Chest congestion can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and wheezing, all of which can leave you feeling anxious, tired, and restless. Often, it’s also accompanied by a cough, which is a telltale sign that your body is desperately trying to get rid of excess mucus from your airways.
Usually, chest congestion is caused by colds and flu. However, there are cases in which this can also be blamed:
- allergy
- acid reflux
- asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Cystic fibrosis
- Other respiratory concerns
Especially if your chest congestion is accompanied by various unusual symptoms or does not seem to be improving after a couple of days, it is a good idea to get checked out by a doctor without delay.
In the meantime, there are a few things you can do at home to keep chest congestion to a minimum. Here are some of the most effective ones:
drink a lot of water
Chest congestion is caused by too much thick mucus in the airways. That’s why thinning mucus can put an end to the problem – it will be easier for your body to cough up excess mucus.
To effectively reduce mucus, consider drinking plenty of water each day.
Apart from water, you can also take other liquids to speed up the process of getting rid of thick mucus. You can eat plenty of soups and herbal teas, especially those that contain anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
Consume hot water with honey or lemon
Don’t have access to herbal teas? Do not worry! You can easily prepare a cup of decongestant drink with a cup of hot water and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice or pure honey.
We all know that lemon juice is full of vitamin C that helps boost the immune system.
On the other hand, honey has soothing properties that make it very effective in combating chest congestion and many other symptoms associated with the common cold or flu. It is best to have a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of pure honey at bedtime for a good night’s sleep.
Breathe in the humidified air
You can thin the mucus by introducing water directly into it, and this can be obtained by breathing humidified air. Needless to say, plugging in a humidifier is a very effective home remedy for chest congestion.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a humidifier as you can simply inhale the steam.
All you need to do is put boiling water in a glass bowl, put your face a few inches above it, put a large towel over your head to prevent the steam from escaping, and then start taking slow, deep breaths. You can add a few drops of peppermint, oregano, or lavender essential oil to boiling water for best results.
Try essential oils
Speaking of essential oils, it’s also a good idea to try treating chest congestion with aromatherapy — an all-natural form of ancient healing that uses aromatic products such as essential oils to achieve or restore optimal physical and mental health.
Aside from those previously mentioned, other essential oils that are ideal for relieving chest congestion are clary sage, eucalyptus, and rosemary.
You can inhale any essential oil of your choice directly from the bottle, or dilute it with your favorite carrier oil and then apply it to the chest area to open up the upper airway.
Gargle with warm salt water
Most often, chest congestion is accompanied by other very unfavorable symptoms such as sore throat and bad breath. Well, you can deal with it quite easily by gargling with warm salt water a few times a day.
In a glass of warm water, dissolve 1 tablespoon of rock salt and gargle with it.
Doing this special home remedy can help in dealing with all the other issues that tend to be associated with chest congestion, making it easier for you to bear a cold or flu.