Got the cold and think it’s turning into a chest infection

[Cumbrianlass66]

I got a cold last week drugged myself up with Lemsip max night and day as the kids were off school DH was away and I was in work a couple of days. I survived the week but I’m now thinking it’s turning into a chest infection I often get them in winter and they linger on and wipe me out. What steps can I take or any advise to minimise this happening please? I can’t be bothered with feeling or being ill for two or three weeks.I have just been out with the dog this morning with DH’s thick coat on and had the zip well up to cover my mouth to keep the cold out but the trouble was my glasses kept steaming up so I could hardly see where I was going. Should I be wearing a scarf over my mouth if it’s very cold first thing or is this just an old wives tale? I have had my flu jab due to underlying health conditions. Thanks

Anyone

I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about with the scarf. If you're worried about s chest infection you need to be getting all the catarrh up from your chest. Try steam inhalation a couple of times a day and use a chesty cough medicine (a proper one from behind the counter rather than just a soothing one you can get off the shelf). Also drink plenty of water. I hope you feel better soon!

I don’t know what you mean either re the scarf. Sounds a bit old wives’ tale.

Steam is really helpful. When I had a chesty cough, I sat in the steam room at the gym and it really helped. Drink loads of water as it loosens the mucus and helps you to cough it up.

See a gp, get some antibiotics.. nip it in the bud early rather than letting it linger and develop

Do you smoke?
Any other health issues, especially regarding breathing? They all have effects on how a cough/cold affect you

Prevention wise... eat healthy, dont visit ill people, and just wash hands regularly

A scarf can help if you get wheezy. Cold, dry air is irritating for the airways & can make wheezing/coughing worse. A scarf helps retain some warmth & humidity & can improve things. We use special filters specifically to do this in anaesthetics.

Make sure you are breathing deeply and so expanding your lungs properly, not every breath, but every 5 mins take a deep one iyswim. Take a good multivitamin with plenty of vit d. Use steam to keep your airways moist. Take a medicine with guafenesin as it thins secretions (so you can cough it up) and then try and cough. If you arent staying ahead of it, go to the GP

Thanks I have asthma and have had problems with my lungs in the past. I have stayed away from the gym this past week but I could have tried the steam room today when I was off if i’d read this earlier.

Was your flu jab recent? That's exactly how I'm feeling and got mines last week. I've got asthma too and really struggling just now

I had it done at the chemist at the first opportunity the third week in Sept so not really. Both the kids have had it for over a week before passing it onto me.

Great idea about the scarf, given the issues you raised.

If you're asthmatic then don't be shy about going to the doctors if you're struggling at all with your chest. I hope you're starting to feel better now though.