Chest congestion is a heavy feeling in the chest that may be accompanied by wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. If you are suffering from the flu or the common cold, chest congestion may occur when nasal congestion drips down the back of the throat and into the lungs. If it’s OK with your doctor, you can use at-home care to help reduce the symptoms of chest congestion.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is a tried-and-true home remedy that is recommended by the Mayo Clinic to help reduce symptoms of congestion and cough because of the common cold. Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that may make it easier to breathe and loosen congestion in the chest. Additionally, consuming chicken soup may speed up the movement of mucus in the body and make the illness pass through your body more quickly. Inhale the steam from chicken soup as you eat it to help loosen chest congestion and make it easier to breathe.
Increase Humidity
Adding humidity to a room may help loosen congestion in the chest and reduce coughing. Run a humidifier at night to add water vapor to the air. Once water vapor is absorbed into the lungs, it helps loosen mucus and makes a cough more productive. If you do not have a humidifier, you can use things from around the house to help increase humidity in a room. Take a hot bath or shower to help loosen congestion in the chest, suggests Kenneth Peters, M.D., internist and self-care specialist. Sip a cup of hot herbal tea while inhaling the steam to loosen chest congestion.
And although you may feel the desire to turn the temperature in the house up when you’re feeling under the weather, the dry air from the heater may make chest congestion and coughing worse. If you must turn up the heat, run a humidifier to help counteract the dry air coming out of the heater.
Lemon and Honey
A mixture of hot water, lemon and honey can help reduce congestion, cut mucus in the back of the throat and soothe a cough, says the Mayo Clinic. Boil hot water, then add honey and lemon juice to taste. Sip the liquid slowly while breathing in the steam from the mug. Drink throughout the day to loosen chest congestion.
