Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome TreatmentHow Long Will It Last?Signs It’s Getting WorseWhen to See a ProviderWhat Can Make It Last Longer
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Treatment
How Long Will It Last?
Signs It’s Getting Worse
When to See a Provider
What Can Make It Last Longer
A chest cold, also known as acute bronchitis, develops when thebronchi(the tubes that carry air to the lungs) suddenly swell, causing a persistentcough.
This article reviews home therapies for chest colds. It also discusses how long you can expect to be sick with a chest cold and when to see a healthcare provider.
Daniel de la Hoz / Getty Images
How to Stop a Chest Cold at Home
The hallmark symptom of a chest cold is a nagging cough. The cough is usually “wet” as the body tries to clear its inflamed airways ofmucus.
Other possible symptoms of a chest cold include:
Congestion in the chest may also occur due to the swollen and mucus-filled air passages. Chest muscle soreness can also develop from continual coughing.
Most chest colds go away on their own and, therefore, can be managed at home.Antibioticsare not usually warranted, as viruses cause the vast majority of such colds and antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.
Remedies
At-home remedies to manage acute bronchitis include:
Does Honey Help a Cough?
Over-the-Counter Medications
You might also talk with a healthcare provider about taking anover-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence for or against the effect of OTC cough medicine remains scant.
Two OTC cough medicines are:
What About Children?Parents should not give OTC cough and cold medicines to kids under age 6, as they can cause serious side effects. Also, there is evidence they do not help relieve the illness.
What About Children?
Parents should not give OTC cough and cold medicines to kids under age 6, as they can cause serious side effects. Also, there is evidence they do not help relieve the illness.
In addition, to ease fever or any headaches or muscle aches associated with acute bronchitis, consideranOTC pain reliever, such as:
Keep in mind that while OTC pain medicines are generally safe and well-tolerated, they may interact with other drugs or, in some cases, cause harm. Speak with a healthcare provider before taking one. Also,do not give aspirin or aspirin-containing medicationsto anyone under age 19.
How Long a Chest Cold Could Last
The start of a chest cold often resembles that of the common cold or other viral URIs. A mild fever may be present early on but typically resolves within a few days.
Cough is the symptom that persists and is most bothersome. The cough can be dry but is often wet, producing clear or yellow-green mucus.
Due to the cough, chest colds are often slow to resolve. Research suggests that episodes of acute bronchitis typically last two to three weeks, with a mean cough duration of nearly 18 days.
Is a Chest Cold Contagious?The germs (viruses or, uncommonly, bacteria) that cause a chest cold are contagious. You can prevent chest colds with frequenthandwashing, avoiding touching your face, and ensuring up-to-date vaccinations.
Is a Chest Cold Contagious?
The germs (viruses or, uncommonly, bacteria) that cause a chest cold are contagious. You can prevent chest colds with frequenthandwashing, avoiding touching your face, and ensuring up-to-date vaccinations.
How Germs Are Transmitted—And How to Protect Yourself
Signs of a Chest Cold Getting Worse
While unpleasant, most chest colds are not serious. Symptoms should slowly improve. That said, sometimes, a chest cold does not get better and progresses intopneumonia(a lung infection).
Signs that your chest cold is worsening and perhaps turning into pneumonia include:
Also, what you may think is a chest cold could be a different condition altogether.
The following symptoms or conditions may resemble a chest cold:
Can a Chest Cold Be COVID-19?You can get a chest cold with nearly any virus, includingCOVID-19. Considertesting for COVID-19if you have chest cold symptoms.
Can a Chest Cold Be COVID-19?
You can get a chest cold with nearly any virus, includingCOVID-19. Considertesting for COVID-19if you have chest cold symptoms.
Should You See a Healthcare Provider for a Chest Cold?
Most chest colds can be safely and effectively managed at home. That said, in addition to worsening symptoms, specific scenarios necessitate medical attention.
Be sure to see a healthcare provider in the following situations:
Do You Need the Pneumonia Vaccine?
What Makes Chest Colds Last Longer
As you heal from a chest cold, try to take it easy and practice healthy lifestyle behaviors like getting enough sleep and eating nutritiously.
Also, avoid smoking, as exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke or pollutants may contribute to prolonged or recurrent chest colds.
