of your lungs as you cough.
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Relax and breathe normally.
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Repeat the above steps as directed.
Follow-up care
Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:
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Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider
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Signs of infection, if you've had surgery. These include redness, swelling, drainage, or warmth at your incision site, or pus or fluid draining from the site
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Brownish, white, or bloody sputum
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Nausea or vomiting
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Increasing pain
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Dizziness or weakness
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Fast or irregular heartbeat
Call 911
Shortness of breath may be a sign of a serious health problem. Call 911 if you have shortness of breath that gets worse or have trouble breathing, especially with any of the symptoms below:
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Confusion or trouble staying awake
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Loss of consciousness or fainting
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Chest pain or tightness
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Trouble breathing or wheezing
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Bluish skin
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Coughing up blood
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Severe pain
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© 2000-2019 The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.