Chest congestion causes bothersome symptoms, but fortunately there are many ways to loosen the mucus that has accumulated in the lungs and get well again. You can gargle with a saline solution or fumenti and keep your body well hydrated. If home remedies aren't enough, you can buy a mucolytic drug at a pharmacy without a prescription. If congestion does not improve or worsen, see your doctor for a prescription for a strong-acting drug.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Dissolve the Mucus
Step 1. Take a bath or a long hot shower
The hot, humid steam will help loosen the mucus that has built up in the throat and lungs. Breathe in the steam rising from a pot full of boiling water, or take a long hot shower with the bathroom door and windows closed. Breathe in as much steam as possible while trying not to cough. Continue inhaling the steam for at least 15-20 minutes and repeat the treatment a couple of times a day until congestion symptoms improve.
- If you choose to swim, cover your shoulders and head with a towel to trap the steam, bring your face close to the boiling water and take long, deep breaths for at least a quarter of an hour.
- If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the water. Try using peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil which help loosen the mucus.
Step 2. Use a humidifier in your room while you sleep
Its task is to increase the level of humidity in the air. Moist air will enter the lungs and dilute the mucus, clearing the chest and airways of congestion. You will feel better and will be able to breathe easier. Position the humidifier so that the airflow is directed towards the top half of your bed, about 2 to 3 meters away from your head.
- You will get an incredible benefit from using the humidifier if the air in your home is dry.
- In the morning, check to see if the humidifier's water tank needs to be refilled.
Step 3. Gargle with a saline solution to relieve congestion
It is a simple but effective way to loosen the mucus that clogs the airways. Pour one and a half tablespoons of salt into 100ml of water, mix to dissolve it a little, and then use the solution to gargle for a couple of minutes. Remember not to swallow the salt water, when you're done spit it into the sink.
Gargle 3-4 times a day until congestion clears
Step 4. Apply a warm compress to your chest
Lie down and keep your head slightly elevated with some pillows, then place the warm compress on your chest and throat. Place a cloth or towel under the tablet to act as a barrier and protect you if the heat is excessive. Let the heat sink into your skin for 10–15 minutes and repeat the treatment 2-3 times a day to loosen as much mucus as possible.
- The heat will spread to the outer airways, loosening the mucus, so you will be able to expel it more easily by blowing your nose or coughing.
- You can buy a hot compress at a drugstore or in stores that sell household items.
- Alternatively, you can wet a towel and place it in the microwave for 60-90 seconds. Place it on your chest to benefit from the heat and steam released by this simple compress.
Step 5. Use a hand massager on your chest and back to relieve congestion
Use it on the parts of the lungs most affected by symptoms (for example on the upper chest in case of bronchitis). You can have a family member massage your back if you can't do it alone. Alternatively, keep your hands cupped and gently tap them on your chest to loosen the mucus.
- You can ask a family member to cupped their hands and gently tap them on the back at the lungs.
- You may find more relief by massaging or tapping your chest and back while sitting or in a reclining position, depending on where the congestion is located. If mucus has built up in the lower back and back of your lungs, it's best to take the Downward Dog Yoga Pose or Baby Yoga Pose and have someone massage or tap that spot.
Step 6. Sleep with your head elevated
Use 2-3 pillows to make the mucus in your throat and nose slide towards your stomach. You will be able to sleep better and avoid waking up feeling heavily congested. Place several pillows under the head and neck so that they are slightly raised above the chest.
Alternatively, you can put a piece of wood (5x10cm or 10x10cm) under the top of the mattress to keep it elevated
Step 7. Cough in a controlled manner to expel loose mucus
Sit in a chair and take a long, deep breath filling your lungs with air. Contract your stomach muscles and cough three times in a row. Accompany each cough with the sound "ah". Repeat 4-5 times until the cough becomes effective.
Coughing is the tool the body uses to expel mucus from the lungs. Coughing impulsively or superficially is harmful, but if you learn to cough in a deep and controlled way you can expel mucus and relieve chest congestion
Method 2 of 3: Relieve Congestion with the Right Drinks and Foods
Step 1. Drink a caffeine-free hot drink
In general, hot liquids help loosen the mucus that causes chest congestion. If you drink herbal tea, the benefit is double thanks to the properties of the herbs. Drink a hot herbal tea 4-5 times a day, you can choose for example between mint, ginger, chamomile or rosemary. Add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it and intensify the action against the mucus.
Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea or coffee. Caffeine tends to stimulate mucus production, so chest congestion may get worse
Step 2. Take advantage of spices and aromas that dissolve the mucus
Some foods irritate the walls of the nasal cavities and therefore have an expectorant function. The irritation causes the secretion of a watery mucus, easy to expel, which carries away even the oldest and thickest mucus relieving chest congestion. Use spices, citrus, garlic, onion, and ginger to help your body clear mucus easily and naturally. Include these ingredients on your lunch and dinner menus for 3-4 consecutive days to relieve congestion.
