What Is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is a type of respiratory disease blocking the soft membranes of the pathways of lungs. It causes swelling of mucous membrane causing nasal congestion. Allergy and bacterial/viral infections are the major causes of bronchitis. Changes in weather condition, intense smoking and pollution can also trigger bronchitis. Bronchitis can be either short-lived (acute) or chronic (long term). Medical treatment is to be given if bronchitis continues for over three weeks. Some of the common symptoms of bronchitis are nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing, fever, tiredness and tightening of chest.
Mild form of bronchitis can be treated with simple but effective home remedies.
1. Steam Therapy
This is the traditional home remedy for treating bronchitis. Lean your face over hot water bowl covering it with a blanket. The hot water vapor will enter directly into the lungs clearing off the mucus thus reliving the nasal congestion. Steam therapy is highly effective for tightening of chest and it would certainly help in loosening of secretions in the nasal pathways. If you wish, you can add 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil to the hot water to get added effect; Eucalyptus is effective in fighting bacterial infection thus helping in clearing off the mucus from your lungs. You can use pine oil also to get the same effect.
2. Humidifier
If you are having cold and bronchitis you can run additional humidifier in your room to keep the air moist. Additional moisture in your bedroom would help in relieving the phlegm and nasal congestion. Remember to clean the humidifier regularly failing which you are prone to bacterial infection.
3. Drink Water
Drink plenty of water if you have running nose or severe cold. You would be losing water particles from your body in the form of mucus/phlegm by repeated coughing and sneezing. Hence it is necessary to hydrate your system to makeup the loss of water ions in the body. You can drink 8 glasses of water a day under normal conditions and two more glasses if you have cold.