Smoking-Cessation ResourcesIf you are thinking about or trying toquit smoking, consider these resources:Download thequitSTART app, a free smartphone app that provides tips and inspiration for stopping smoking.Call 800-QUIT-NOW, a confidential coaching resource on quitting smoking.Talk with a healthcare provider about medicines to help you quit, such asnicotine-replacement therapy.Seek out support and encouragement from loved ones.
Smoking-Cessation Resources
If you are thinking about or trying toquit smoking, consider these resources:Download thequitSTART app, a free smartphone app that provides tips and inspiration for stopping smoking.Call 800-QUIT-NOW, a confidential coaching resource on quitting smoking.Talk with a healthcare provider about medicines to help you quit, such asnicotine-replacement therapy.Seek out support and encouragement from loved ones.
If you are thinking about or trying toquit smoking, consider these resources:
Summary
A chest cold, also known as acute bronchitis, is associated with a cough that may persist for up to three weeks. Since viruses cause most chest colds, they can be managed at home with various remedies like taking honey (only if over 12 months old) or running a cool mist humidifier. Some people may consider trying an OTC cough medication under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
While most chest colds are nagging but not worrisome, sometimes they can progress into pneumonia or be mistaken for an underlying condition like asthma or chronic bronchitis. See a healthcare professional if your chest cold worsens or persists beyond three weeks.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clark TW, Medina MJ, Batham S, Curran MD, Parmar S, Nicholson KG.Adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness rarely have detectable bacteria in the absence of COPD or pneumonia; viral infection predominates in a large prospective UK sample.J Infect. 2014;69(5):507-515. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2014.07.023Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-565.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).Goldman RD.Honey for treatment of cough in children.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(12):1107-1108, 1110.American Academy of Pediatrics.Caring for your child’s cold or flu.Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T.Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014(11):CD001831. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease.American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of whooping cough (pertussis).Luo X, Lv M, Zhang X, et al.COVID-19 evidence and recommendations working group. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19: An overview of 102 systematic reviews with evidence mapping.J Evid Based Med. 2022;15(3):201-215. doi:10.1111/jebm.12483Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to quit smoking.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clark TW, Medina MJ, Batham S, Curran MD, Parmar S, Nicholson KG.Adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness rarely have detectable bacteria in the absence of COPD or pneumonia; viral infection predominates in a large prospective UK sample.J Infect. 2014;69(5):507-515. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2014.07.023Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-565.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).Goldman RD.Honey for treatment of cough in children.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(12):1107-1108, 1110.American Academy of Pediatrics.Caring for your child’s cold or flu.Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T.Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014(11):CD001831. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease.American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of whooping cough (pertussis).Luo X, Lv M, Zhang X, et al.COVID-19 evidence and recommendations working group. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19: An overview of 102 systematic reviews with evidence mapping.J Evid Based Med. 2022;15(3):201-215. doi:10.1111/jebm.12483Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to quit smoking.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Clark TW, Medina MJ, Batham S, Curran MD, Parmar S, Nicholson KG.Adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness rarely have detectable bacteria in the absence of COPD or pneumonia; viral infection predominates in a large prospective UK sample.J Infect. 2014;69(5):507-515. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2014.07.023Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-565.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).Goldman RD.Honey for treatment of cough in children.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(12):1107-1108, 1110.American Academy of Pediatrics.Caring for your child’s cold or flu.Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T.Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014(11):CD001831. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease.American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of whooping cough (pertussis).Luo X, Lv M, Zhang X, et al.COVID-19 evidence and recommendations working group. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19: An overview of 102 systematic reviews with evidence mapping.J Evid Based Med. 2022;15(3):201-215. doi:10.1111/jebm.12483Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to quit smoking.
Clark TW, Medina MJ, Batham S, Curran MD, Parmar S, Nicholson KG.Adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness rarely have detectable bacteria in the absence of COPD or pneumonia; viral infection predominates in a large prospective UK sample.J Infect. 2014;69(5):507-515. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2014.07.023
Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-565.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).
Goldman RD.Honey for treatment of cough in children.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(12):1107-1108, 1110.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Caring for your child’s cold or flu.
Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T.Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014(11):CD001831. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease.
American Lung Association.Chronic bronchitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of whooping cough (pertussis).
Luo X, Lv M, Zhang X, et al.COVID-19 evidence and recommendations working group. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19: An overview of 102 systematic reviews with evidence mapping.J Evid Based Med. 2022;15(3):201-215. doi:10.1111/jebm.12483
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to quit smoking.
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