Proning: Self-Care Breathing Exercise For COVID-19 Patients

Coronavirus has reached its deadly stage. It has been observed that the patients suffering from COVID-19 have difficulty in breathing which causes a rapid decrease in their blood oxygen levels. Usually, the symptoms of this disease are visible after the lung gets damaged by 25%, resulting in a dip in oxygen saturation level to 80- 85%. In such a situation, an immediate oxygen supply is required. If oxygen is not available during this period, the patient may face complications. The cells in our body require at least 89% of the oxygen saturation level while healthy individuals have a saturation level of 95 and above. Any significant drop in this level causes breathlessness. With an increased demand for oxygen supply, medical institutes are overburdened and also the availability of ventilators is limited. Therefore, the best way to reduce our dependency upon hospitals and ventilators can be achieved by managing blood oxygen levels at our home by a natural method of proning. Proning is a technique used to optimize oxygenation, it is an easy to do home exercise. A method of attaining prone position is required when the patient feels discomfort while breathing and also when the oxygen level decreases below 94. In this blog, we will discuss proning and how it increases your oxygen supply.

 

Proning or Prone positioning:

Patients who are on ventilators due to pneumonia spend long hours lying on their back, due to which the fluid begins to enter the back of the lungs. The air breathed in cannot mix well with the blood flowing through the lungs. This is because of the pooling of fluid causing the lung tissue to collapse. The lung tissue in the back of the chest undergoes inflammation and infection-causing a decrease in the transfer of oxygen to the blood.  The patient ultimately becomes tired of breathing and exhausted with the effort of keeping the blood completely oxygenated. The best way to support breathing is by keeping the patient on a ventilator. But ventilators can often damage the lungs. Therefore, a safe and simple method to improve oxygenation is by prone position or proning. Prone position or proning opens up the collapsed airways and increases blood oxygen levels. In a prone lying position, the heart rests on the breast bone giving space for the lungs to expand, this increases the airflow to the back, where the blood circulation is the most. So, both blood circulation and more oxygen, lead to effective oxygenation.

 

Positioning

The patient lies in a prone posture on their abdomen or on their belly by facing down towards the bed. Keep a pillow below the neck and chest. Keep two pillows below each shin. Make sure that the patient lies comfortably, if not so the patient might feel suffocated. Do not spend more than half an hour in each position.

·         Lying on your stomach:

             Begin by lying on a bed by stomach facing towards the bed for 30 minutes.

 

·         Side-lying position to right side:

             For side-lying, lie on your right side for 30 minutes.

 

·         Sitting up:

             Sit up in the bed with your back supported and both legs extended for 30 minutes.

 

·         Side-lying position to left side:

             While lying in the bed lie on your left side for 30 minutes.

 

·         Lying on your stomach:

             Return to lying on your stomach by facing towards the bed for 30 minutes.

 

Benefits

·         It is a safe and simple home method to improve oxygenation.

·         It improves ventilation.

·         Helps the body to get air into all areas of the lungs.

·         Prevents worsening of complications due to decreased oxygen circulation.

·         Delays the use of mechanical ventilators by maintaining the supply of oxygen to the body tissues.

 

Safety measure

·         Avoid prone position or proning immediately after meals.

·         Maintain prone position till the patient feels comfortable.

·         Pillows should be kept under pressure areas especially around bony prominences.

 

Contraindications

Prone position should be avoided in conditions like:

·         Pregnancy.

·         Deep venous thrombosis.

·         Major cardiac conditions.

·         Fractures like spinal, femoral, or pelvic fractures.

 

In the current situation, Covid-19 cases are increasing and it has become obligatory for us to take necessary precautions and help prevent the further spread of the disease.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Health Risks & How to Avoid them.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Health Risks & How to Avoid them.

 Most of us are not aware of how dangerous our life can be in the long term with the limited amount of motion or activity. Sitting at the office in front of a desk for long hours, while reaching home taking a rest, and relaxing on a couch might be our routine. Upon doing this what we are missing is, we are not exercising our body, which is actually killing us. Not only office going people have such a bad lifestyle, but also sedentary people who sit or lie down for long periods.  

What is a sedentary lifestyle and how does sitting kill us?

Sedentary means sitting or not physically active. Researches have shown that people with a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to suffer from health problems like

·        Insomnia

·        Muscle shrinkage

·        Obesity

·        Anxiety

·        High blood pressure

·        Cardiovascular disease

·        Diabetes

·        Various Cancers

·        Negative effects on mental health

·        Depression

·         Memory loss

How can we incorporate activity into our daily routine even when we have a busy schedule?

·        Take a morning walk before going to the office.

·        Take a walk during break time.

·        Spend more time doing household chores.

·        Engage yourself in gardening.

·        Use stairs instead of elevators.

·        Do simple exercises while watching  TV.

·        Do activities like jogging, cycling, swimming.

·        Small workouts in leisure time.

·        Add 15 - 30 minute walk in your daily routine.

How does exercise affect our body?

Regular physical activity changes your body's physic, muscle, mind, and heart. Exercising means taking a magical pill for your brain. It actually changes the brain's anatomy, physiology, and function. It increases the blood supply through your body system, thus increasing the blood circulation, which results in the delivery of more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, strengthening them and making the heartbeat stronger, and hard breathing makes the lungs stronger. It also decreases the risk of heart and lung diseases. Sitting whole day builds up proteins called troponins in the body, which are actually released by the heart muscles. Researches show that most people who have a sedentary lifestyle are likely to die of heart attacks.

Exercise has brain-changing effects:

·        It helps in reducing the effects of diabetes, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Depression, and Dementia.

·        Reduces risk of cancer

·        No of brain cells increases, thus increasing the size of the brain.

·        Levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin elevate the mood right after the exercise or work out.

·        Lowers blood pressure

·        Increases bone density.

·        Strengthens bones and muscles.

·        Improves joint mobility.

·        Reduces body fat.

·        Boosts immune system.

·        Detoxifies the body.

·        The ability to shift and focus attention level increases, which can last for two hours.

·        Long term memory increases.

·        One becomes fast and catchy.

·        Sense of well being.

·        Energy levels increase.

·        Improves  complexion

·        More motivated, confident, and greater control over your life.

·        Less depressed.

·        Improves sleep quality.

·        Life expectancy increases.

 While exercising or stretching definitely helps, physiotherapy also provides a wide variety of activities, actions, and techniques that can help the body to maintain muscle strength, cardiopulmonary fitness, and mobility, thus delaying the various health risks caused by a sedentary lifestyle.