Difference between revisions of "Eliminate Chest Congestion Caused by Quitting Smoking"

You already know that quitting smoking is an excellent choice to make for your health. During the first few weeks, you may experience some quitting related symptoms, such as chest congestion. You may have coughing fits, tightness or mucus in your chest, and a slight hoarseness of your voice.<ref name="rf1">http://dailyhealthpost.com/this-is-what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-quit-smoking/</ref> Though it may be uncomfortable at first, chest congestion indicates that your body is beginning to repair itself and recover from your smoking habit.<ref name="rf2">http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/expert-answers/quit-smoking/faq-20057818</ref>

[[Category: Smoking Addictions]]

#Drink lots of fluids, especially water. Drinking water will help your body to combat the congestion by thinning the mucus in your lungs and make it easier to cough up the mucus. It will also keep your body hydrated.<ref name="rf3">http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chest-infection-adult/Pages/Introduction.aspx</ref>

#*Tobacco smoke slows the movement of the tiny hairs (known as cilia) that line our lungs and help to remove mucus. When you stop smoking, these hairs become more active and start to clear away the mucus built up in your lungs. This can result in increased coughing for a few weeks after you first quit.<ref name="rf2" />

#Take a hot shower or bath once or twice a day. Dry air can irritate your lungs and increase your coughing fits. The steam produced from a hot shower or bath can moisten the air passages in your lungs and thin out the mucus.<ref name="rf4">http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050846</ref>

#Sleep with your head elevated. Keep your head angled at 15 degrees by placing one or two pillows directly underneath your head. This will minimize mucus draining into your throat which causes coughing at night.<ref name="rf5">https://quitsmokingcommunity.org/smokers-cough/</ref>

#*Add three to four drop of eucalyptus oil to the water. Eucalyptus oil has both antibacterial and analgesic properties and acts as an expectorant, loosening phlegm that causes coughing.<ref name="rf6"> http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/eucalyptus</ref>

#Do a chest rub. Chest rubs, such as Vicks Vaporub, can help alleviate feelings of chest congestion via its menthol properties (the active agent in peppermint). Menthol can also reduce feelings of shortness of breath. Although the benefits from these products can be largely psychological, they can help alleviate the symptoms (but not the cause) of chest congestion.<ref name="rf7">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3628651/</ref>

#*Never apply the rub directly under your nose or used on infants or children under the age of 2. The active ingredient in many chest rubs, camphor, can be toxic when ingested.<ref name="rf8">http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/14/health/la-he-skeptic-rubs-20111114</ref>

#Take Mucinex. If you don't have any aversion to a pill-based solution, Mucinex will significantly reduce any chest congestion you may suffer from. The medication thins and loosens mucus in the airways, clearing congestion, and making breathing easier.<ref name="rf9">http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-63818/mucinex-oral/details</ref>

#Avoid taking cough medicine. Coughing will help to loosen the phlegm from your lungs and will help you recover from chest congestion. Allow your body to cough, and stay away from over-the-counter cough medicines.<ref name="rf3" />

#Ask your doctor about treatment for “smoker’s lung”. Although increased feelings of congestion are typical in the first few weeks after you stop smoking, be aware that any smoking habit increases your risk of “smoker’s lung”, a catch-all term for chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are associated with a reduction of airflow due to lung damage. Both conditions are associated with coughing and feelings of breathlessness.<ref name="rf10">http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/smokerslung.htm</ref>

#*Individuals with smoker's lung experience a combination of symptoms similar to having chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These include chronic coughing, breathlessness, and mucus in your lungs.<ref name="rf10" />

#Avoid any exposure to cigarette or cigar smoke. You should also wear a mask when you are working with strong fumes like paint or household cleaners with strong fumes.<ref name="rf11">http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2013/11/29/bronchitis-symptoms-and-treatment?page=2</ref>

#*If cold air aggravates your cough, wear a face mask before you go outside, particularly during the winter.<ref name="rf12">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchitis/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20014956</ref>

#Exercise on a regular basis. It’s important to keep your lungs and cardiovascular system in good working order. Your body already begins the repair process as soon as you quit smoking. The more you exercise, particularly after you quit smoking, the more you will help your lungs gain back the capacity they lost while you were smoking.<ref name="rf1" />

#Buy a humidifier or vaporizer. Having a humidifier or vaporizer in your bedroom while you sleep can help you keep hydrated at night and will also help to loosen mucus. Keep the filter clean and the humidifier will minimize the amount of congestion-causing dust in the air.<ref name="rf3" />

#*Keep the vaporizer and humidifier clean. Every two to three days, clean the filter using a mixture of bleach and water (two tablespoons of bleach per one quart of water). Run the machine until dry (approximately 40 minutes) in a well-ventilated area, away from your bedroom.<ref name="rf13">http://www.ghc.org/healthAndWellness/?item=/common/healthAndWellness/children/childIssues/cold.html</ref>

#Gargle warm salt water. The coughing that comes from chest congestion can make your throat scratchy or sore. A saline (i.e. a salty) solution draws excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the throat, soothing them temporarily.<ref name="rf14">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403</ref>

#*Dissolve ¼-1/2 teaspoons of salt in an eight ounce glass of warm (not too hot!) water. Gargle for 15-20 seconds and spit out the water.<ref name="rf15">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/health/28real.html</ref>  

#Drink warm lemon juice and honey. The combination of honey and lemon may help to soothe your throat and help with chest congestion as well. Add honey and lemon juice to hot water or have a teaspoon of honey by itself to soothe your throat.<ref name="rf5" /><ref name="rf3" />

#Add ginger to your diet. Ginger root is a natural anti-inflammatory and may soothe your irritated lungs. Drink ginger tea and add ginger root (not crystallized ginger) to recipes like soups and stir fries. Ginger candies can be an easy way to suppress coughing. <ref name="rf16">http://www.pitt.edu/~cjm6/sp99cough.html</ref>

#*For an easy ginger tea, thinly slice a thumb-sized piece of ginger and simmer it in hot water for approximately 15 minutes. Add a bit of honey for further throat and chest relief.<ref name="rf17">http://www.nlda.org/how-to-get-rid-of-chest-congestion-best-home-remedies/</ref>

#Drink peppermint tea. Like ginger, peppermint is a natural expectorant and can help to thin mucus and break up phlegm. Its main active agent, menthol, is a good decongestant and is found in a number of over the counter treatments for chest congestion.<ref name="rf18">http://www.bidmc.org/YourHealth/Conditions-AZ.aspx?ChunkID=21838</ref>

 

*Keep in mind that you may also experience other side effects after quitting smoking, such as weight gain due to increased hunger, anxiety, depression, sore throat, and/or mouth ulcers.<ref name="rf19">https://quitsmokingcommunity.org/how-to-quit-smoking/nicotine-withdrawal-timeline-symptoms/</ref><ref name="rf20">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15370162</ref> Talk to your doctor if any of the side effects of quitting smoking are interfering with your daily life.