Physician Disease

Coughing Importance

Teaching patients and/or assisting them to maintain deep breaths is critical to the functionality of the lungs. Without regular deep breathes, stiffening can have very negative consequences. During normal expiration the diaphragm relaxes while rib cage muscles contract. When more force is required such as a cough, additional strength comes from the abdominal muscles.

Weakness of these muscles is as important than diaphragm weakness since it plays such a crucial role in allowing the coughing process to maintain healthy lungs. Effective and productive coughing is extremely important to patients with neuromuscular complications. Coughing clears infectious mucus, dirt, and bacteria. Peak cough flow measurements should be taken to make sure cough is sufficient to prevent mucus plugging. When flows are too low, ( <3 ml/second, <180 ml/minute) manual or mechanically assisted coughing may be needed. Click here for cough-assisting methods.