Content

• Steps
• Warning

Phlegm is a term for mucus that is normally produced when you are weak. We often fall into this situation in the winter or when we have allergies, sneezing constantly, it causes discomfort and takes a lot of tissues for blowing our nose. There are a few tips you can use to keep the mucus from forming, but before that, make sure you don't over-influence the body's natural activities or cause symptoms to worsen. more serious.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Prevent mucus by home remedies

1. 

   Rested. If you are unlucky to deal with an infectious disease, then rest will help your body recover. You can still work for your responsibilities, but try not to overload yourself.
   • If you have a bacterial sinus infection, use antibiotics as well as mucoactive substances to prevent mucus from forming in the nose.

2. 

   
   
   Drink a lot of water. Drinking enough water each day will make the mucus disappear and help clean the nasal cavity.
   • A cup of decaffeinated tea or a bowl of soup are very effective cold remedies in this case.
   • Try sipping a cup of peppermint tea or eating a few slices of pineapple. The essential oils in peppermint and the enzymes in pineapples can help relieve coughs with phlegm.
   • Drinks containing caffeine and alcohol, on the other hand, can increase mucus and dehydrate the body.

3. 

   
   
   Use a hot compress. Wet a clean gauze with warm water and wring it dry. Then, place the gauze over your nose and cheeks. The heat from the swab will clear up mucus and relieve pain caused by a stuffy nose.
   • The heat loosens the mucus (it is mostly solid), and the heat will make it easier to release when you blow your nose.

4. 

   Take a hot bath. The steam from the shower opens your nasal cavity, allowing for an easy release of mucus. A warm bath will also stop the formation of mucus in the nose because the warmth of the water has the ability to open the nasal cavity. During a stuffy nose, the nasal cavity is completely closed, so the action of the hot steam will thin the mucous membrane, allowing the mucus to be released easily.
   • A steam bath works well too - boil a kettle, use a blanket or any cloth to cover your face, and the kettle is boiling. Inhalation of the hot steam can loosen mucus. Be careful not to burn your body; keep a distance of at least 30 cm from your face to the water. Try adding a few drops of essential oils such as tea, peppermint or eucalyptus oil to help clear your sinuses.
   • You can also use a humidifier to help relieve symptoms.
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Method 2 of 3: Reduce mucus with over-the-counter medications

1. 

   
   
   Use with caution. Over-the-counter medications like oral sprays and nasal sprays are very effective when you have a lot of mucus in your nose but still have to go to work or school. However, you should not use them for more than 3 days.
   • Using the above products for more than 3 days can lead to adverse effects, the mucus will increase even more than the original.
   • Many of these oral products also have side effects such as increased blood pressure and heart rate.

2. 

   Take decongestants to reduce congestion. Decongestants reduce nasal congestion by reducing swelling of the nasal tissue in the nasal cavity. The fluid is dried in the lungs, allowing the airways to open. Hence the air easily passes through the mucus layer, minimizing its formation.
   • Over-the-counter decongestants are effective for 12 or 24 hours.
   • Decongestants come in a variety of forms, such as pill, liquid, or spray.
   • Read the drug label and its ingredients carefully before using it.
   • If you have high blood pressure, consult a professional before taking any decongestants that contain phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine as they can increase blood pressure.

3. 

   Use cough syrups and medications for bronchitis. Cough syrups such as dextromethorphan are known to inhibit coughing attacks and reduce the adhesion and surface tension of the mucus, allowing the mucus to pass out of the body easily, helping to relieve chest pain caused by excessive coughing. and remove secretions from above and below the respiratory tract.
   • You may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness or headache.
   • An expectorant can loosen mucus more quickly and more easily through the respiratory tract, used in the case of a cough with sputum.

4. 

   Use a corticosteroid nasal spray. This is the method of using the spray directly into the nasal cavity. Nasal spray can narrow the blood vessels in the nose, shrink the nasal tissues and reduce swelling inside the nose and sinuses. Helps prevent the increase of mucus and clean the nasal cavity, making breathing easier and reducing mucus quickly.
   • You must see your doctor for a prescription for a medicine for rhinitis, such as Flonase.

5. 

   Use an antihistamine. Antihistamines for colds help stop histamine, which causes an allergic reaction, and cause the tissues in the nose to swell and form mucus. Common antihistamines that work to block the formation of mucus often include Benadryl and Loratidine.
   • Antihistamines should be taken once at bedtime.
   • Note that antihistamines can cause drowsiness, so do not use them while driving or operating other heavy machinery.
   • Also be wary of other side effects of medications such as headache, dizziness, and dry mouth.
   • Do not share antihistamines with expectorants.
   • In case of severe and persistent allergies, consult your doctor.

6. 

   Wash the nasal cavity. Nasal washing involves using water and clearing the nasal passages by hand. The principle of a nasal wash is to pour a saline solution into one nostril to wash the mucus inside it and water will drain out on the other nostril. This helps to clean the nostrils.
   • You can use a small kettle or syringe.
   • Make sure the salt water you use is distilled, sterile, or boiled water to prevent bacteria from entering.
   • Always rinse and then dry the detergent dispenser after each use.
   • Limit washing your nose, as washing too often removes even natural good substances, which can help prevent an infection in your nose.
   • Salt water rinsing can also have a similar effect.
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Method 3 of 3: Understand the causes of mucus formation

1. 

   Fluid fluids help keep the lungs clean. While you may not realize this, your body always produces mucus, sometimes up to more than a liter a day. Even when you feel extremely healthy in your body, cells in your nose and mouth called "sepal cells" always synthesize water, protein and polysaccharides to form mucus, forming a characteristic sticky texture of it.
   • There is a very important reason for mucus production: because mucus is sticky, it can trap potentially harmful or dangerous small particles before they enter the lungs.
   • Without the mucus, the dirt of this tiny particle that you will be able to see when you blow your nose, it will enter your body.

2. 

   Pay attention to the body's responses. When you are sick, your body produces more mucus to stop harmful bacteria, be it viruses or bacteria.
   • That is why you often see mucus when you are sick. Under normal circumstances, you can swallow mucus into the body, where it was produced, but sometimes, the mucus is produced more quickly and more, filling up your sinuses and stuffy your nose.
   • The oozing fluid combines with the saliva and the white blood cells will become sputum.
   • The production of mucus can also be caused by stimuli from food, environmental factors, allergens, cigarette smoke, chemicals and perfumes.
   • When the increase in mucus production occurs, the sinuses can become blocked leading to bacterial growth and possibly an infection of the nasal cavity.

3. 

   Don't pay too much attention to color. Many people believe that the color of their mucus indicates the type of disease they have. There is still some usefulness in the coloration of mucus, but doctors still do not use them to diagnose disease or recommend treatment.
   • In general, the mucus should be cleaned.
   • If your mucus is white or cloudy, you may have a cold.
   • A yellow or green discharge can be a sign of an infection.
   • If you want to know if you have a cold or sinus infection, it is best to see how long your symptoms last. With a cold, you will often experience a runny nose after a stuffy nose, which lasts for about 2 to 3 days. Sinus infections last a week or more.
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Warning

• Think carefully before asking your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic. Your symptoms are more likely due to a viral infection than an infection, and antibiotics are not working against them. In addition, the use of antibiotics too much can cause greasiness. Of course, if your symptoms persist or tend to worsen, you should see your doctor right away. Bacterial sinus infections come with complications if left untreated.