Do home remedies really help against bronchitis?
Do home remedies really help against bronchitis?
You have a bad bronchitis and your cough could wake up dead? Your family members and work colleagues lose patience. Even their pets are annoyed by their constant cough.
Is there anything you can do to calm your excited airways? The family doctor Donald Ford, MD, gives you his advice for the treatment of bronchitis at home.
proven funds for the treatment of bronchitis
bronchitis is particularly annoying because the cough can last for weeks, even if the infection has already subsided. So what can you do?
First, make sure that you actually have bronchitis. If you are unsure or have a high fever, you should see your doctor to rule out more serious problems such as pneumonia, Dr. advises Dr. Ford.
If you have to struggle with bronchitis, you have to expect your cough to last several frustrating weeks. Bronchitis is almost always caused by a virus. This means that antibiotics do not help and that they cannot do much to accelerate the healing process.
However, you have to be patient while recovering. With these tricks you can feel at least a little better while waiting.
free -selling medication
Although there is no healing for bronchitis, medication can alleviate symptoms, says Dr. Ford. Cough resorts or other over -the -counter cough can suppress the attraction - a particularly useful if your cough keeps you awake at night. In the case of really persistent cough, doctors can prescribe prescription coughing.
water
Drink a lot of fluid to loosen the mucus and you can cough up it. Unfortunately, wine and coffee do not have the same hydrecative effect, so drinking water, herbal tea and brewing.
steam
If you have a strong cough, you have the feeling that you cannot remove the mucus from your lungs. Steam helps to loosen the mucus so that you can get rid of it. If you are a member of a gym, this is the opportunity to go to the sauna. Or simply switch on the shower in your own bathroom and let the room steam.
You can also fill a pan or a pot with boiling water and bend over it to breathe in the steam. "But be careful," warns Dr. Ford. "Do not cover your head with a towel to catch the steam because it can get too hot and burn your airways."
saline sprays and salt water gurgles
Use a salty nasal spray or a nasal douche to rinse your sinuses. "Even if the symptoms occur in the chest area, most people also have constipation. Nasal spray with saline helps to remove the mucus and supplies the tissue with moisture," says Dr. Ford. The gurgling with salt water can also relieve and moisten sore throat.
honey
tea with honey is an old classic in the treatment of colds. Mother Nature's favorite sweetness will probably not help to solve your cough, says Dr. Ford, but it can relieve the sore throat that is often associated with a cold.
cough candies
Despite their name, they don't contribute much to the elimination of mucus. But like honey you can calm a rough throat, suppress your cough and help you feel better.
essential oils
There is no evidence that essential oils can help with bronchitis symptoms, but some people feel the inhalation of steam steam steamed with menthol oil, says Dr. Ford. "It doesn't necessarily look better than normal steam, but it can feel good."
what you should avoid in bronchitis
One of the most important things you should do with bronchitis is to avoid everything your lungs can irritate
smoke
You shouldn't smoke anyway (not even vaping), but especially not in bronchitis or other diseases that attack your lungs.
fire
whether a cozy fire in the fireplace, a campfire or a stay in an area in which there are controlled burns or forest fires - smoke definitely worsens your condition.
dust
Inhaling dust and other allergens in your apartment can lead to problems. So keep the windows closed and your house clean, dust -free and sucked in dust. Wear a mask while cleaning and consider an air filter for your house.
In the local news and other media such as the national weather service, the local air quality index is often published, which specifies the degree of air pollution in your community. The higher the index, the worse the air quality, i. that is, you should be in closed rooms and use an air filter and close the windows.
when you should see a doctor
Since there is no real healing for bronchitis, the disease can sometimes last. In this case, pay attention to these signs so that you know when you should see your doctor.
- If you stop cough over several weeks
- If you get a cold that lasts for more than two weeks
- If you get a fever that lasts for more than five days or increases over 39 degrees Celsius
- When the cough becomes painful or blood produces
- If you develop shortness of breath or gasp
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