If you are suffering with symptoms of a cough and sinus congestion, you may have an illness that does not require medical treatment, like the common cold or the flu. In some cases, however, a cough with sinus congestion may be the cause of a more serious illness, like croup or pneumonia, says the Mayo Clinic. Consult a doctor to determine the cause of your cough and sinus condition. If he approves, you can use home remedies to treat your symptoms.
Shower
Taking a shower may help reduce sinus congestion, says Barbara P. Yawn, M.D., associate professor of clinical family medicine and community health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. While taking a warm shower, you will breathe in water vapor, which thins the mucus in the chest and in the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe. Before bed you can also fill the bathtub with warm water and lean your head over the tub with the bathroom door shut to clear your sinuses.
Fluids
Drinking extra fluids, like clear broth, water and diluted juice will help dilute mucus, making it easier to expectorate, or cough up. Drink fluids throughout the day to help reduce sinus pressure and get mucus moving in the body. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking chicken soup, which also acts as an anti-inflammatory to help reduce congestion. Carol Fleischman, M.D., staff physician at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine in Philadelphia recommends drinking at least eight glasses of fluids a day to help eliminate sinus congestion.
Humidifier
Running a humidifier at night adds water vapor into the air, which will help loosen congestion and prevent coughing overnight, says the Mayo Clinic. Fill the humidifier with water, then run it all night for a good night's sleep. When a humidifier is dirty, it can spread bacteria and mold into the air. Clean your humidifier several times a week to prevent mold from growing inside it. Do not leave water sitting inside the device. Soak the inside of the humidifier in a diluted vinegar solution to prevent bacteria from growing.
