Physiotherapist Gillian Austin teaches the Buteyko Stop Cough exercise with Janet Brindley demonstrating. If you have a dry or tickly irritating cough you might like to try this simple but effective technique to suppress your cough. Coughing causes micro-abrasion in your airways and can make breathlessness worse.
STOP A DRY COUGH
Overcoming the urge to cough is not easy and requires considerable breath control. To begin with you may need to use this exercise very frequently. As the condition of your airways improves you should find that your cough will settle over a week or two.
1. SMOTHER At the first sign of a cough, cover your mouth
2. SWALLOW
3. STOP for 5 seconds
4. SOFT, SMALL, SMOOTH breathing. Keep your hand over your mouth for at least 30 seconds resisting the urge to cough. Remove your hand and take a few slow, smooth breaths through your nose.
Repeat this exercise as needed until your cough settles before resuming normal activity.
For more information you may like to look at this video:
Stop Cough Frequently Asked Questions • Part 2: The Stop Cough...
This includes:
1. How you can reduce frequency of coughing just by becoming aware of how often you cough.
2. When to use the Stop Cough technique if you have a chest infection, bronchiectasis or if you have a condition where you need to cough up mucus.
3. Sipping water or sucking menthol or menthol & liquorice lozenges can help.
It can also help to be your own detective and keep a record of when you cough.
4. Coughing can be a side effect of medication for high blood pressure.
For one-to-one tuition please look at www.buteykobre...
Janet Brindley is the author of the Buteyko Practice Diary and Breathe Well and Live Well with COPD:
A 28-Day Breathing Exercise Plan. She is also a co-author of the Self Help Asthma - the Buteyko Method DVD pack and the Buteyko Breathing Association Teacher training manual.