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

• Sit on the edge of a bed or a chair. You can also lie on your back with your knees slightly bent.

• Lean forward slightly.

• 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.

• Breathe out normally.

Step 2

• Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.

• Then breathe out fully through your mouth. Repeat this breathing in and out a second time.

• For the third time, take a slow, deep breath through your nose. Fill your lungs with as much air as you can.

Step 3

• Cough 2 or 3 times in a row. Try to push all of the air out of your lungs as you cough.

• Relax and breathe normally.

• 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:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• 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

• Brownish, white, or bloody sputum

• Nausea or vomiting

• Increasing pain

• Dizziness or weakness

• Fast or irregular heartbeat