- The list of foods that are beneficial for chest congestion also includes licorice root, ginseng, and some fruits, such as pomegranate and guava.
- Many of these foods also have anti-inflammatory properties that make them even more useful for relieving chest congestion. However, this is a long-term effect that requires prolonged use over months.
Step 3. Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
Drinking at regular intervals is always helpful and especially when you want to help your body clear out mucus. Under these circumstances, hot water is the most beneficial. If you don't drink enough, the mucus that has built up in your throat and lungs becomes thicker, sticky, and harder to get rid of. Drink water with both meals and throughout the day to dilute the mucus that plagues the chest.
The amount of water needed depends on a large number of factors and varies from individual to individual. Instead of counting glasses as many suggest, drink whenever you feel thirsty
Step 4. Increase electrolyte production with sports drinks and fruit juices
When you are sick, your body works hard to kill the infection and struggles to restore electrolytes which tend to run out. Fortunately, you can replenish them thanks to sports drinks. To effectively restore electrolyte stores, make sure that at least one third of the fluids you drink daily come from this type of drink.
- Sports drinks taste good that makes you want to drink more. They are a great way to keep your body hydrated when you are tired of drinking plain water.
- Go for caffeine-free, low-sugar sports drinks.
Step 5. Reduce your fat intake because it increases mucus production
Dairy products (milk, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc.), salt, sugar and all fried foods stimulate the body to produce more mucus. Eliminate them from your diet until the congestion clears up to help you breathe more easily. When the acute phase of the disease has passed, you can replenish them in small quantities.
As long as congestion is ongoing, it is best to avoid pasta, potatoes, cabbage and bananas as well because like fatty foods they cause the body to produce more mucus
Method 3 of 3: Treating Congestion with Drugs
Step 1. Take an over-the-counter mucolytic medication to help the body clear mucus
They belong to the category of expectorants and are used to dissolve mucus to help the body expel it. Ask for advice at the pharmacy to choose the product that best suits your conditions. Among the active ingredients with an expectorant action there are dextromethorphan and guaifenesin: both very effective in containing the production of mucus. Follow the directions for use on the package leaflet.
- You can take up to 1,200 mg of guaifenesin per day, always followed by a glass of water.
- Expectorant drugs are not suitable for children under the age of 6. The pediatrician will be able to show you a valid alternative.
Step 2. Use an inhaler if you have difficulty breathing due to congestion
Check with your doctor to find out if you can use an inhaler or a nasal nebulizer. They are medical devices that allow a drug to be administered through the bronchi and lungs. The active ingredients, for example salbutamol, work by diluting the mucus accumulated in the lungs to relieve congestion. Try to cough in a controlled manner after using the inhaler to expel the mucus that the drug has diluted. Strictly follow the directions for use on the package insert when using an inhaler or nasal nebulizer.
Inhalers are generally only needed in cases of severe congestion, so consult your doctor before using them
Step 3. Tell your doctor if the congestion has not cleared within a week
If your condition does not improve with any of these methods, consult your doctor and describe the intensity and duration of your symptoms. You may need to take an antibiotic, use a nasal spray, or cope with a vitamin deficiency.
See your doctor especially if your symptoms get worse and you have a fever, shortness of breath, noisy breathing, or develop a rash
Step 4. Don't use cough medications when you are congested
Cough medications are effective in making you stop coughing, but unfortunately, they can thicken the mucus that has built up in the chest. The thicker the mucus, the harder it will be to expel it, so avoid cough medications (even in combination with expectorants) or the congestion could get worse.
Remember that coughing is a normal and healthy mechanism the body uses to heal congestion, so there is no reason to suppress it
Step 5. Avoid antihistamines if you happen to excrete mucus when you cough
You should also not use decongestant medications if the cough is oily or accompanied by mucus secretions. Both antihistamines and decongestants can dry out the mucus in the lungs, which then becomes more difficult to excrete. Some cough medicines contain antihistamine ingredients, so read the package insert carefully before using them.
- When the cough frees the mucus from the chest, it is defined as oily or productive.
- In case of flu or cold, the secretions that are expelled by coughing are usually yellow or greenish. You should tell your doctor if they are different in color.
Advice
- Don't smoke and avoid secondhand smoke until you are cured of congestion. The chemicals in cigarette smoke irritate your airways and cause you to cough unnecessarily. If you are a smoker and are unable to quit, at least take a break until you are healed.
- Chest congestion can turn into pneumonia if you don't take action in time. Check with your doctor to make sure an infection isn't developing.
- If you have trouble clearing mucus, ask a family member to tap you on the right and left upper back. With small strokes it is possible to loosen the mucus to free the chest of congestion.
Warnings
- Do not drive after taking a sedative flu medicine. Take it before bed, it will help you sleep better.
- If a baby or young child has chest congestion, do not give them any medications until you have consulted your doctor or pediatrician.
