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To relieve congestion, you can try home remedies, including drinking fluids and using a humidifier, as well as over-the-counter decongestants. Sometimes you may need a prescription from a doctor for stronger medications.
When you're dealing with a stubborn oneCough, you probably have a buildup of mucus in your chest.
Although this is not a life-threatening condition, it can affect your quality of life. If left untreated, further complications can occur.
Before you go to the doctor, there are a few things you can do to get rid of your symptoms at home.
Read on to learn more about the different treatment options available.
For many people, home remedies are an effective first-line treatment. Try these options:
drink liquids
Drink lots of fluids. It sounds cliche, but you probably hear this advice a lot because it works.
Liquids help thin mucus. Warm liquids can help clear mucus in the chest and nose. This can relieve congestion and give you a little break from your symptoms.
You can drink:
- Water
- chicken soup
- warm apple juice
- Decaffeinated black or green tea
Use a humidifier
Steam can also help loosen mucus and clear clogs. Depending on your needs, you can make your own steam bath orhumidifierat home.
You can also purchase a humidifier at your local drug store. Cool Mist humidifiers are also an option. They are often preferred in warmer climates where steam may not be ideal.
It can be beneficial to use the humidifier at night and keep it near your bed. This can help relieve congestion while you sleep, making it easier for you to sleep through the night.
Be sure to keep your bedroom door and windows closed to prevent the steam from escaping.
If you don't have a machine, there are a few ways to build your own humidifier:
Turn your shower into a sauna
Let the water run until it starts fogging the bathroom. To maximize your steam, step into the shower and close the curtain or door.
Make sure the shower head is pointing away from you so the water doesn't scald your skin.
Use a bowl and towel
For a more targeted vapor, place a large bowl in your sink and fill it with hot water. Once full, lean over the bowl.
Drape a towel over your head to trap the steam around your face.
There are no set guidelines for how long you should sit in the vape, so use your best judgement.
If at any point the heat becomes overwhelming or you feel uncomfortable, remove yourself from the steam. Drinking a glass of cold water can help cool you down and rehydrate you.
For mild or rare constipation, natural remedies are often beneficial.
Try these natural options:
take honey
Like
The researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 to take part. They were given buckwheat honey, a honey-flavored cough medicine known as dextromethorphan, or nothing at all.
The results showed that parents found buckwheat honey to relieve most symptoms in their children.
You can buy buckwheat honey at most health food stores and grocery stores. Take a spoonful every few hours like any other cough medicine. However, you should not give honey to children under 1 year old due to the riskbotulism.
Use essential oils
Definitelyessential oilmay help loosen mucus in the chest.
Peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil are also used as natural decongestants.
You can use essential oil in two ways:
Diffuse es
If you want to diffuse the oil into the air, you can purchase a diffuser at your local drug store. You can also add a few drops of the oil to a hot bath or bowl of hot water to release the scent into the air.
For a more focused approach, fill a bowl with hot water and a few drops of essential oil. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to trap the steam. Inhale the vapor for 5 to 10 minutes.
Apply topically
You must first do a skin patch test. To do this, mix your essential oil with a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil.
Thecarrier oilHelps dilute the essential oil and reduces the risk of irritation. A good rule of thumb is 12 drops of carrier oil for every 1 or 2 drops of essential oil. Then apply the diluted oil to the inside of your forearm.
If you don't experience irritation within 24 hours, it should be safe to apply elsewhere.
Once it is clear that the oil is safe on your skin, you can apply the diluted oil directly to your chest. Repeat the process as needed throughout the day.
Never apply an essential oil to inflamed, irritated, or broken skin. You should also keep all essential oils away from your eyes.
While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA does not monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It's important to speak to a doctor before you start using essential oils and make sure you educate yourself about themQualityof a brand's products. Always do onePatch-Testbefore trying a new essential oil.
If natural remedies don't relieve your constipation, you may want to try an OTC medication.
Take a decongestant
Decongestants are available in liquid, tablet, or nasal spray form at your local pharmacy. Common OTC options include:
- Oxymetazolin (Wick Sinex)
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
Follow the instructions on the packaging. A decongestant can increase your heart rate and make it harder to fall asleep. You may find it better to take it during the day.
Apply a vapor rub
steam rubscontain decongestant ingredients, but they are applied topically and not ingested.
In EinsStudy 2010The researchers studied children who received either steam treatment, petroleum jelly, or no medication. Vapor Rub received the highest score for cough and congestion relief.
The ointment did not relieve the symptoms significantly better than no treatment at all. So, it is believed that the combination of camphor and menthol in a steam rub provides the greatest symptom relief.
You can buy vapor rubs at any drug store. Common OTC breast rubs that contain camphor and menthol include:
You can usually rub it on your chest every night until symptoms stop. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.
If OTC options still don't help, you should see your doctor.
It's important to determine the cause of your phlegm and cough. They can therefore recommend prescription drugs.
Prescription decongestant
If you find that the mucus persists for more than 3 to 4 days or that your condition is getting worse quickly, you can ask your doctor for a prescription decongestant.
It is a stronger version of OTC decongestants. Your doctor will instruct you on how often to take it.
Prescription nasal spray
If the congestion is also in your nose, decongestant nasal sprays can help open your nasal passage.
Talk to your doctor about how long you should use them. Usually, if you use nasal sprays for more than 3 days in a row, you can get stuffed again.
If your symptoms persist, make an appointment to see your doctor. This is especially true if you have oneFever,chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
It's also important to see a doctor if:
- congestion worsens and lasts more than 3 or 4 days
- Slime changes from a liquid substance to a thicker texture
- Slime has onegreen or yellow color, as this may indicate an infection
In most cases, mucus and associated congestion will clear up within 7 to 9 days.