Congestion What is The Cause And How To Cope
Congestion – What’s The Cause
And How To Cope
IF YOU’RE FEELING
‘Stuffy’ known as
Congestion, it could
BE a symptom of a
cold or sinus infection1
But there are lots of reasons for congestion. Let’s look at the different types and ways to cope, so you can get on with your daily life.
COLDS
If you’ve caught a cold, you can experience host of uncomfortable symptoms including congestion with some or all of the following:
sore throat
sneezing
blocked or runny nose
cough
headache
fatigue
swollen sinuses causing pressure in your ears or face
fever
muscle aches
Your cold causes congestion because mucus builds up in your nose and sinuses, making you feel blocked up.1
COPING WITH A COLD
Normally, you don’t need to see your doctor if you have a cold.2 It’s caused by a virus and you can easily look after yourself at home.2 You might think an antibiotic is the answer for your cold, but these work against bacteria, not viruses, so they won’t relieve symptoms.2
Instead, consider taking an over the counter remedy to help you manage the symptoms. Lemsip has a good range or runny nose, such as Lemsip Max Sinus & Flu Hot Lemon Powder for Oral Solution.3
CHEST CONGESTION
Your chest can also feel congested when your body produces more mucus than usual, for example, when you have a cough.4, The inflammation and build-up of mucus can also irritate your throat and
you might also find it difficult to sleep.5
Coughing is a natural and normal way the body gets rid of excess extra mucus or irritants from the lungs.6 But coughing at night can be a problem. It can be worse than during the day. If you are lying
flat in bed, the mucus can pool in the back of the throat (known as post-nasal drip) and trigger a cough.7 It can be really tiring and stop you sleeping when you need it most –to recover.7
It’s not just coughs that can cause chest congestion, it can also be due to other conditions, some of which can cause long-term, chronic coughs:4,6,8
acid reflux (heartburn)
allergies
asthma
bacterial and viral infections
chronic bronchitis
cystic fibrosis
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
other lung conditions
There's no quick-fire way of treating congestion in the chest brought on by a viral infection. It’s a natural immune response and usually clears up on its own when your system has fought off the virus.8
That can take anything from a few days, up to three weeks.8 There’s usually no need to see your doctor, especially if you’re otherwise healthy and can eat and drink OK. In some cases, however, it’s wise to speak to your doctor if you’ve had a cough for more than three weeks or it’s a hacking cough, it’s getting worse, you can’t stop coughing or you’re coughing up blood, you find it hard to breathe or you have chest pains, you’re also losing weight without trying, you have asthma or a long-term lung problem or your immune system is weak, for example, if you are diabetic.8
COPING WITH
CHEST CONGESTION
Here are some ways you can cope with chest congestion:8,9
Make sure you rest
Drink warm fluids
Hot lemon and honey can help
Use a humidifier or vaporiser
Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or a shower – but make sure it’s not boiling
Steam loosens mucus and reduces coughing2
Suck on a lozenge
Take a Lemsip decongestant, such as Lemsip Cough & Cold Capsules with Caffeine
SINUS INFECTION
Sinus infection is also known as sinusitis, where your sinuses swell up. 3 These are the air-filled spaces behind your cheek bones and forehead. 3 It’s usually caused by a viral infection, which is why it can
be quite common when you have a cold or flu.3 It will usually clear up on its own, within two and a half weeks.3
The symptoms of sinusitis can include:3
stuffed or runny nose
bad breath
reduced sense of smell
toothache
a sinus headache
a high temperature
green / yellow mucus from the nose
pain, swelling or soreness around the cheeks / eyes / forehead
pain that is worse when you move your head
tiredness
cough
feeling generally poorly
In children, the symptoms may be a little bit different so watch out for include irritability, difficulty feeding, and breathing through their mouth.3
COPING WITH
sinusitis/sinus infection
Around two-thirds of people can treat their sinusitis without seeing a doctor.3 Top tips to cope with sinusitis and prevent future bouts include:1,3
Avoiding allergic triggers or taking allergy medicines regularly
Not smoking and avoiding smoky places
Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water
Cleaning your nose with a salt-water solution to ease congestion
Taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease sinus pain
Taking decongestants to relieve a blocked nose and help you breathe a bit better
Lemsip Max Sinus & Flu Hot Lemon Powder for Oral Solution contains a maximum strength painkiller and decongestant to ease sinusitis symptoms. It’s only available from your pharmacy, so ask your pharmacist for advice.
If your symptoms are severe, don’t get better or keep coming back, then it’s a good idea to see your doctor.3
RB-M-02447
SOURCES
- 1. Irish Pharmacist. Nasal congestion in the Pharmacy. April 2020.
https://irishpharmacist.ie/2020/02/04/nasal-congestion-in-the-pharmacy/. - Health Services Executive. Common cold. Accessed August
2020. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/common-cold.html. - Health Services Executive. Sinusitis. Accessed August 2020.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/s/sinusitis/symptoms-of-sinusitis.html. - Albrecht HH, et al. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 2017;12:31
- Meltzer EO, et al. Int J Gen Med, 2010;3:69-91.
- International Society for the Study of Cough. Morice A.
Cough. http://www.issc.info/cough.pdf - Singh DP, et al. NCBI Bookshelf. Nocturnal cough. Accessed August 2020.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532273/?report=printable. - Health Services Executive. Cough. Accessed August
2020. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/cough.html. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chest cold (acute bronchitis). Accessed
August 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/commonillnesses/bronchitis.html.
Lemsip Max Sinus & Flu Hot Lemon Powder for Oral Solution contains paracetamol and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.
Lemsip Cough and Cold Capsules with Caffeine contain paracetamol, guaifenesin and caffeine.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL