After asking Susan about her symptoms, I gave her a physical examination. I listened closely to her lungs with a stethoscope. Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a virus, so antibiotics will not help. Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections. I told Susan that mild cases of acute bronchitis will almost always go away on their own in 7 to 10 days.
But I also let her know that she might continue to have a cough for several weeks after the other symptoms went away. I recommended that Susan try the following simple home treatments to help her feel better in the meantime:. Signs of a secondary bacterial infection in a person who has acute bronchitis include the following:.
I told Susan to call me if she had any of these symptoms. If she had contacted me, I would have asked her to come back into the office for a follow-up examination and additional tests, such as a chest x-ray. Fortunately, Susan got better without any complications. When I diagnose acute bronchitis in patients who smoke, I talk to them about the importance of quitting.
Some mucus in the chest is normal, and having excess mucus from occasionally is usually not a cause for concern. However, if a person regularly has an uncomfortable amount of chest congestion, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms, they should see a doctor.
Hot beverages can provide immediate and sustained relief from a mucus buildup in the chest. Some of these drinks are available for purchase online, including decaffeinated tea and herbal teas. Keeping the air moist can loosen mucus and reduce congestion and coughing.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend using a cool-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer. People with difficulty sleeping may wish to use a humidifier at night. To maximize the effects, keep windows and doors closed. Humidifiers must be cleaned regularly to remove bacteria and other pathogens that can make symptoms worse and lead to infection.
Breathe in the steam for as long as is comfortable, then drink a glass of water to prevent dehydration. Gargling with a mixture of salt and warm water can remove phlegm and mucus from the back of the throat and ease symptoms.
Gargle with the mixture and allow it to sit in the back of the throat momentarily. Repeat several times a day as needed. Honey is a popular home remedy, and research suggests that it has antiviral and antibacterial properties. A study tested the effects of buckwheat honey on upper respiratory tract infections in children.
Parents consistently reported that honey provided the best relief from symptoms, compared with standard medication or no treatment. However, a review of three studies concluded that honey treats acute coughs in children less effectively than medication. A person can consume 1 tablespoon of honey every 3 to 4 hours, until the symptoms ease. Honey is not suitable for infants under 12 months of age. This phlegm can accumulate, causing chest congestion.
Symptoms are often worse in the morning and include:. There are a few tried and true chest congestion remedies as well as some effective over the counter treatments. Some contain the expectorant guaifenesin, while others have natural expectorants. Learn More. Chest congestion symptoms can actually be a sign of a much more serious respiratory infection or chronic illness. Speak to your doctor if:.
This website is intended for residents of Canada only. Use of this website is subject to our Terms of Use. Skip to main content. Search s. Symptom Selector. Our Products. Chest congestion is the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and lower breathing tubes bronchi. It is usually accompanied by a wet, productive cough that brings up thick mucus. Chest congestion may cause you to hear or feel wheezing or crackling sounds when you breathe in and out.
Infection with a cold or flu virus is among the most common causes of chest congestion and happens when the infection progresses from the upper respiratory tract — your nasal passages, sinuses and throat—into the lower respiratory tract—your breathing tubes bronchi and lungs. Your body tries to remove pathogens by generating mucus , to trap them and prevent them from reaching the cells that line your lungs and airways.
Then, the sweeping action of tiny hair-like particles that line your lower respiratory tract, called cilia, helps move the mucus, along with the irritant, up and out of your lungs and breathing passages. The presence of the mucus also triggers nerve sensors that make you cough, which further helps removal of the excess mucus—a wet, chesty cough.
If your chest congestion started from a cold , it may be accompanied by stuffy nose, sore throat, and sneezing. If you have the flu , your chest congestion may be accompanied by typical flu symptoms, such as headache, body aches, fatigue, and a fever, which usually resolves after the first days and may precede the cough.
Vicks products cannot cure the cold or flu, but they can help relieve chest congestion symptoms so you can feel better while your body heals from the cold or flu virus. When you have chest congestion symptoms, the mucus build-up in your lungs can become very thick and dense. As a result, it can be difficult to get it out of your lungs through coughing.
Expectorants, like guaifenesin, break up chest congestion by thinning mucus and making it easier to cough up and out. Chest congestion due to cold or flu may come with both wet chesty coughs to remove mucus, as well as a dry, non-productive coughs; this is why some cold and flu medicines contain an expectorant to thin mucus of wet coughs, as well as a cough suppressant to reduce dry coughs due to a hypersensitive airway.
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