Chest congestion is the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and bronchi. Respiratory infections are the major cause of chest congestion.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- CAUSES OF CHEST CONGESTION
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CHEST CONGESTION
- DIAGNOSIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- TREATMENTS FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- PROGNOSIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- COMPLICATIONS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- CHEST CONGESTION AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF CHEST CONGESTION
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- HOME REMEDIES FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- YOGA FOR CHEST CONGESTION
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Breathing difficulty
- Wheezing
- cough
- Production of sputum
- Chest discomfort
- Frequent respiratory infections
CAUSES OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Infections
- Irritants in the airway
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CHEST CONGESTION
Due to the above-mentioned causes excess mucous production occurs in the airways, leads to chest congestion. The presence of mucous also triggers nerve sensors that make cough.
DIAGNOSIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- EXAMINATIONS
Auscultation – when listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the doctor may hear abnormal breathing sounds.
- INVESTIGATIONS
- X – rays
- Lung function tests
- Sputum culture
- CT Scan – chest
- Laboratory tests – to find out the underlying pathology
TREATMENTS FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Expectorants and Mucus-Thinning Medicines
- Bronchodilators
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
PROGNOSIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Prognosis is based on the cause of the disease, duration and condition of the patient
- Generally, chest congestion is curable with proper treatment.
COMPLICATIONS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Chronic bronchial infection
CHEST CONGESTION AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda, chest congestion is considered as a disease that occurs in the pranavaha srothas.
- Symptoms of chest congestion can be correlated to swasa along with kasa.
- Ayurveda has several formulations to treat this condition and is in practice with proven efficacy.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Exposure to dust and smoke
- Residing in a cold place – seeta sthana
- Use of cold water- seetambu sevana
- Irregular meals
- Injury to vital organs – marma ghata
- Injury to chest – uro abhighata
- Suppression of natural urges
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Pain in the chest
- Heaviness in the chest
- Breathing difficulty
- Cough
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Due to the causative factors, pranavata combining with kapha leaves its path and begins to move in the upward direction, giving rise to breathing difficulty, cough etc.
TYPES OF SWASA
- Ksudra swasa
- Tamaka swasa
- China swasa
- Maha swasa
- Urdwa swasa
TYPES OF KASA
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
- Kshataja
- Kshayaja
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Wheezing sound – ghurghuraka
- Breathing difficulty
- The chest is full of sputum – vaksha sampoorna
- Profuse expectorations
- Viscid sputum
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF CHEST CONGESTION
- Swasa and kasa roga is generally sadhya
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
Ayurvedic local treatment for CHEST CONGESTION
- Snehana using lavana taila and Svedam – local fermentation
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- Elakanadi Kashayam
- Vyaghriyadi Kashayam
- Dadimashtak Churna
- Hinguvachadi Churna
- Thalisadi Choorna
- Pippali Choorna
- Haridra Khanda
- Guduchi Satwa
- Kantakari Ghrutha
- Datri Loha
- Kanakasava +Pushkaramoolasava
- Tribhuvana Keerthi Rasa
- Dashamoola Katuthrayam Kashaya
- Shwasa Kutara Rasa
- Swasanandam Gutika
- Gorochanadi Gutika
- Gopichandanadi Gutika
- Shwaschintamani Ras
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- Dasamoola nirooha basthi is best in vata kapha roga chikitsa
- Vamana
- virechana
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR CHEST CONGESTION
Internal administration
- Thalisadi Choorna
- Haridra Khanda
- Kantakari Ghrutha
- Datri Loha
- Kanakasava
- Tribhuvana Keerthi Rasa
- Dashamoola Katuthrayam Kashaya
- Shwasa Kutara Rasa
- Vyaghri hareetaki avaleha
External application
- Karpooradi taila application on chest region during breathing difficulty
HOME REMEDIES FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- Heat application on the chest area by a towel dipped with hot water
- Steam inhalation
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- Avoid food items which produce kapha, vataa dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because kapha, vata imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items
- Avoid heavy diet at bedtime.
- Avoid drinking water immediately after food.
YOGA FOR CHEST CONGESTION
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – cleans the respiratory passage
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.