Chest congestion is a very common problem and almost everyone gets it once in a while. You begin to feel uncomfortable as your chest feels heavy with mucus, which builds up in the trachea and the respiratory tract.
The feeling of heaviness, pressure or tightness due to fluid or mucus in the lungs is considered chest congestion. There are many causes but the most common cause for congestion is common cold. Other causes can be allergens, bacteria and fungi. If not treated in time then it can lead to respiratory tract infections.
Sometimes other underlying conditions such as bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis or pneumonia are responsible for chest congestion.
Cough, shortness of breath, throat irritation dizziness and difficulties in breathing are common symptoms of chest congestion. It is usually a simple to deal with problems and home remedies from you kitchen can clear your chest congestion quickly and effectively.
1. Gargling with Salt Water
The one of the first line of defense for chest congestion and other respiratory conditions such as sinus infections and bronchitis etc.is gargling with salt water. gargling helps to remove the mucus.
Gargling 2-3 times every day will help removing the mucus that comes out in the throat and reduces throat irritation.
2. Inhale steam
Like the salt water gargling, inhaling the steam is also one of the first aids you consider for most of the respiratory conditions including chest congestion.
Inhaling steam works very effectively in loosening the mucus from the capillaries in the lungs. Steam provides the extra humidity that helps the mucus to move.
Fill a bowl of boiling hot water. Do not add anything else. Just plain water is the best remedy to remove chest congestion. Place your head about 6-8 inch above the bowel and then cover the head with a towel in such a way that the steam doesn't escape from the bowl to the surroundings. It remains trapped in the towel cover so that you can inhale it.
3. Drink Onion Extract with Lemon
Onion with its antimicrobial properties help preventing infection. It is very important to ensure that the easy to deal with chest congestion doesn't become a full blown infection of any type. Treat the congestion immediately and save yourself from all the troubles that may follow due to infections.
Onion contains quercetin which helps to dissolve mucus. You can add lemon for additional impact. Take a glass of warm water. Extract juice of a medium size onion. Add an equal amount of lemon juice to the onion extract. Mix the onion lemon solution with one teaspoon of honey.
You can slowly swallow the onion, lemon and honey mix straight away. Drink warm water after that. Or you can add the prepared onion, lemon and honey syrup to a glass of warm water and drink it. Repeat it 2-3 times a day until your chest is clear of all the congestion.
4. Garlic and Lime Soup
All citric juices help to remove chest congestion. We are going to add lime to the garlic soup to add both taste and congestion removing properties.
Garlic with its anti inflammatory properties will clear the congestion.
Crush 2 cloves of garlic or 5-6 cloves of garlic in a small bowl of water. Add juice squeezed from two limes and keep it on heat. Add black pepper powder and salt to taste. Let the soup simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove it from the heat and Cool it down to an acceptable level of warmness. Drink it warm.
5. Honey and Black Pepper
Add 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper powder to a teaspoon of honey and slowly swallow the mix. Both honey and black pepper are very effective in removing mucus.
There are numerous other combinations which are also as useful as the above to remove congestion in the chest, but if these 5 do not work well then the chances are that the others may also not work well because you may already have infection or other underlying causes of the congestion. Check it out with your doctor.