Lying in prone position helps Covid patients breathe better : Health Ministry

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The Health Ministry has released a set of instructions on “Proning” which is a medically accepted position that helps COVID-19 patients breathe better and improve their level of oxygenation.</p>
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Explaining the process, the health ministry said proning is the process of turning a patient with precise, safe motions, from their back onto abdomen (stomach), so the individual is lying face down. It is extremely beneficial in COVID-19 patients with compromised breathing comfort, especially during home isolation.</p>
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Prone positioning improves ventilation, and makes breathing easy by keeping alveolar units open, the instructions said.</p>
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It is required only when the oxygen level falls below 94 per cent. Regular monitoring of oxygen levels, along with other signs like temperature, blood sugar is important during home isolation, the health ministry said.</p>
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Timely proning and maintaining ventilation could save many lives, it added.</p>
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<strong>Use of pillows</strong></p>
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It also listed a series of steps to perform the exercise at home: place one pillow below the neck; one or two pillows below the chest through upper thighs and two pillows below the shins.</p>
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Those with a heart condition, pregnant, or with unstable spine or pelvic fractures should avoid prong. It is also not to be performed immediately after meals., the advisory states.</p>
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<strong><a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/COVID19ProningforSelfcare3.pdf"> LINK FOR GRAPHICS </a></strong></p>