Bronchitis generically develops from a respiratory infection or cold. Other prevalent risk factors for this respiratory syndrome include viral attack, pneumonia, lung injury, pollen allergy or other associated ailments. Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis may improve within a few weeks. However, if the symptoms such as sensation of pain, choking, burning, congestion and tingling in the respiratory tract and lungs last longer, you may want to get yourself examined by a doctor. Moreover, developing such symptoms may be an indication of a weak immune system. We have compiled an expedient set of home remedies for bronchitis that happens to provide instant relief from prevailing symptoms of this syndrome.

Home Remedies for Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a chronic disease that you should have patient. Except paying attention to your dayliy lifestyle, you can the following home remedies for bronchitis to get positive results.

1. Have a Good Rest

If you have been diagnosed with the symptoms of bronchitis, your lungs and body would require persistent amounts of rest. Since this respiratory syndrome is associated with lungs, you may feel discomfort from continuous coughing. To overcome the symptoms in a better way, take some time off from your work or school and have a good rest at home. Exerting yourself may worsen the situation so it is best that you keep yourself calm and relaxed. With that, you must also avoid exercising, running, biking or other similar strenuous activities.

2. Keep Yourself Hydrated

If you are experiencing associated symptoms of bronchitis, the starting home remedy for bronchitis is to drink fluids in large quantity. When you keep yourself hydrated, your body fights infections more effectively. Drinking warm fluids can further help in smoothing your respiratory tract by exfoliating it. The phlegm, which is the substance that you cough and which piles up in your respiratory tract, is expelled out when you drink warm fluids. You can try warm water mixed with honey or lemon, herbal tea and warm soup to soothe your cough. Also, try gargling with warm saltwater as it also pacifies the inner lining of your throat.

3. Apply Hot Compress

When you are experiencing symptoms of bronchitis, your chest might feel heavy. To ease out this feeling, you may apply hot compress in the form of a heating pad or a hot water bottle on your chest. As a quick bronchitis home remedy, try taking a warm water shower or bath as it also reduces heaviness of chest.

4. Moisturize Your Airway

Bronchitis can dehydrate your bronchial tracts and lead to itchiness. To overcome such symptoms, you can keep a humidifier, radiator or mobilizer in the room and inhale moisture-filled air. Likewise, inhaling steaming water can also help ease discomfort and relieve a heavy chest. With that, taking a prolonged steam shower by keeping the bathroom door closed may also benefit your chest and lungs by hydrating your respiratory tracts.

5. Mind Your Cough

Coughing is a standard symptom of bronchitis. If you are using off-the-shelf coughing suppressants, you are not doing yourself any favors. Let yourself cough freely, so that the phlegm collected in the bronchial passageways clears out. Yet, if the coughing prevails and becomes painful, it is recommended that you see the doctor immediately. The symptoms may be an indicator of pneumonia. Seeing a doctor can help in differentiating symptoms.

6. Turn to Medical Treatments

If your condition affects your daily life and causes too much misery, then doctors should be consulted. Then medications and soothing therapies may be used to alleviate your symptoms.

• Medication

Since bronchitis is a viral infection, your doctor may not prescribe any antibiotics to you. Yet, if you are experiencing some sort of bacterial infection, taking antibiotics may be the sole solution. Furthermore, if you are suffering from supplementary disorders such as allergies, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may be prescribed with an inhaler or any other additional medication to overcome your symptoms in a more synchronized manner. Take anti-inflammatory drugs, like Aspirin or Ibuprofen to relieve chest muscle pain, but avoid giving aspirin to children; they should be given acetaminophen instead.

• Therapies

Pulmonary therapies are a definitive solution to overcome the symptoms of bronchitis and associated breathing problems. In these sessions, a respiratory therapist precisely guides you on ways to breathe more comfortably and exercise with minimized discomfort.

Watch the following video and learn how to do 9 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exercises to have better breath: 

7. Avoid Your Triggers

Smoking is the ultimate trigger of bronchitis and its associated symptoms. For that precise reason, you must protect your children from being exposed to secondhand smoke zones. In addition, irritants in air, such as pollens and heavy traffic can also elevate associated discomfort. Washing your hands regularly and staying away from people who have a cold or flu are smart choices to prevent triggering symptoms of bronchitis.

8. Try Homemade Remedies for Bronchitis

Ginger: One of the best natural remedies for bronchitis includes the use of ginger. It has endless health benefits and one of them is that it acts as an immune-boosting agent for the body. For reducing inflammation in respiratory tract, take ginger tea and be amazed by its exceptional healing powers.

Garlic: If you are looking for an instant home remedy for bronchitis, garlic is one of them. Take a couple of garlic cloves, chop them up and boil them in milk. Drink it up and see the miraculous anti-biotic effects. Garlic is especially effective for people who are suffering from symptoms of acute bronchitis.

Turmeric: Using turmeric in the same way as garlic can help in controlling inflammation within respiratory tracts caused by bronchitis. Yet, it is observed that turmeric is not advisable for people who are having problems of gallbladder stones, hyperacidity, obstructive jaundice or stomach ulcers.

Honey: Honey is another exceptional example of the home remedies for bronchitis. It contains anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties that soothe your cough and relieve discomfort. Add honey in your daily tea and see instant results for yourself.

Epsom Salt: Using Epsom salt while taking a bath is another amazing way of controlling prevailing symptoms of bronchitis. You can do this by adding 2 to 3 pounds of Epsom salt in your warm bath water. Once it dissolves completely, immerse yourself in the water for about an hour. It acts as an evident relief agent. Epsom salt is one of the most trusted home remedies for bronchitis.

When to See a Doctor

For every other ailment, your body creates antibodies to fight against it and even comes up with a cure on its own. If you have bronchitis, it normally takes a week or so to overcome all prevalent symptoms. However, if you still experience the following symptoms, then you must consult professional help.

• Painful cough
• Prolonged cough
• Fever with cough
• Blood in cough
• Increased thickness of phlegm
• Breathing problems

An underlying condition in your body may be preventing this respiratory syndrome from healing on its own.