How do Expectorants work?!
Question: I have been sick the past few days and now that the fever has past I have horrible chest congestion. My mother has gone out to get Expectorant and I'm wondering how it will work. Am I just going to cough the mucus up? Or is it going to cause vomiting or something??
I've actually never heard of an expectorant before so sorry if my question sounds stupid.
Answers: I have been sick the past few days and now that the fever has past I have horrible chest congestion. My mother has gone out to get Expectorant and I'm wondering how it will work. Am I just going to cough the mucus up? Or is it going to cause vomiting or something??
I've actually never heard of an expectorant before so sorry if my question sounds stupid.
Expectorants are also called mucolytics. They are a spcial classification meaning that they basicially distroy mucus. They do it in two ways. If you remember you high school chemistry at all you'll remember that mucus is basically made up of protiens chains. The mucolytic is like acetone on nail polish and dissolve the bond on contact, liquifeing the gunk making it easier for you to cough up and out. It is extrememly important for you to hydrate you body with plain water when you are plugged up with secretions in the lungs as it helps them to recover faster and it will make it easier to yack the phlegm out. The only way your going to vomit is if you talk yourself into it. Stay away for soda especially diet pop as it tends to make you go to the bathroom and acts as a dieuretic which is just the opposite of what we are trying to achieve. So remember, drink plenty of water, sleep as much as your body will let you and cough and spit out the gunk. Feel free to e-mail me if you have anymore question. Hope you feel better soon.
It will just help loosen the congestion so you can cough it up.
Correct. It will make the mucous more watery so it can be expelled. And speaking of water, make sure to drink lots of it because that is the primary method the body uses to cleanse itself, which is especially important when you're sick. You won't be getting better very fast if you're dehydrated!