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When you have bronchiectasis, or BE for short, your doctor or respiratory specialist may recommend airway clearance as part of your daily treatment plan.

Airway clearance refers to the removal of excess mucus from the lungs using techniques that help break up mucus, prevent it from building up, and allow it to be cleared more easily.

BE is a disease where your airways become permanently widened. This makes it more difficult to clear mucus, which can then begin to build up in your airways.

Too much mucus creates an attractive environment for bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Even with other medications, airway clearance is an important part of a BE management plan.

At times you may have “wet coughs.” Wet coughs can be a sign that you have too much mucus in your airways and need to clear it out.

Not clearing it out could make breathing more difficult and create an environment that can harbor an infection.

For some people, airway clearance feels time consuming and uncomfortable. That’s why it’s important to explore different techniques to find something that is manageable and productive for you. Let’s take a look at a few common methods.

There are several different methods of airway clearance that you may talk to your doctor or respiratory specialist about. Some involve specific types of coughing and others combine coughing with devices to help loosen excess mucus from the airways. Your doctor or respiratory specialist can help you explore the best options for you.

Let’s review a few common coughing techniques.

The first is called deep coughing. Deep coughing is a method that utilizes your breath and stomach muscles to help clear mucus from the lungs.

For some people, deep coughing might not always clear enough mucus. Your doctor may also recommend an alternative to deep coughing called huff coughing. Huff coughing relies on a series of rapid exhales to help loosen the mucus before coughing it out.

In addition to coughing, your doctor or respiratory specialist can show you how rhythmic, controlled breathing can help with relaxation.

They may also discuss devices that can help to thin and/or loosen mucus so that it’s easier to cough out.

Positive expiratory pressure devices, called PEP devices, have either a mask or a handheld mouthpiece. They help to loosen mucus by allowing air to flow in easily as you breathe in and offer resistance to air movement as you breathe out.

Some PEP devices have a mouthpiece that vibrates when you breathe out. These are called oscillating PEP devices.

This is a percussion vest. When worn, it vibrates against your chest to help loosen the mucus from your airway walls.

Another option for thinning mucus is a nebulizer containing hypertonic saline. A nebulizer is a machine that changes liquid medication into a mist that can be inhaled to treat lung conditions. By breathing in saline using a nebulizer, as prescribed by your doctor or respiratory specialist, you can add moisture to your lungs, which can loosen airway mucus for easier airway clearance.

Whether you are performing coughing techniques, using a device or a combination of different methods, maintaining an airway clearance routine as directed by your doctor or respiratory specialist is an important part of your BE treatment journey.

In order to stay on track with your airway clearance, you may find it helpful to create a daily routine.

Try to pair airway clearance with something you love to do, like reading, watching TV, or listening to a podcast.

Focus on setting a goal, and acknowledge yourself for taking an important step in proactively managing your condition.

And don’t stress—if you miss a session, just try to get back on track.

Regular airway clearance may help you control excess mucus when you are living with bronchiectasis.

Every person is unique, and it's important to find an airway clearance method that is right for you.

Your doctor or respiratory specialist can help you select a method and teach you the proper steps for performing it, so talk to your doctor or respiratory specialist about how you can fit airway clearance into your care plan.