Submitted by natnatnat1995 t3_zxazjb in LifeProTips
So I have quite a bad cold at the moment and have been choking on mucus every so often (pretty scary) I've tried a few technique videos I've seen on YouTube on trying to get it out. Problem is, it will get to where my tongue and throat meet and then no matter how hard I try and cough or gag it won't come any further so I can successfully spit it out. Any tips would be useful!
Tips on nasal irrigation:
Use distilled water. Do NOT use regular tap water or water from the shower to irrigate. You don't want bacteria or amoebas in your sinuses as this is a direct line to your brain.
Use the proper saline solution, designed for this (the aforementioned packets dissolved in the correct ratio of distilled water). Do NOT use straight water, it hurts, a lot.
I have the Nevage nasal irrigator machine and it's amazing. If you have an FSA card (in the States) you can use that to pay for it. Works wonders if you use it regularly.
Boiling tap or bottled water and letting it cool before use works just as well if you don't have distilled water.
When using a neti pot- it’s imperative you use distilled water purchased at the store. Boiled water should still be ok but that’s bare minimum! I saw on the news that a girl contracted a rare infection in her brain from using the neti pot with tap water (you have been warned 🫢)
Boiled is not enough. Pressure cookers kill the bacteria tho
This.
Thank you 😁
A warm salt water gargle might help.
A fiery curry works well, if you can tolerate the heat!
You just need good old courage!
Avoid milk and other dairy products, they tend to increase mucus.
Drink clear broth.
I agree with the neti pot advice.
Hot tea also. I like the echinacea tea while I’m sick.
Mucinex or any other decongestant
Oops forgot to say I'm on zoloft/sertraline and it clashes with decongestant medication. Sucks because I have a whole bottle of it in the cupboard still 😟
Try taking an Expectorant like guaifenesin, I also take Zoloft and can’t take any decongestants.
Wait, what??? I take Zoloft and have never heard this… does the decongestant not work?
Id never heard that and use that stuff all the time. I’m still here lol
But seriously, get a sinus rinse with the salt. It feels a little alien at first, and it’s definitely productive and therefore gross, but totally works. Just make sure to use purified water when you do it. Its ok to have water up in your sinuses but your body isn’t necessarily designed for it and therefore a great way for bacteria, viruses, fungus, and brain eating amoebas to get in and set up shop with various degrees of lethality.
Steam. Fill a big bowl with hot hot water and hold your head over it covered by a towel to hold in the steam. Don’t burn yourself but try to breathe in some hot steam and let it swirl around your head and sinuses a bit. Should help break it up enough to cough out. Good luck
Literally steam it out. Take a warm bath, as hot as you can stand it without harm. Add Epson salt. The salt will detox ur body and the steam will losen things up. Make sure you hydrate!
As a singer I use a gargle made of hot water honey vinegar and cayenne pepper. I use cider vinegar usually but you can use others. The cayenne draws mucus to the surface the vneigar breaks it down the honey makes it more pleasant plus is a soother for throats. Gargle and spit. Usually mucus from deep in my throat comes out. Google it for exact recipes but it’s easy and works for singers to clear their throats
Have something with cayenne pepper powder in it. Breaks down mucus.
citric acid helps break down mucus. try a warm gargle of salt water and lemon juice
Take Mucinex. It breaks up the sticky mucus. Also, after 10 minutes in a hot shower, bend down so your torso is horizontal and cough it out.
Make sure you are well hydrated so that the mucus is not thick enough to make you choke
Broomhexine HCl 8 mg cough tablets. It helps reduce the thickness of the mucus, which makes it easier to cough it up. Also available as Bisolvon cough syrup. Don't know if these are available outside EU.
If the other comments don’t work, you need to talk to a doctor.
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A slice of orange does the trick for me
Get a cough medicine that thins mucous. Works brilliantly for me and within an hour or two you’ll be able to cough it up.
Eat something spicy, also Vicks in a hot steamy shower helps.
Honey! It is a great expectorant.
Gargle with salt water, gargle with peroxide, use nasal sprays, etc.
Heat water, add honey and lemon juice. Drink. If it doesn’t work, try other recommendations. I also take Zoloft and have taken decongestants, but do what doc recommends.
If you are struggling to breathe please go to the emergency room. No homeopathic remedy will cure inability to breathe.
The mucus is caused by inflammation of the mucus membranes. I have found that a minute amount of vinegar will immediately relieve inflammation of the mucus membranes. What I do is take a cotton swab, dip it into 3% (common vinegar) and gently swab each nostril and each outer ear. If you have an active infection it will sting a little. Your sinuses will be immediately open and you will be able to breathe. If I have an active infection I will repeat this every 4 hours. I am not a doctor, this just works for me. It is very powerful, don’t overdo it.
Try mucinex (guafinesin) or any with pseudoephedrine in it
Revolutionary_Ad811 t1_j1zb7d0 wrote
Neti pot or squeeze bottle sinus irrigator (sold at pharmacy). Eliminates snot at the source. Also very soothing. Use warm water with some salt. Most neti pots and irrigators come with packets of salt.