How To Get Rid Of Mucus In The Chest In South Africa
What is Mucus?
Mucus is the gelatinous, watery or slippery fluid made by mucous membranes in the body, often noticeable when you blow your nose during a cold. Mucus also acts as a filter for irritants such as dust, bacteria, smoke and allergens. It contains natural antibodies and enzymes to help fight off bacteria and infections.
How To Get Rid Of Mucus In The Chest In South Africa
If you’re dealing with a persistent cough, you likely have a buildup of mucus in your chest.
Although this isn’t a life-threatening condition, it can certainly affect your quality of life. And left untreated, it can lead to additional complications.
Before you head to the doctor, there are a few things you can do to help clear up your symptoms at home.
Keep reading to learn more about the different treatment options available.
Home remedies to clear chest mucus
For many people, home remedies are an effective first-line treatment. Try these options:
Drink liquids
Drink lots of fluids. It sounds cliché, but you likely hear this advice so often because it works.
Liquids help thin out mucus. Warm liquids in particular can help clear out mucus in the chest and nose. This can relieve congestion, giving you a small respite from your symptoms.
You may wish to sip:
- water
- chicken soup
- warm apple juice
- decaffeinated black or green tea
Use a humidifier
Steam can also help loosen mucus and clear up congestion. Depending on your needs, you can make your own steam room or humidifier at home.
You can also pick up a humidifier at your local drug store. Cool mist humidifiers are an option, as well. They’re often preferred in warmer climates where steam may not be ideal.
You may find it beneficial to use the humidifier at night and keep it near your bed. This can help ease congestion while you’re sleeping so that you can sleep easier through the night.
Be sure to keep your bedroom door and window closed to keep the vapor from escaping.
There are a couple of ways to DIY your own humidifier:
Allow your shower to become a sauna
Let the water run until it begins to steam up the bathroom. To maximize your steam, step into the shower and close the curtain or door.
Make sure the showerhead is pointed away from you so that the water doesn’t scald your skin.
Use a bowl and a towel
For a more targeted steam, place a large bowl in your sink and fill it with hot water. Once it’s full, lean over the bowl.
Place a hand towel over your head to help trap the steam around your face.
There aren’t any set guidelines for how long to sit in the steam, so use your best judgment.
If at any point the heat becomes overwhelming or makes you uncomfortable, remove yourself from the steam. Drinking a glass of cold water can help you cool down and rehydrate.
How to clear chest mucus naturally
Natural remedies are often beneficial in cases of mild or infrequent congestion.
Give these natural options a shot:
Take honey
Researchers in one 2007 study Trusted Source found evidence to suggest that buckwheat honey may be more effective than traditional medication at relieving cough.
The researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 to participate. They received buckwheat honey, a honey-flavored cough suppressant known as dextromethorphan, or nothing at all.
Results revealed that parents found buckwheat honey to provide the most symptom relief for their kids.
You can purchase buckwheat honey at most health food stores and specialty food shops. Simply take a spoonful every few hours like you would any cough medicine. However, you shouldn’t give honey to children who are younger than 1 year due to the risk of botulism.
Use essential oils
Certain essential oils may help loosen mucus in the chest.
Peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil are also used as natural decongestants.
You can make use of essential oil in one of two ways:
Diffuse it:
If you want to diffuse the oil into the air, you can pick up a diffuser from your local drug store. You can also add a couple of drops of the oil to a hot bath or bowl of hot water so the scent is released into the air.
For a more targeted approach, fill a bowl with hot water and a few drops of the essential oil. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a hand towel to help trap the steam. Breathe in the steam for 5 to 10 minutes.
Apply it topically:
You’ll need to do a skin patch test first. To do this, mix your essential oil with a carrier oil, like jojoba or coconut oil.
The carrier oil helps dilute the essential oil and reduces your 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 have any irritation within 24 hours, it should be safe to apply elsewhere.
Once it’s clear that the oil is safe on your skin, you can apply the diluted oil directly to your chest. Repeat as needed throughout the day.
Never apply an essential oil to inflamed, irritated, or injured skin. You should also keep all essential oils away from your eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
How can I clear mucus from my lungs?
Deep breathing is a simple technique to expand your lungs and help clear your phlegm. You can do this many times during the day in any place or position. Make sure you are comfortable and your chest and shoulders are relaxed. Sit or lie in a comfortable position.
What naturally kills mucus?
Drinking enough liquids, especially warm ones can help with mucus flow. Water and other liquids can loosen your congestion by helping your mucus move. Try sipping liquids, like juice, clear broths, and soup. Other good liquid choices include decaffeinated tea, warm fruit juice, and lemon water.
What dries up mucus naturally?
Ginger can be used as a natural decongestant and antihistamine. Antiviral and antibacterial properties of ginger can help in easing congestion in the chest by drying out excess mucus and stimulating removal of its buildup. Drinking ginger tea for a few times in a day can help in eliminating excess mucus.
Does COVID cause mucus in lungs?
While fever, fatigue, and a dry cough are the most common symptoms of a COVID-19 infection, you may also end up with a wet mucus-producing cough if you catch SARS-CoV-2. Your lungs and airways start to produce extra mucus to clear out infections when you catch a virus like SARS-CoV-2.
Is chest congestion a symptom of COVID?
Some people call it a chest cold. It’s usually caused by the same viruses that cause colds and the flu. But it can also be a symptom of COVID-19.
What fruits break up mucus?
Other fruits I love to support immune function are berries and citrus fruits especially grapefruit. Grapefruit is wonderful for breaking down excessive mucus and luckily is in season right now. I also love lemon or lime juice in warm water to hydrate (which helps expel mucus) and support immune function.
What’s the best medicine for mucus?
Guaifenesin is an expectorant that helps to thin and loosen mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough up the mucus. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that affects a certain part of the brain (cough center), reducing the urge to cough.
What does COVID pneumonia feel like?
You may have severe shortness of breath, a cough, a fever, chest pain, chills, or fatigue. Your doctor might recommend cough medicine and pain relievers that reduce fever. In the most serious cases, you may need to go to the hospital for help breathing with a machine called a ventilator.
What does COVID cough feel like?
Believe it or not, COVID coughs do have qualities that set them apart from an average cough: Dry Cough It sounds like someone’s hacking up a lung. It carries a consistent, rough tone because it doesn’t contain mucus. Persistent Cough It’s a painful loop.
Does COVID cause thick mucus?
The accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract has been reported in severe forms of COVID-19 with pneumonia and may be associated with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome
How long does COVID pneumonia last?
For the 15% of infected individuals who develop moderate to severe COVID-19 and are admitted to the hospital for a few days and require oxygen, the average recovery time ranges between three to six weeks.
Do bananas make mucus worse?
Banana is healthy and energizing but should be avoided at night during winter only if the person is suffering from cough and cold or other respiratory ailments as it causes irritation when it comes in contact with mucus or phlegm.