Mucus Management — 8 Common Causes Of Excessive Mucus & 5 Helpful Remedies

Mucus is not the most glamorous topic — but it is an important one.

When you have too much mucus buildup it can feel like it’s the end of the world.

The technical term for this excessive buildup of mucus is chronic mucus hypersecretion or chronic sputum production.

Unfortunately, there are many things that can cause mucus to build up in your airways, and some of them have no cure.

The symptoms can be treated though.

Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash

Sometimes simple steps, like staying active or using a breathing device, can make the problems much more manageable.

Here are a few of the more common causes of excessive mucus build-up.

1. Chronic Bronchitis
2. Asthma
3. Infection
4. Allergies
5. Smoking
6. COPD
7. Acid Reflux
8. Cystic Fibrosis

If you’re suffering from any of these complications, or something else entirely that’s causing your body to build up too much mucus in your airways, there are some solutions that can help.

Steam

Using a humidifier will moisten the air you breathe, and that will help to break up all that mucus in your chest.

Make sure you regularly clean your humidifier though — or they can build up nasty bacteria inside that you really don’t want to be breathing in.

Hot showers can also help, but shouldn’t be counted on as a solution.

OPEP Device

These machines use gentle pressure to help break up your mucus and allow your body to expel it.

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There are no drugs or chemicals involved, and they’ve also been shown to increase lung capacity — which may help with your breathing.

Medication

Over-the-counter medications can help to clear things up.

If you have a chronic condition, check with your doctor before taking any medications.

You might try some decongestants, like Sudafed, or expectorants, like Mucinex.

Honey

Harmless honey has a million uses it seems, and this is a good one.

A tablespoon or less every 3 to 4 hours can help to soothe your throat, and it acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Posture

The way you sit and stand can have a large effect on how mucus moves throughout your body.

Try adjusting your posture so that gravity can help to drain the mucus to where you want it.

These solutions may not cure your problem, but they sure can make it a lot easier to manage.

Using a humidifier and an OPEP device provides an excellent combination of mucus busting methods that don’t require any drugs or difficult steps.

Hopefully, these tips can help you to breathe a little easier, and lessen any terrible coughs.

Just don’t forget to clean your humidifier!