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Are you looking to relieve a persistent cough as quickly and easily as possible? Coughs are usually the result of chest congestion—and while it’s uncomfortable, fortunately, there are many ways to loosen the mucus in your lungs and relieve the discomfort. Read on for a comprehensive list of remedies to clear chest congestion in the comfort of your home.
Things You Should Know
- Hydrate with water, hot tea, and other warm, decaffeinated liquids that thin out mucus. Try gargling with salt water and applying saline drops as well.
- Breathe in steam to break up mucus. Take a hot shower, do a facial steam, and use essential oils to clear your airways quickly.
- Apply a heating pad or another warm compress to your chest. Cough deeply to expel the mucus as you try each method and get lots of rest.
Steps
Clear Congestion With This Expert Series
Living with congestion is hard. Decongest and get rid of your cough or breathing issues naturally with these expert articles.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I clear chest congestion when I have diabetes?Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.You can follow the above instructions even if you have diabetes. Try using methods like loosening your congestion with stream, drinking hot beverages, and taking decongestant medications.
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QuestionDo the remedies for chest congestion work for nasal congestion as well?Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.Yes, some of the recommendations, such as taking expectorants like Mucinex as well as drinking a lot of warm fluid and percussing over your sinuses, can help with your nasal congestion. In addition, use 1-2 drops of nasal saline in each nostril 3-4 times a day to help clear nasal congestion.
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Warnings
- If your infant or toddler suffers from chest congestion, don’t give them medications until you’ve consulted with a physician. [16] X Research sourceThanks
- Don’t drive after taking a strong medication like Nyquil. This is only meant to be taken before bedtime, so you sleep better through the night. [17] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-infection/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21888-dry-cough-and-chest-tightness
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-infection/
- ↑ https://www.nhsfife.org/media/e9dp0vw1/steam-inhalation-leaflet.pdf
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/essential-oils-101-do-they-work-how-do-you-use-them
- ↑ https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/when-you-have-pneumonia
- ↑ https://blogs.bcm.edu/2014/08/20/saline-irrigation-offers-natural-option-for-sinus-infection-allergy-relief/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/treatment/index.html
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002104.htm
- ↑ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/cough/learn-about-cough
- ↑ https://www.mhanational.org/get-enough-sleep
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-to-do-about-sinusitis
- ↑ https://blog.providence.org/blog/congested-essential-oils-to-the-rescue
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682494.html
- ↑ https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-hands/cough-and-cold-medicine-over-the-counter-otc
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/medication-safety.html
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/some-medicines-and-driving-dont-mix
About This Article
Article Summary
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To clear up your chest congestion, try taking a long, steamy shower or inhaling the steam from a bowl of hot water, which should help break up any mucus in your lungs. You can also try gargling with saline solution for a couple minutes to loosen your congestion. To make your own solution, just mix 1/2 cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of salt. For an easy way to clear chest congestion while you're lying down, try placing a heating pad or hot washcloth over your chest for 10 to 15 minutes, which will help loosen up mucus. To learn how to get rid of chest congestion using foods and drinks, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I suffer with sinus problems but have not been diagnosed with a specific illness. This often affects my chest and develops into a chest infection. I am an ex smoker of 11 years, and have, on a few occasions, had to have antibiotics and steroids. I also use an inhaler. I try to help myself with home remedies as early as possible to ease the discomfort. I have read this article and use the steaming method, which really helps." ..." more
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"I suffer with sinus problems but have not been diagnosed with a specific illness. This often affects my chest and develops into a chest infection. I am an ex smoker of 11 years, and have, on a few occasions, had to have antibiotics and steroids. I also use an inhaler. I try to help myself with home remedies as early as possible to ease the discomfort. I have read this article and use the steaming method, which really helps."
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"An amazing article for me. I've tried some of the listed items before, but I also found new things I would like to try out. Who knows, maybe they'll be better for what I'm looking for. Thank you to wikiHow and the creator of this wonderfully-produced article on how we can clear up our lungs to breathe easier. :)"
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"The tips on the warm drinks plus the food to take, like garlic, ginger, etc., to help expel the mucus were good, also the laying positions to help with breathing. This type of positive information is of great help physically and mentally when you're feeling so unwell."
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"This is the longest chest congestion I've experienced. Thanks for some good tips, particularly to not use a combo cough suppressant and expectorant, which I will switch immediately. A small thing but the recipe for lime garlic soup said to use three lemons. Thank you."
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"The hot shower helped the most. The hot water streamed on my back for 20 minutes and then on my chest. It relieved the pain a little from when I breathe heavily due to my chest being congested. I also followed that with an expectorant and a bottle of water."
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