What is Chest Congestion?
Chest congestion can feel like being suffocated. If you’re coughing up mucus or having trouble breathing, this can be due to a viral infection in the upper respiratory tract.
For viral infections, “antibiotics are NOT recommended and will not help you get better,” according to information from the CDC.
How Do I Get Rid Of Chest Congestion?
If you have been seeking chest congestion relief, some therapeutic chest congestion home remedies, or have even been wondering how to get rid of phlegm, we’ve compiled some helpful tips to aid you.
What Are Some Common Clinical And Home Treatments For Chest Congestion?
Here are some of the most common treatments and remedies for chest congestion. If symptoms associated with your chest congestion persist or worsen, make an appointment to see a physician.
Home Treatments
1. Steam Treatment
Warmth and moisture work together to loosen up congestion in the chest. Hovering your face over a steaming pot of water will work to break up the mucus quickly. If that’s not fast enough, try letting your shower steam up the bathroom before you hop in. Make sure to leave the fan off when you shower to not break up any steam.
2. Eucalyptus Oil or Vapor Rub
An over-the-counter vapor rub such as Vicks can provide immediate relief when massaged onto your chest. Eucalyptus oil, one of Vicks’ active ingredients, can be pretty beneficial.
Paired with hot water, eucalyptus oil can double your phlegm fighting force. Not only is it antiviral (most chest coughs are viral infections), but it also relieves coughs and loosens up mucus.
Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a tablespoon or two of a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, and massage it onto your chest for a DIY vapor rub. Alternatively, putting a few drops into a steaming pot of water can allow you to inhale its congestion-combative properties for quick relief in the air passages.
For relief throughout the night, sleep next to a humidifier with eucalyptus oil. Add 4-5 drops into the reservoir of the humidifier just before going to bed. Make sure to have the humidifier close by, and keep the bedroom door closed to trap in the moisture.
3. Hot Lemon Water
Staying hydrated is critical if you’re congested, as fluids help to keep mucus thin. In fact, some doctors say that simply drinking water is the best way to get rid of phlegm. By heating your water and adding lemon, the heat will break up congestion quickly, while the high vitamin C content of the lemon will help your body fight off infection.
The juice of roughly one large lemon provides you with 31% of your daily recommended value of vitamin C. Try having a glass of hot lemon water with the juice of one lemon three times a day.
If you cannot drink lemon water, try squeezing lemon over steamed broccoli, another rich source of vitamin C. Eating the right foods will supercharge the immune system and help your body fight off persistent coughs.
Over-the-Counter Medication
There are two basic types of over-the-counter cough medicines that you may have hiding out in your medicine cabinet: suppressants and expectorants. While expectorants are best suited for dealing with mucus, suppressants may help you sleep.
Suppressants
Suppressants suppress your cough reflex so you can get some rest. They do not help reduce congestion or thin mucus. They are suitable for relief at night when a cough is keeping you up.
A common suppressant is dextromethorphan, which you can find in over-the-counter medications containing the label “DM." These suppressants are “used to temporarily relieve cough caused by the common cold, the flu, or other conditions.” Dextromethorphan can provide quick relief for minor conditions that do not need prescription medication.
Some of the common medications used to suppress coughs and thin mucus include:
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Coricidin
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Delsym
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Dimetapp
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Mucinex
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Robitussin
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Sucrets
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Vicks
These medications provide quick relief for symptoms but should not be used habitually.
Expectorants
Expectorants work “by thinning the mucus or phlegm in the lungs.” They speed up the mucus clearing process and allow you to get rid of the uncomfortable congestion. Guaifenesin is in brand name medications such as Mucinex or Robitussin Chest Congestion.
If you have a fever, intense shortness of breath, wheezing when you breathe, or if your cough lasts for more than three weeks, schedule an online dr visit. You may have a chronic infection and need to be treated with prescription anti-inflammatory medication to treat your airways’ swelling.
Where Can I Seek Treatment For Chest Congestion Online?
At PlushCare, doctors are available around the clock to treat a chest cough or respiratory tract infection. Schedule an appointment with a board-certified PlushCare physician online or by phone.
During your online appointment, you will discuss your symptoms and medical history, and the doctor will give you an official diagnosis and treatment plan. Our licensed virtual doctors can also write a prescription when necessary. Take control of your health today, all from the convenience and comfort of your home.
Read More About Chest Congestion Relief
Sources
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Mayo Clinic Health System. 7 ways to combat coughs and colds. Accessed on March 10, 2021 at https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
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Medlineplus. Dextromethorphan: Medlineplus drug information. Retrieved March 16, 2021, from https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682492.html
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Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Aleksic Sabo, V., & Knezevic, P. (2019). Antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. plant extracts and essential oils: A review. Industrial crops and products, 132, 413–429. Accessed on March 10, 2021 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7126574/
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PubMed.gov. Quantitation of vitamin C content in herbal juice using direct titration. Accessed on March 10, 2021 at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12039626/
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PubMed.gov. The influence of processing and preservation on the retention of health-promoting compounds in broccoli. Accessed on March 10, 2021 at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17995854/
