A chest infection will either be caused by: a virus (like viral bronchitis) – this usually clears up by itself after a few weeks and antibiotics will not help. bacteria (like pneumonia) – a GP may prescribe antibiotics (make sure you complete the whole course as advised by the GP, even if you start to feel better)
If you have a bacterial chest infection, you should start to feel better 24 to 48 hours after starting on antibiotics. You may have a cough for days or weeks. For other types of chest infections, the recovery is more gradual. You may feel weak for some time and need a longer period of bed rest.
Many chest infections aren't serious and get better within a few days or weeks. You won't usually need to see your GP, unless your symptoms suggest you have a more serious infection. While you recover at home, there are things you can do to improve your symptoms.
The symptoms of viral and bacterial chest infections are similar but the colour of any mucus coughed up may indicate the cause; white or clear mucus usually indicates a viral infection whereas green or yellow mucus suggests that the infection is bacterial.
Cleaning your lungs may be as simple as sipping hot tea—green tea, specifically. Green tea is packed with inflammation-reducing antioxidants, and some research suggests that it may help protect lung tissue from the harmful impacts of smoke inhalation.
Mucus: The Warrior
Coughing and blowing your nose are the best ways to help mucus fight the good fight. “Coughing is good,” Dr. Boucher says. “When you cough up mucus when you are sick, you are essentially clearing the bad guys—viruses or bacteria—from your body.”
So here's the big question: Should you spit or swallow your phlegm? Even though it might taste nasty, “there's nothing wrong with swallowing it,” Dr. Comer says. In fact, that's probably what your body expects you to do, which is why phlegm naturally drains down into the back of your throat.
Green tea
Green tea like other caffeinated drinks helps boost energy levels. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the severity of your symptoms if you are suffering from a chest infection. It can also be consumed with honey to further increase its impact on lowering your symptoms.
You won't usually need to see your GP, unless your symptoms suggest you have a more serious infection (see below). While you recover at home, you can improve your symptoms by: getting plenty of rest. drinking lots of fluid to prevent dehydration and to loosen the mucus in your lungs, making it easier to cough up.
A systematic review on the use of honey for upper respiratory infections found improvement in symptoms, reduction in cough frequency, and improvement in cough severity compared with usual care.
Bronchitis can also, however, bring on chest discomfort and wheezing. While symptoms for either bronchitis or pneumonia can range from mild to serious enough to require hospitalization, symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, and chest pain tend to be more severe with pneumonia.
The associated cough and mucus can last up to three weeks. If your chest infection is taking longer to shift, or it seems to be getting worse, it is really important to contact your GP. If you have already had antibiotics and they have not worked, don't be afraid to ask for an x-ray, or even a CT scan, like Ruthra.
Stay home if you have a cough that brings up mucus (productive cough). A cough can be caused by a number of respiratory infections, some of which are very easy to spread to other people. No matter where you are, always cough into the crook of your elbow rather than coughing into your hand.
Fruit and vegetables have vitamins and minerals that support your immune system to help you fight off chest infections. Carbohydrates give your body energy for breathing and everyday tasks. Choose high fibre or wholegrain versions, such as brown pasta and rice or wholemeal bread.