Chest Congestion

Chest congestion, chesty cough or blocked nose?

Chest congestion is phlegm in your lungs and lower airways, often felt as chest tightness. Coughing it up with a productive, chesty cough is how your body clears it, while nasal mucus points to a blocked nose. Phlegm from a chesty cough should be white or clear; if it turns yellow, green or bloody, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Tightness that feels heavy or crushing, or spreads to your arm, jaw or back, could be your heart: call Triple Zero (000) and see chest pain.

When congestion may be a chest infection

Most chest infections in healthy adults get better on their own, though a cough after bronchitis can linger for weeks. See a doctor if you are short of breath, have a temperature of 38°C or higher, are coughing up a lot of phlegm or blood, aren't improving, or have a heart or lung condition such as asthma. Being very short of breath, or pain when breathing, needs an emergency department. Cough medicines may ease some symptoms, but there is little evidence they help a cough clear up sooner, and the TGA says cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 6. If you try steam, take care not to scald yourself.

Sources: healthdirect — Chest infection; healthdirect — Cough; healthdirect — Bronchitis; healthdirect — Chest pain