How to Get Rid of Mucus to Help you Breathe Easier

Why do I have so much mucus?

Your upper respiratory system produces mucous when it thinks that the body is threatened. 

Whenever dirt, dust, pollen, viruses, and molds enter your nostrils, your body responds to the "invasion" by sending out cells to see what it is. Then to isolate the foreign invaders, mucus is produced. The more mucus the body produces, the more our breathing becomes affected. 

So how do you get rid of mucous so you can breathe easier?

The most important step is to get rid of anything that irritates your immune system. 

Steer away from dust, smoke, pollen, viruses and other allergens that could irritate you. 

Afterwards, you should focus on getting rid of mucous since this is the perfect haven for bacteria to thrive in.

Try Steam

One of the most common ways to get rid of mucus is to use steam inhalation. Steam loosens mucus so that you can easily cough or sneeze it out. 

Steam inhalation machines are available but you can also improvise. 

1. Simply boil water in a kettle and then remove from the stove once it boils completely. 
2. Use a funnel made of cardboard so you can inhale steam directly from the kettle; be careful not to burn yourself! 
3. Optionally instead of using a cardboard funnel, you can use a towel over your head to allow you to inhale more steam. You can do this as often as you want to remove mucus.

Mucus is usually trapped in your nasal cavity, throat and upper respiratory tract. So you can loosen it or you can remove it easier with a few sharp taps on the back after steam inhalation. 

Stay Hydrated

Drinking more water will help. By hydrating the body from the inside you will be able to get rid of mucous faster. 

And aside from water, you can eat fruits and veggies with high water content such as watermelons, apples, cucumbers, and lettuces.

Blow Your Nose

Another way on how to get rid of mucus is to blow your nose. 

Simply blow on each side of your nose but be gentle not to damage your nasal lining. If you have a stuffy nose, we have a few more tips for you to get rid of a stuffed nose.

Get Rest

Rest will also help overcome mucous production and will also keep you from getting sicklier. If mucous production persists then you should consult your doctor right away for a more appropriate treatment.