Top home remedies for chest congestion - Duniya Health

Top home remedies for chest congestion

Try these natural remedies, home remedies, and meds that actually work.

How to relieve chest congestion

For many people, winter is the season of chest congestion, when there is a load of mucus in your chest that has not been exposed yet, no matter how much you cough.

Chest congestion can be caused by any disease, chief among them is cold and flu.

Fortunately, relief from chest congestion also comes in many forms, from home remedies like hot steam to a variety of medications. Hopefully, one of these ways to break up chest congestion works for you.

Plug in humidifier

Getting air humidity with a humidifier is a great home remedy for chest congestion. The principle is simple: Moisture helps loosen the mucus reducing your chest so that you can cough it in and out easily.

Using a humidifier to deal with chest congestion does not work for everyone, but it is worth a try. If it works for you, just be sure to use it safely, says Alan Mensch, a pulmonologist and senior vice president of medical affairs at Plainview and Syosset Hospitals of Northwell Health, New York. Humidifiers can breed mold and fungi, causing their own infections. Clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer's instructions. Dr. "As long as they stay clean, they probably won't be safe," says Savita.

Steam up

A more targeted method is to get the penis moist in a hot bath where it needs to go compared to using a humidifier. Another option: Run hot water in your sink and cover your head and tap with a towel, inhaling the steam.

"This hot steam helps open the airway slightly and helps you get stuff in," says Alice Hoyt, an assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Another plus: It gets you to take a break from your crazy day activities. Dr. "So many people are very, very busy and stressed and can't take time to rest," says Hoyt. A relaxing bath or a few quiet minutes can help with deep breathing — as long as you don't heat the water too much.

Be careful if you have asthma, because volatile steam can obstruct your airway, says Norman Edelman, chief scientific officer of the American Lung Association.

Drink liquids

Staying hydrated with enough water can help loosen mucus. A hot drink such as decaf tea can be even more soothing. There is also some scientific evidence behind the classic.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska tested Grandma's special chicken soup recipe and found that it reduced inflammation, which may explain the benefits of chest congestion. They could not conclude an exact ingredient (the method of calling for sweet potato, with turnips, parsnips, onions, carrots, celery, and parsley) and concluded that it was probably the powers of the medley that made the symptoms Was helpful in reducing.

Stay away from alcohol, coffee and caffeine-rich sods when your chest is congested, as they may dehydrate you.

Add some honey

Another natural remedy for chest congestion is honey mixed with lemon in warm water. One study found that honey was actually better than dextromethorphan, a component found in cough suppressants to calm cough at night and improve sleep in children with upper respiratory tract infections.

Dr. "Honey may have as much evidence as medicines," says Savita.

Smell an essential oil

Essential oils from plant sources are another natural treatment for chest congestion. One study looked at 14 different essential oils and found that they have powerful properties against various bacteria. Although bacterial infections are less common than viral infections, they can cause poor chest congestion.

Essential oils have long been used for colds, bronchitis, and sinus infections. Previous research has found that they reduce inflammation and open the airways, making breathing easier.

Consider an over-the-counter exponent

Colds and flu are often caused by viral infections. Although over-the-counter treatments have not cured you of those viruses, they can bring symptomatic relief. Meds called Expectants have an ingredient called Giphenacin, which can help break down that mucus in your chest. Common brands include Mussinex and Robitussin.

Chest congestion medications containing guaifenesin are not always a hit all along. "There is no consistent evidence from Mains that they actually work," Dr. Mains says. But if you decide to try them and they help with your symptoms, they are generally fine to use, he says.

Try camphor

Research has shown that vapor rub — usually containing camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil — can relieve chest congestion and improve sleep in children.

One study observed that 138 children, ages 2 to 11, live for at least one week. The children were divided into three groups, some rubbing vapors on their chest and neck half an hour before bedtime, some receiving petroleum jelly, and the rest receiving no treatment.

Among children who received vapor rubbing, congestion and cough improved the most. Unfortunately, his parents also slept better.

When to see a doctor for chest congestion

Sometimes chest congestion is a minor nuisance that does not require any kind of treatment. "As long as it doesn't bother you, don't treat it," Dr. Edelman says. "[Even] if you cough a few times in an hour and increase the sputum easily, that's a symptom you can live with."

But if there is a burning or coughing in the chest, it will not go away, or if the mucus you bring is yellow or green or has blood, see a doctor. You may require a prescription treatment or further examination.