{"id":56235,"date":"2023-01-04T16:30:24","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T21:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56235"},"modified":"2025-10-23T15:58:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T19:58:51","slug":"chest-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/chest-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get rid of a chest cold"},"content":{"rendered":"

It can feel uncomfortable dealing with a cough that produces mucus or makes it hard to breathe at times, and you might even have to miss work because of it. A cough can be a symptom of many conditions, such as an infection or lung problem. One of the main causes of a productive cough is acute <\/span>bronchitis<\/span><\/a>, otherwise known as a chest cold. A chest cold can sometimes be difficult to spot, especially since chest cold symptoms can overlap with symptoms of the common cold, asthma, or heart failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Continue reading to learn more about the stages of a chest cold, chest cold medicine options, and, ultimately, how to get rid of a chest cold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a chest cold?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Acute bronchitis is a relatively common problem affecting around <\/span>5%<\/span><\/a> of the general population each year and is among the top illnesses in the United States. But what exactly is acute bronchitis?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Acute bronchitis is the inflammation of the large airways of the lungs, specifically the bronchi. In most cases, acute bronchitis occurs due to a viral infection. However, it can also be caused by a bacterial infection or other triggers, such as environmental pollutants, <\/span>allergies<\/span><\/a>, and smoking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it can occur at any time of the year, chest colds often occur during flu season, which happens during the fall and winter months. It can also occur after upper respiratory tract infections, <\/span>such as the common cold<\/span><\/a>. Unlike the common cold, however, which can cause symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion, and a sore throat, a chest cold is concentrated in the lower respiratory tract and is mainly characterized by chest congestion and a cough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different viruses can cause an infection that leads to a chest cold. These include influenza and rhinovirus, among others. Bacteria that can cause an infection that leads to acute bronchitis include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stages of a chest cold<\/span><\/h3>\n

A chest cold usually starts with an initial infection or trigger. For example, it can develop from an upper respiratory tract infection, which may lead to irritation in the lungs and lower respiratory tract. Symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection include sore throat, runny nose, and <\/span>fever<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It can take a few days after becoming infected or being exposed to a trigger before inflammation in the lungs appears. Once the inflammation develops on the lining of the bronchi, the symptoms of a chest cold start to appear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the immune system fights off the infection, the body can take time to recover. As the infection or irritant is neutralized by the immune system, symptoms can start to clear up within several days or weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chest cold symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most of the time, a chest cold is not serious. The symptoms are usually more bothersome than debilitating. However, in serious cases, the symptoms of a chest cold can warrant supportive medical treatment, especially if the chest cold leads to complications like respiratory distress or <\/span>pneumonia<\/span><\/a>. People with other lung conditions, such as <\/span>COPD or asthma<\/span><\/a>, may experience more severe symptoms of a chest cold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Symptoms of a chest cold include:<\/span><\/p>\n