A chest cold is sometimes referred to as bronchitis, or acute bronchitis. It can be caused by many things, from the flu virus to smoking to a bacterial infection. In a report from the University of Pennsylvania Health System, chest cold symptoms usually appear within two to three days of infection, and improve within two to three weeks. Some of the symptoms are similar to those of a common head cold, except those that affect the air passages, which are more severe.
Nasal Symptoms
A chest cold exhibits many nasal symptoms. Some of the first nasal symptoms to show up are a runny nose and sneezing. Even though the nose seems to be running all the time, the excess mucous can also cause stuffy nasal passages. This can make breathing very difficult, especially when the chest can be congested as well.
Head Symptoms
Even though it is a chest cold, there are symptoms that manifest themselves in other parts of the body, such as the head. Along with the nasal symptoms mentioned above, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists watery eyes and a sore throat as signs of a chest cold. A headache can also manifest itself, and is often accompanied by a fever of 102 degrees or less.
Chest Symptoms
Obviously, there will be symptoms that occur within the chest with a chest cold. The inflammation in the bronchial tubes can cause a wheezing sound when breathing in and out, along with difficulty when taking a breath. The excess mucous in the airways can cause a nagging cough. When coughing, mucus may or may not be expelled. While the other symptoms usually start to alleviate within one to two weeks, the cough can linger for up to six to eight weeks. According to Intermountain Healthcare, along with the cough and wheezing, you may experience chest pain and discomfort.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms of a chest cold can resemble your average cold and flu symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these include body and muscle aches, along with general fatigue. The final diagnosis of chest cold, or bronchitis, needs to be made by your physician. Your doctor will be able to accurately diagnose your condition by listening to your lungs as you breathe, and perhaps taking a chest x-ray or doing a throat culture.
Treating Your Symptoms
All of these symptoms can make life very uncomfortable, but there are small steps you can take to ease them. As Intermountain Healthcare reports, a chest cold is rarely caused by bacteria, so antibiotics will not help your symptoms. However, an over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can relieve pain and fever that may appear, and cough medicine and cough drops can help control the cough. Avoid irritants such as smoke and harsh scents, add moisture to the air with a humidifier, and drink extra fluid, as this keeps the mucus moist and helps you expel excess fluid. Finally, get plenty of rest, as your body needs to concentrate its energy on healing, and not other unnecessary functions.
