Congested Chest
Congested Chest Causes
A congested chest is an irritating condition but it is also very common. People of all ages can suffer with a tightness in the lungs and an over accumulation of fluids. The sufferer can have a bad cough along with a congested chest and they may spit up yellow to green mucus after coughing. There are many different reasons for having a congested chest ranging from an easy to cure illnesses to life threatening diseases.
One of the most common illnesses that cause a congested chest is the cold. Usually a cold can be fully cured in less than two weeks but instead of getting better some sufferers can become worse. The normal symptoms of a cold are a runny nose, sinus congestion and fatigue. But when people have a severe type of cold they can also have a congested chest, sore throat and a fever. Most doctors recommend that if a cold worsens and a fever reaches 102 degrees or over, you should seek medical help. But most of the time, staying indoors and resting will eventually cure a common cold.
Bronchitis causes congestion within the lungs. This happens when the airways and lungs become inflamed. The trachea and bronchi also become inflamed because of an irritation to the lungs. This can be from an infection or an allergic reaction to things like cigarette smoke or pollution in the air. There is also mucus lining in the lungs and it can become swollen and irritated. This lining is made up of cells that can leak fluids in response to the irritant. The person suffering might experience either a dry or mucus filled cough. If the condition is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor may treat the bronchitis with an antibiotic. He may also suggest an expectorant type of cough serum. Many people use a cough suppressant with bronchitis but this is not a good idea. Coughing helps to remove the excess fluids and it is the body’s natural way to clear up the lungs.
An upper respiratory infection is caused by a virus. It can affect the sinuses, nose, throat and ears as well as the chest and lungs. This condition is spread by touch or passed on to others by being near to a person who is coughing or sneezing. The symptoms of this condition are a slight fever, a congested chest, runny nose, nasal congestion and bad cough. There is no known cure for viruses. But the symptoms can be reduced by taking aspirin with a pain reliever. It also helps to use an expectorant type of cough syrup.
Another condition that can cause congested chest symptoms is pneumonia. This is also an infection in one or both of the lungs but it can be caused by a virus, bacteria or a fungal infection. Pneumonia can be fatal and this infection is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The people who are risk for getting pneumonia are people with weakened immune systems, people suffering with heart disease, alcoholics and drug users. One of the biggest symptoms of this condition is a shortness of breath and severe chest pain. Chills and a high fever can also be seen. Fluid accumulates in the lungs and the person suffering can spit up phlegm. This phlegm can be a yellow to green color and it can also contain blood. In severe cases, the sufferer may experience a blue tint to the skin. This is a sign that the bodily organs are not receiving enough oxygen. People, who have this condition and are not suffering with any other health problems, can be cured by taking antibiotics.