WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about respiratory care? Respiratory care includes exercises and treatments to help you breathe better and keep your lungs healthy. Respiratory care is important for people with spinal cord injuries because it helps prevent infections, such as pneumonia. What exercises and treatments might I need? Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you need the following: - Breathing treatments help open your airways so you can breathe easier. A machine is used to change liquid medicine into a mist. You will breathe the mist into your lungs through a tube and mouthpiece.
- Postural drainage (PD) helps loosen the mucus in your lungs. You will sit or lie down in several different positions to help gravity bring up the mucus.
- Chest physiotherapy (CPT) also helps loosen mucus and may be done at the same time as PD. During CPT, a healthcare provider lightly claps on your back and chest with his hands. This brings up the mucus from your lungs and makes it easier to cough it up.
- Quad assist coughing helps you cough up mucus if your muscles do not work correctly. A healthcare provider will place his hands on your abdomen between your ribs and belly button. He will thrust his hands upward at the same time that you cough.
- Suctioning may be needed if other treatments do not work. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about suctioning.
What must I do every day to keep my lungs healthy? Take deep breaths and cough at least 4 times a day. This will decrease your risk for a lung infection. Take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. Let the air out and then cough strongly. Deep breaths help open your airway. You may be given an incentive spirometer to help you take deep breaths. Put the plastic piece in your mouth and take a slow, deep breath, then let the air out and cough. Repeat these steps 10 times. |