Coughing.

I've been anxiously watching this topic to see if any good advice appears, Esp since I strongly suspect that a chronic chest infection during pregnancy helped me POP.

In the meantime I cough and sneeze in the legs crossed over toe-to-toe position from the dvd...

Well, if that is on the DVD I would go with it. I think the old principle of avoiding getting into a c-shape, is important too, ie keep your pelvis in its normal position, and use your chest muscles, rather than your stomach muscles so you don't push down on your vagina. Cough out, not down. Mary Dwyer talks about this in Hold It Sister, and My Pelvic Flaw.

However, I would also stress the importance of avoiding the need for violent coughing, or any coughing where possible. There are several ways you can do this.

1 Steam inhalations to keep your nasal and breathing passages warm enough to sooth inflammation.

2 Use an humidifier in your bedroom at night to keep the air humid. Dry, cold air is the enemy of the irritated respiratory system.

3 Sit upright, if you have to, all night, so the mucous can drain down into your throat, rather than choking you so you have to cough it up. It will also stop your throat from collapsing on itself and irritating itself further.

4 Analgesics to reduce inflammation which irritates the mucous membranes, and throat numbing lozenges to keep your saliva running, and your throat lubricated.

5 Fight the urge to cough at all. By swallowing hard you can often swallow the mucous back into your stomach instead of coughing it all the way up, especially if it is coming down the back of your throat from up in your sinuses. Your mind will try and play tricks on you and convince you that you need to cough. Don't listen to it. This way you can get rid of the gunge out of your respiratory system, but avoid unnecessary coughing which is traumatic for your already inflamed passages.

6 Never, never, never breathe in through your mouth. Your convoluted nasal passages are designed to warm and filter the air you breathe. Your throat is not. If your nose is blocked you will panic slightly and it will dilate your nose so you will be able to breathe.

7 Don't overbreathe or hyperventilate, so you get less irritating, cold air in your lungs. You actually need much less air than you think you do. Take a big, deep breath in through your nose, then just breathe out a bit, before taking another breath, ie keep your chest up to keep your lungs full, which allows your passages plenty of room to expand so you can cough up the gunge more easily.

8 Stay out of cold air.

9 Use an asthma reliever if necessary to open your passages and make it easier to get the gunge out.

I really think that coughing simply spawns more coughing by keeping the mucous membranes in trauma state. Stop the cough and you stop the vicious circle.

Hope these suggestions help.

Louise

Oh-mum, my asthma has now gone. I have had it on and off for most of my life. Most of that list is stuff I learned from a Buteyko breathing teacher. You might never get rid of your asthma, but you might find it easier to control if you follow those rules.

It is best to be taught Buteyko techniques by a qualified teacher, as there is other stuff that goes with these things I have spoken about. I would encourage you to check it out. I used to cough for about three months after a cold or flu, and am sure that it contributed to my POP's. I now send respiratory viruses packing in under a week, with very little coughing. It is soooo much better.

L

I didnt mean it was specified by Christine as a good posture for coughing, just that its one of the positions on the dvd, and it felt to me like it helps to use it when i cough...

Thanks for all the other tips, louise. Good luck oh-mum :)