Understand the symptoms and causes of chest congestion to treat it effectively
Chest congestion is a medical condition wherein there is an accumulation of excess fluid and mucus in the lungs. This can cause difficulty in breathing and chest pains. Chest congestion is caused by inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. Bacterial, fungal and viral infections of the respiratory system cause inflammation, which results in the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and the result is chest congestion.
Symptoms of chest congestion
The symptoms of chest congestion may vary from mild discomfort to severe discomfort. In any case, chest congestion should be treated immediately. Chest congestion can be fatal during an asthma attack. Thus, it is important to identify and treat chest congestion immediately.
Breathing Problems
People suffering from chest congestion have a difficulty in breathing due to a short supply of oxygen. They may try to breathe through the mouth to get more oxygen. They may feel a shortness of breath. It gets difficult to breathe due to the excess accumulation of mucus in the lungs. Breathing becomes especially difficult when a person is doing any physical activity or exercise. People suffering from chest congestion find it difficult to lie flat while sleeping; they feel more comfortable in breathing when they are sitting up. They may try to use more than one pillow at night to sleep in an elevated position. Asthma patients may experience wheezing, wherein there is a sharp sound while inhaling or exhaling.
Cough
Chest pains may occur due to excessive coughing as the body tries to remove the excess mucus accumulated in the lungs and throat. Excessive mucus may cause bad breath. If the color of the mucus is dark or green, it indicates severe infection. Hemoptysis can also occur due to congestion where a person may cough up blood due to a broken blood vessel in the throat.
Other symptoms that a person may experience are dizziness or a runny nose. Many times chest congestion is actually a symptom of another disease like pneumonia or flu. Depending on that, the symptoms may vary from body aches, fever, coughing up blood tinged mucus. Thus, if the symptoms are causing a lot of discomfort and are very severe, the patient must see a medical practitioner immediately.
Causes of chest Congestion
Cold and Flu
Chest congestion may be caused by common cold and flu. The excessive mucus production do cold may cause congestion. Runny nose, coughing and excessive mucus production may cause the mucus to get collected in the lungs. This is a viral infection which causes secretion of mucus in the lungs and gives rise to chest congestion. Chest congestion caused by common cold and flu can be treated easily and is not a great cause of worry.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition wherein the lungs swell up, leading to narrowed airways. This causes difficulty in breathing, congestion and cough. The airways become restricted and cannot carry enough oxygen to support normal breathing; this causes shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.
Bronchitis
Bronchial tubes are the tubes that are responsible for allowing a free flow of air into the lungs. A person suffering from bronchitis suffers from the inflammation of these bronchial tubes. The mucus production increases and the narrow path ways cause difficulty in breathing. Smoking cigarettes may also cause bronchitis and lead to chest congestion.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease of the lungs. It causes chest congestion, difficulty in breathing, coughing up blood and pain. Fluid gets collected in the lungs. It is a life threatening disease that must be treated immediately.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a respiratory disease which can cause chest congestion. A bacterial, parasitic, fungal or viral infection may cause inflammation in the lungs. It causes excess of mucus secretion in the lungs that can cause congestion. It also causes chest pains. It must be treated immediately.
Allergies
Many allergies can cause chest congestion. It is caused by air borne products that the body cannot accept, such as smoke, dust or pollen. Mucus production increases and causes congestion. Body treats such products as viruses and tries to fight back. This may cause the inflammation of the airways and in turn, chest congestion.
Other causes of chest congestion may vary from sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, heart ailments, and exposure to harmful gases etc. it is important for us to identify the right cause of chest congestion to be able to effectively treat it.
Treatment for Chest Congestion
To cure chest congestion, we need to carefully analyze the cause of chest congestion. It can be treated with antibiotics or medicines depending on the type of infection that has caused congestion. Inhaling steam is a good way to cure congestion as it breaks up mucus and helps clear the lungs. You can add eucalyptus oil to the boiling water and take steam. Steam inhalation should be done at least twice a day for 15-20 minutes for faster results. Sometimes eating the right foods can also help in reducing the mucus. Dairy products should be avoided. Ginger, garlic, onions, asparagus and cauliflower help in reducing mucus. Fruits like sweet lime, oranges, pineapple and lemon are also beneficial to reduce congestion. Consuming spicy food can also help. Chinese hot and sour soup can provide you a quick relief from a runny nose and reduce mucus.
Drinking plenty of water or juices can be great to break up mucus and reduce chest congestion. However cold drinks should be avoided and replaced with hot drinks such as hot ginger tea or chicken soup. Gargling with lukewarm water with a little salt added to it can provide a lot of relief. You should sleep in an elevated position after applying a vapor rub to relieve congestion.
It is advisable to visit your doctor to find the real cause of chest congestion. He/she will be able to diagnose the problem or the root cause of chest congestion and give the correct medication that can cure your congestion easily and quickly. Chest congestion should be treated immediately before the condition gets worse.
