Clinics in chest medicine
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This review assesses the role of controlled breathing techniques (breathing training) and chest physical therapy (PT) in the management and rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The review focuses on pursed lip breathing, the head-down and bending forward postures, slow deep breathing, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises as methods of breathing training, and on postural drainage, chest percussion and vibration, and controlled cough as techniques of chest PT. These modalities may be beneficial in selected patients with COPD.
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Home oxygen therapy has been shown to prolong life in patients with hypoxemic chronic obstructive lung disease. Patients who are hypoxemic when stable (Po2 less than 55 torr or Po2 55 to 59 torr with evidence of cor pulmonale or polycythemia) should be so treated, with oxygen supplied as continuously as possible.