How to Treat Chest Congestion & Cold

There's no cure for the common cold, but there are ways to treat cold symptoms and get rid of congestion. Common symptoms of a cold include body aches, fever, coughing, runny nose and a sore throat. Sufferers deal with chest or nasal congestion due to the accumulation of mucus. But fortunately, there are fast ways to treat a cold and get rid of congestion.

Things You'll Need

• Vitamins
• Medication
• Humidifier

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Instructions

• 1

  Improve symptoms with supplements. Supplements such as vitamin C, zinc and echinacea can boost your immune system and shorten your cold. Drink orange juice or echinacea tea, and suck on zinc lozenges to beat the common cold.

• 2

  Take cold medication. Select cold medications that target your symptoms and relieve chest congestion. These include ingredients such as a decongestant, fever reducer and pain reliever. Take as instructed.

• 3

  Relax. Getting extra rest to support your immune system can help overcome a cold faster. Being tired or rundown can lengthen a cold and weaken your immune system. Stop exercising, sleep eight hours a night and plan to stay indoors for a few days.

• 4

  Use a humidifier to get rid of congestion. A humidifier breaks up mucus in the chest and relieves congestion. Keep a humidifier in your bedroom to reduce mucus build-up

• 5

  Flush out toxins. Drink eight glasses of water a day to thin mucus and expel toxins from your body.

• 6

  Take-in hot liquids to loosen mucus. Eat chicken broth, chicken noodle soup and drink hot decaffeinated teas to remedy a raw throat and ease chest congestion.

• 7

  Stay warm. Breathing in cold air can complicate a cold and worsen congestion. If venturing outdoors, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf; and if staying indoors, turn up your heat or wrap yourself in a blanket.