Why Isn't a Cough Enough?

Why isn’t a cough enough? Why do people living with bronchiectasis need to do daily airway clearance?

During a cough, air is expelled from the lungs at high speed, clearing the airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign particles. This forceful action can also bring up mucus from the lungs.

Unfortunately, individuals who are underweight or frail may lack the necessary strength to cough effectively.

Furthermore, coughing relies on the elasticity of the airways to manage the increased pressure. But, in conditions like bronchiectasis, the airways lose their elasticity and do not respond normally to the pressures exerted during a cough.

According to Dr. PJ McShane, “This is why you can cough your head off to the point that you’re exhausted and nothing’s coming out and you don’t feel like it’s effective, and instead you’re just getting tired. So that’s where airway clearance comes in. And that’s why it’s so important to learn techniques you can do, other than just a simple cough.”

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