Introduction
Coronavirus disease also known as COVID-19 is an infectous disease caused by coronavirus.
COVID-19 stands for Coronavirus disease of 2019.
COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by SARS-CoV2 Virus.It is particularly contagious and virulent pathogen primarily affecting lower respiratory tract.
COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets,when an infected person coughs,sneezes or speaks.People can also be infected by coming in contact with a contaminated surface then touching their eyes,mouth or nose.
People infected with COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness,fever,dry cough,dyspnea and chest pressure etc.
Vast majority of cases have mild symptoms but some cases turn into a viral Pneumonia.
Elderly people those with underlying medical problems of cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease,cancer are more likely to get affected by Coronavirus.
Prevention
As i have already mentioned above how Coronavirus spreads,now let's discuss how can we prevent its transmission.
Since,at this time,there is no specific vaccines or treatment for COVID-19.However there are many ongoing clinical trail's evaluating potential treatments.
The following measures should be taken inorder prevent transmission of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or with an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
- Maintain safe distance with people atleast 1 meters,specially from those people who are coughing and sneezing in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose properly while coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken's your lung.
- Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large group of people.
- Stay home if u are unwell.
Breathing exercise
Breathing exercises are fundamental interventions for prevention of comprehensive management of impairment realted to acute or chornic pulmonary disorders.
Breathing exercises hepls you to improve ventilation, increase the effectiveness of the cough mechanism and promote airway clearance.It also helps you to increase the strength, endurance and co-ordination of the muscles of ventilation.
There are mainly five types of breathing exercises:
- Diaphragmatic Breathing
- Pursed-lip Breathing
- Glossopharyngeal Breathing
- Segmental breathing
Now i will detail you about the procedure, how to do these breathing exercises.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
- Lie on your back with your knees slightly bent with your head on the pillow.
- You may place a pillow under your knees for support.
- Place your one hand on the upper chest and other hand below the rib cage,allowing you to feel the movement of the diaphragm.
- Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling your stomach pressing into your hand.
- Keep your another hand as still as possible.
- Tighten your stomach muscles, letting them fall inward as you exhale through pursed lips,the hand on the upper chest should be completely still.
- You can practice this breathing exercise in variety of positions (sitting, standing) and during activities like walking, climbing stairs etc.
Pursed-lip Breathing
- Relax your shoulder and neck muscles.
- Inhale slowly through your nose keeping your mouth closed,make sure you do not take a deep breath.
- 'purse' your lips as if you are going to whistle or gently flicker the flame of the candle.
- Exhale gently through your mouth keeping your lips pursed.The time taken to exhale should be 2 to 3 times longer than the time you took to inhale(do not force air out).
Glossopharyngeal Breathing
- This breathing technique involves taking several gulps of air, usually 6 to 10 gulps in series.
- After you take several gulps of air the mouth is closed.
- With the help of your tongue push the air back and trap it into the pharnyx.
- Force the air into the lungs when the glottis is opened.
- This exercise increases the depth of inspiration,your inspiratory and vital capacities.
Segmental Breathing
Segmental breathing is performed in the lungs or a section of chest wall that need ventilation or movement.
There are mainly two types of segmental breathing:
- Lateral Coastal Expansion
- Posterior Basal Expansion
Note:This exercises should be done with the help of a physiotherapist under his supervision.
Lateral Coastal Expansion
- Have the patient begin in a hook lying position,later progress to a sitting position.
- Place your hands along the lateral aspect of the ribs,to direct patients attention to the areas where the movement is to occur.
- Ask the patient to breathe out and feel the rib cage move downward and inward.As the patient breathes out,he must place pressure with the palms of his or her hand.
- Just prior to inspiration, apply a quick downward and inward stretch to the chest.This places a quick stretch on the external intercostal muscles to facilitate their contraction.
- Apply a light manual resistance to the lower ribs to increase sensory awareness as the patient breathes deeply and the chest expands and ribs flare.
- As the patient breathes out, assist gently by squeezing the rib cage in a downward and inward direction.
- You can perform this maneuver independently by placing your hands over the ribs by applying resistance with a towel or a belt around your ribs.
Posterior Basal Expansion
- Have the patient sit and lean forward on a pillow, slightly bending the hips,place your hands over the posterior aspect of the lower ribs and follow the same procedure just described for Lateral Coastal Expansion.
Thank You
The Healer Physio Team
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