Threshold PEP

Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy gives people living with COPD, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and other conditions that produce excess mucus a drug-free way to clear their airways at home. The Threshold PEP device works on a simple principle: you exhale against a calibrated resistance, which creates back-pressure that helps splint the airways open, move trapped secretions upward, and make each cough more productive.

What sets a threshold-based device apart from flow-dependent alternatives is consistency. The pressure setting stays constant regardless of how fast or slow you breathe out, so the therapy you get today matches what your respiratory therapist prescribed. That reliability matters for patients managing a daily airway clearance routine, and it makes the device easier to use correctly without constant coaching.

Most people ask three things before starting PEP therapy. How does it help me? By mobilizing mucus you'd otherwise struggle to cough up, PEP can reduce chest congestion, ease breathing, and lower the frequency of infections tied to secretion buildup. How often do I use it? Sessions typically run a few minutes and are repeated several times a day, though your clinician will set the exact regimen and resistance level for your condition. How do I keep it clean? The device disassembles for regular washing, which protects against bacterial growth in a piece of equipment that handles your breath every day.

PEP is often used alongside other techniques and inhaled therapies as part of a broader airway management plan. For related respiratory support, explore our Respiratory Therapy collection, and browse compatible accessories, nebulizers, and mucus-clearance tools to build a routine that fits your needs at home.