Do you also have difficulty clearing phlegm? Then let's learn about this 'Huff' cough!

Sometimes you also have a cough that brings up phlegm, right? Some coughs don't help you cough up phlegm no matter how hard you try. At times, your chest becomes congested and you find it difficult to breathe. Today, we are going to talk about a special cough that helps people like that and can easily clear phlegm. This is called a 'Huff Cough'. This is a little different from a normal cough, and it is something that is done under control.

What is a 'Huff' cough?

Simply put, a 'huff' cough is a controlled way of expelling mucus from the lungs using our breath. This is also known as a Forced Expiratory Technique (FET) . This means that it's not like we're just coughing.

Imagine you're going to a mirror and trying to fog it up. What you're doing is not coughing hard all at once. You open your mouth slightly, take a deep breath, and exhale a little air quickly, saying "ha...". That's what happens in this 'huff' cough.

When we cough hard, the small airways in our lungs suddenly constrict. What happens is that the mucus we're trying to expel gets stuck in those airways. As a result, no matter how hard we cough, the mucus doesn't come out, and our chest feels even tighter.

But in this 'huff' cough, because we control our breathing, the airways don't suddenly constrict. When we hold our breath for a few seconds and then exhale in a controlled manner, that airway moves back behind the mucus, loosening the mucus from the lung walls and pushing it up the large airways. Then we can easily cough that mucus out with a very small cough. This saves energy and doesn't waste oxygen.

Who is this method most beneficial for?

This 'huff' cough technique can be very useful for many people. It is especially useful for those who are tired and feel pain from coughing all the time. For example, someone who is recovering from surgery or someone who has chest pain due to an accident may find it difficult to cough normally. This technique is very convenient for them.

Even more so, this is very important for those with long-term respiratory diseases who constantly produce mucus.

How exactly do you do a 'Huff' cough?

This is very easy to do. But it's important to follow the steps exactly. Let's see how to do it.

Remember these things too.

• Do not take a deep breath through your mouth immediately after coughing. Doing so may make it difficult to control the cough again.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. When you drink water, the mucus becomes less thick and liquefies. This makes it easier to expel.
• If you are using a bronchodilator (e.g., an inhaler), try this 'huff' cough a few minutes after taking it . You can also do this anytime you feel like your chest is clogged with mucus.

What are the benefits of a 'huff' cough?

The biggest advantage of this method is that it removes mucus and brings it up, rather than trapping it in the airways.

Some other advantages are:

• It's less tiring on the body than normal vigorous exercise.
• A person with chest pain or after surgery has less pain.
• This saves energy, so people with breathing difficulties don't feel tired.

It is not good for mucus to accumulate in the lungs. If it does, it can lead to infections . Therefore, it is very important to learn how to properly clear mucus from the lungs.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have a chronic respiratory condition like COPD, or have a persistent cough with phlegm, be sure to talk to your doctor before trying this method.

Although this is a very useful method, it may not be suitable for everyone. Your doctor will advise you on whether this method is suitable for you depending on your medical condition and how to do it exactly. Sometimes you can also get a physiotherapist to train you in this method. Therefore, it is wise to seek medical advice first, rather than making decisions on your own.