The nose and chest can get congested due to colds, flus, sinus infections, allergies and even pregnancy. According to MedlinePlus, an online medical resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, nasal congestion is not actually caused by an excess of mucus, but is rather due to the blood vessels in the nose getting inflamed and swelling the tissue lining the inside of the nose, which leads to constricted air flow. Congestion is an annoyance for adults--who may experience sleeping problems and/or develop bronchitis due to mucus collecting in the lungs--but the condition can be dangerous to newborn infants who must use the nose to breathe in the first few months of life. There are a few remedies that can help relieve congestion.
Decongestants and Antihistamines
Over-the-counter decongestants, such as Sudafed, contain pseudoephedrine which constricts blood vessels and shrinks the swollen tissue in the nose, allowing for better breathing. Avoid decongestants if you have high blood pressure that is not controlled, warns Familydoctor.org.
Antihistamines are used to reduce allergy symptoms, including reducing mucus production, so may also offer relief, though MedlinePlus warns that many antihistamines can also cause drowsiness.
Home Remedies
To thin the excess mucus and make it easier to breathe, use a vaporizer or humidifier to raise the humidity in your home. If you don't have one of these devices, run a hot shower and spend a few minutes in the bathroom inhaling the steam before going to sleep.
Also, drink more fluids--at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water or other clear fluids a day. Dr. James Chappell, a board-certified chiropractor and naturopath, suggests the following recipe: boil water with a sliced lemon for a few minutes, pour into a glass, and add some honey to taste and about 1 tsp. of cayenne. Gargle with this mix, then swallow.
Children and Infants
Gentler alternatives to medicated decongestants and antihistamines include using a saline solution to flush out excess mucus. These are also available over-the-counter, or make your own by adding 1/4 tsp. of salt to about 1/2 cup of warm water. Use a nose dropper to gently squirt the solution into your nose, then let it drain. This alternative can be used safely with children and even infants.
To remove excess mucus in infants, squeeze the air out of an aspirator (infant nasal bulb available at most drugstores), insert it gently into the nostril, let it fill up with mucus, then squeeze it out into a tissue and repeat in the other nostril.
Older children (and adults) will be able to sleep better by raising the head of the bed. MelinePlus recommends placing a pillow under the mattress or some books under the legs of the bed on the side where the head rests.
