Request Appointment  Airway Clearance Techniques  If your lungs
produce a lot of mucus, airway clearance techniques may be
prescribed. These techniques help move excess mucus from the
airways. Keeping the lungs clear of mucus helps prevent
shortness of breath and other symptoms.  Coughing techniques are
special ways of coughing that help move mucus up the airways.
You may be taught methods such as the “huff” technique (shown
here).   1. Sit in a chair with both feet on the floor. Take a
slow, deep breath through your nose.  2. To exhale, open your
mouth and make a “huff” sound in your throat. (This is the same
way you might breathe to clean a pair of glasses.) Huff 2 to 3
times as you exhale. Relax for a few seconds. Then repeat steps
as needed.   Postural drainage uses gravity to drain mucus from
the lungs. It’s done by lying in certain positions for a given
amount of time. Postural drainage may be done along with a
technique called chest percussion. This involves clapping on
your chest to loosen mucus. Or,