Essential oils for respiratory comfort 

During the winter season, it is quite normal to worry about our breathing comfort .

An essential element of well-being, our bronchi are therefore difficult to preserve during periods of cold and humidity. To take care of your body effectively, the expert pharmacists of Soin-et-nature.com offer a selection of essential oils for respiratory comfort with antiseptic properties of the respiratory tract in influenza and bronchitis, decongestant of the respiratory tract high (sinusitis), mucolytic and expectorant, respiratory oxygenating, antitussive and bronchial antispasmodic.

Upper respiratory tract infections, like the common cold and flu, strain your mucous membranes, blocking the airways and causing chest congestion.

When you are sick, the body makes too much phlegm to help flush out the intruding virus and phlegm, regardless of the root cause. The human body reacts quickly, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms.

What causes chest congestion ?

Phlegm is naturally present in the body, but when you have a cold or the flu, you make too much of it, which can cause coughing, congestion, and pain. Coughing and phlegm is your body's reaction to trying to remove irritants that have entered your upper respiratory tract. Once an irritant is inhaled, mucus production is stimulated and the fine hairs (cilia) in the nasal lining and windpipe carry the substance and mucus out of the throat. They can then be coughed (or expectorated) or swallowed in the stomach.

The bronchi (and bronchioles) make up a system of ducts connecting the trachea to the lungs. The air inspired by the nose passes through the larynx and then through the trachea before reaching its ultimate destination: the lungs. The main function of these latter is to ensure gas exchange between air and blood and to participate in the distribution of oxygen. When breathing is compromised, various problems of varying nature and severity can arise.

However, chest congestion can be due to other factors such as :

• Allergies
• Smoking
• Chronic diseases
• Exposure to irritating substances

What are the symptoms of chest congestion ?

• Oily or dry cough
• Discomfort or tenderness in the chest
• Cough with phlegm
• Symptoms of chest congestion can stem from several conditions, but if your congestion is caused by a cold, it should normally last for less than 10 days.

For more information, do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist for advice.