How to Treat Your Persistent Coughing

Nothing compares to a persistent and annoying cough. It deprives you from your sleep; it vexes you during the day. For some people, coughing has become a significant part of their life, planning to settle in for good. Therefore, if you are experiencing breathing problems, or you have been asthmatic for years, or you simply caught a cold because of the changing weather, I am about to present to you a simple breathing technique that will help you treat your insistent coughing, and that is the Butheyko Emergency Procedure.

The Butheyko Emergency Procedure

The Butheyko breathing method has been used by doctors in Russia and URSS for over 40 years now, mainly in the treatment of asthmatic patients, but also in treating other breathing diseases such as the common bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, and other similar conditions. It has proved itselft to be efficient for excessive cough, but also for that dry cough that doesn’t let you sleep during the night. This technique will help you breath correctly, while improving your health condition.

How does coughing affect your body

When your body experiences persistent coughing, you breathe three to five times more air than you are naturally supposed to. This action is called hyperventilation. As a result of hyperventilation, your body is affected drastically: your brain, heart and lungs no longer receive the oxygen that is so necessary for their right function. This way, chronic coughing anticipates the appearance of asthma, diabetes, cancer or heart disease.

Three steps you should follow in order to treat your cough

1. You ought to go to sleep the moment you are tired, not earlier.
2. It is highly important to try breathing only through your nose.
3. Another important aspect, try avoiding sleeping on your back.

Try relaxing

While lying in bed and being ready for sleep, in order to avoid sleeping on your back, try lying on your tummy or on your side. The next step is pinching your nose so that you won’t be able to breathe. At this stage, it is ok if you feel uncomfortable. Next, the coughing will eventually emerge. At this moment, try coughing only through the nose.

After you have held your breath, the next step is taking small inhalations through the nose. If you are a victim of persistent coughing, try limiting these inhalations. However, do your best in order to cough only through your nose.

After inhaling, it is vital to try relaxing your muscles, particularly your upper chest and shoulders whilst you exhale. The breathing out should be voluntary and unaffected. Try your best to relax.

Suppress your cough

As you breathe, try inhaling smaller portions of air in order to induce your body that hunger for light air. This is your main objective: to relax your muscles during the inhalation process. If you are doing the exercise correctly, you will undoubtedly notice your arms and feet getting warmer, and you will feel moistness in your nasal passages.

Continue the breathing exercises until you get tired and fall asleep. By breathing less, you will induce that need for air. You will fall asleep more easily. Moreover, the same exercises can be done during the day, as long as you are calm and relaxed. This will reduce the duration of your coughing outbursts by at least three times.

Keep this in mind: as long as you control your breathing, you can suppress your cough.