A doctor has revealed a method that is used on intensive care patients to help them fight off infection involving their breathing.

Dr Sarfaraz Munshi, from Queen’s Hospital, Romford, said his colleague Sue Elliot relies on the technique every day in intensive care. However, he added that patients self-isolating with the symptoms can also benefit and that it may even benefit people if they start doing it before they fall ill with coronavirus.

He said: ‘While you have an active infection you need to be getting a good amount of air into the bases of your lungs. The only way you are going to do that is by having a technique.’

The routine involves taking in five deep breaths, holding it for five seconds, and after the sixth breath do a big cough while covering your mouth.

He says you should do that twice before lying on your front with a pillow for support and take slightly deeper than normal breaths for 10 minutes.

He said: ‘The majority of your lung is on your back, not on the front. By lying on your back your closing off more of the smaller airways and this is not good during a period of infection.

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‘[It can] lead to atelectasis. This can then lead to a secondary pneumonia. It’s very important that you guys understand this.

‘The most important thing is laying in bed for prolonged periods, on your back, is going to close off the small airways.

‘[It will] increase your risk of secondary pneumonia, that can make your condition deteriorate much further – bearing in mind the patients that are deteriorating are deteriorating because of respiratory problems.’

JK Rowling said that she had used the technique and it had helped her recover from coronavirus. She shared his video saying she had ‘fully recovered’ after suffering from all the symptoms.

She said: ‘Please watch this doc from Queens Hospital explain how to relieve respiratory symptoms. For last 2 weeks I’ve had all symptoms of C19 (tho haven’t been tested) & did this on doc husband’s advice.

‘I’m fully recovered & technique helped a lot.’

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