My Huff Cough Technique

I will add to this once I find the really good description of the two kinds of huffing I perform, I ran across the explanation somewhere and I think I saved a copy of it. Anyway I read the bit below 1-7 in a letter written by Dr.Warwicl to Amy who has a great blog http://noexcusesnoexcuses.blogspot.com/2009/02/azli.html and I extracted this bit for my personal reference.

Whenver I find my self lapsing I come back to remind myself. I do this followed by huffing and repeat. It has been very effective for me. The other thing I do is remind myself to huff throughout the day, like certain triggers for instance if I walk in to go to the bathroom I huff, driving down road I try to huff a few times, etc so its kind of an automatic response and reminds me through the day. This idea was also mentioned somewhere in a Warwick correspondence or his bell curve letter, I cant remember which.

I guess I do the positive pressure breathign of small breaths in until I feel I will explode followed by two varying forms of traditional huffing and then repeat the breathe holding scenario again. I repeat until dry or exhausted LOL.



1. To prepare the lungs and airways for the huff coughing technique, you must first expel all the stale air in your lungs and airways. Begin by slowing down your breathing. Take slow gentle breaths, ending with one slow exhalation lasting three to four seconds.
2. Inhale slowly using your diaphragm. This is called diaphragmatic breathing or "breathing with your belly". This inhalation should be a slow comfortable breath; do not overinflate your lungs.
3. After inhaling a breath slowly, hold it for 3 seconds. This is done to control your breathing and prepare for an effective huff cough.
4. Tilt your chin up slightly and use your stomach muscles to make a series of three rapid exhalations with the airway open, making a "ha, ha, ha" sound. This helps to open the epiglottis in your throat and better allow the expulsion of the mucus in your airways.
5. Gain control of your breathing again by taking a couple slow breaths.
6. Repeat the huff coughing technique until the mucus has reached the back of your throat.

It wasn’t enough that his patients actively cough up their sputum. He wanted a deeper, better cough, and later, in his office, Warwick made another patient practice his cough. The patient stretched his arms upward, yawned, pinched his nose, bent down as far as he could, let the pressure build up, and then, straightening, blasted everything out.