How often should I use a cough aid?

Two to three treatments per day are recommended for the Cough Assistant. The number of treatment sessions can be increased if the patient experiences particularly severe congestion due to bronchial secretions or has an infection associated with increased secretion production. Just as with a medication where the dose can be increased as needed, the number of treatment sessions with the Cough Assistant can also be increased if necessary.

Unrestricted use of the cough assist device is not possible because the high ventilation pressures during inhalation and the suction during exhalation place mechanical stress on the bronchial and lung tissue. Four to five cough cycles are repeated during each therapy session. Each cough cycle consists of three phases: inhalation (insufflation), exhalation (exsufflation), and a breathing pause. The duration of the three phases is set individually on the device and ranges from 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds. Other parameters set on the device by a physician or respiratory therapist include the inspiratory pressure (positive pressure), the inspiratory volume (“flow”), and the expiratory pressure (“suction”).