Huff coughing, or huffing, is a breathing technique that helps move mucus out of the lungs. It can clear the lungs and help prevent infection in people with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

A doctor can help a person learn the proper technique for huff coughing. The doctor can also advise on the possible benefits of huff coughing and any other treatments they recommend to help manage their condition.

Read on to learn more about huff coughing and the conditions it can help.

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The purpose of huff coughing is to move mucus up the throat to clear it from the airways. During the process of huff coughing, a person breathes in, holds the mucus, and then exhales it.

Huff coughing is also known as the forced expiratory technique (FET), as it helps clear trapped mucus by forcefully exhaling.

When mucus begins to clog the lungs, this reduces a person’s lung function. When this happens, they may find they do not have as much energy as usual because their body is not receiving as much oxygen to function properly.

Huff coughing can help mucus move through and out of the airways and ease breathing.

It is important to speak with a doctor to learn the proper process for huff coughing. They will help guide a person through the stages of the technique.

The steps for huff coughing are as follows:

  1. Sit up straight in a chair and open the mouth with the chin tilted slightly upward.
  2. Breathe slowly and deeply until the lungs are about three-quarters full.
  3. Hold the breath for 2 to 3 seconds.
  4. Forcefully and slowly exhale to help move mucus to the larger airways.
  5. Repeat the forceful exhale another two times, then cough strongly to move mucus from the larger airways.
  6. Repeat huff coughing four or five times.

Generally, respiratory conditions that cause an excess of mucus or increase the thickness of mucus may benefit from huff coughing.

These conditions include:

A person should contact their doctor for advice before huff coughing to ensure it is suitable for their specific condition.

A huff cough focuses on the breath, so a person keeps their mouth open for a few seconds as they hold the air in the lungs.

Traditional coughing is quick, more forceful, and much louder because it forces air out of the lungs quickly.

The respiratory tract contains a diverse range of microbes that are important to lung health. The mucus that lines the tract is the first line of defense against infection, so healthy mucus is essential to lung function.

When mucus is not healthy, the microbial balance is disrupted. Effective mucus clearing, such as using huff coughing, helps maintain microbial balance and aids in the removal of trapped pathogens.

Moreover, different respiratory diseases can influence the composition of the lung microbiome. For example, people with COPD tend to have more pathogenic Proteobacteria, such as Haemophilus. However, people with cystic fibrosis tend to have more Candida albicans in their lungs.

Learn about the respiratory system.

If a person wants to learn more about the huff cough technique, they can speak with a doctor or another medical professional.

They will be able to demonstrate the proper technique and advise on how frequently a person may benefit from huff coughing.

With proper technique, huff coughing is generally safe to perform. However, it is important not to use too much force when huff coughing, as it can cause wheezing.

It is best for a person to contact a doctor if they wish to add huff coughing to their treatment plan. A doctor can teach people the proper technique to ensure they are performing it as safely and effectively as possible.

Huff coughing uses force to loosen mucus in the airways. It is more gentle than traditional coughing.

People with respiratory conditions such as COPD and cystic fibrosis benefit from huff coughing. A person can contact their doctor to learn the proper technique.