A wheezing cough can create discomfort and frustration; you may suffer from it due to several serious diseases, it is therefore important to undergo a medical examination to identify its origin. Once the etiology has been found, your doctor can recommend the best treatment for your specific situation. Eventually, you can also get rid of a cough with some home remedies, drinking plenty of fluids, and prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: with Home Remedies
Step 1. Gargle with salt water
This remedy can help you reduce swelling of the throat, thereby limiting coughing; you can do them every couple of hours throughout the day.
To prepare the saline solution, dissolve a pinch of sea salt in 250 ml of hot water; hold the mixture in your mouth for 30-60 seconds to gargle, then spit it out
Step 2. Suck on some balsamic cough candies
They can help you limit coughing wheezing, but keep in mind that they don't cure the disorder. choose those that contain menthol, as it has a cooling effect on the throat and airways.
You can suck on one of these candies every couple of hours to temporarily relieve discomfort
Step 3. Turn on a humidifier
Keeping the air humid in the house helps relieve discomfort, as it helps loosen mucus and reduce cough; you can turn it on when you are indoors, to prevent the air from drying out excessively.
- If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the humidifier tank to increase the benefits of the steam. Among those suitable for your problem are: eucalyptus, mint, ginger and camphor.
- If you don't have this device, you can take a hot shower to moisturize the nasal passages and calm a wheezing cough; you should do it before going to sleep, to relax and limit coughing during the night.
Step 4. Get plenty of rest
It is a fundamental step to heal from any type of disease, so plan to rest a lot. You may need to stay home from work for a few days to recover properly; also try to sleep at least eight hours a night while recovering.
If you need it, you can sleep even more by taking naps during the day
Step 5. Try wearing a face mask when going outdoors
Airborne irritants can sometimes cause a whistling cough. If you are concerned that these elements, such as pollen, chemicals, and smoke, may aggravate or cause discomfort, you can cover your mouth with one of these masks and protect yourself from exposure to these substances.
In the presence of this cough, cigarette smoke can be quite irritating. If you are a smoker and want to get rid of the disorder, you should try to quit; talk to your doctor about quitting medications and programs that can help and support you through the detox process
Step 6. Eat smaller meals
If the wheezing cough is due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you can reduce it by eating smaller but more frequent portions throughout the day. Avoid large meals and instead choose small but nutritious portions to reduce the effects of the disease and get rid of the bad cough associated with it.
In particular, be sure not to eat just before bedtime; you should finish dinner about three to four hours before bedtime
Method 2 of 3: Increase Your Fluid Intake
Step 1. Drink lots of water
Good hydration helps heal. While recovering, you should drink between eight and ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day; you can also add a glass or two of juice as a supplement to your daily fluid intake, but make sure that most of the fluids are water.
Step 2. Sip some herbal tea
This is another way to get more fluids, besides the fact that some plants have therapeutic properties that help soothe the discomfort. To prepare an herbal tea, pour 250 ml of boiling water on a teaspoon of dried herbs or on the sachet of the ready-made herbal tea; leave to infuse for about five minutes and then remove the leaves or the sachet from the water; you can drink a few cups a day. Among the most suitable plants to combat cough consider:
- Red elm;
- Garlic;
- Roman or peppermint;
- Ginger;
- Cayenne or black pepper (just add a pinch!).
Step 3. Make a drink with hot water, honey and lemon
Drink this mixture to thin the mucus and reduce cough; lemon juice is a great addition because it contains vitamin C.
Remember not to give honey to babies under one year old
Step 4. Drink soups and broths
Even with these substances you increase your fluid intake and you can get rid of cough more easily; warm fluids help loosen mucus in the throat and lungs which can aggravate coughing.
Eat chicken soup with noodles, vegetable soup, or drink plain beef broth
Step 5. Make a mixture of milk and turmeric
It is a drink that is traditionally used to treat coughs and colds, so this remedy is also worth trying; add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder to 250ml of warm cow's milk.
If you don't particularly like this type of milk, you can mix turmeric with that of almonds, rice or hemp
Method 3 of 3: Medical Care
Step 1. Know when to see your doctor
In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to seek prompt medical attention. You can try home remedies for a few days, but if your health doesn't improve soon, you need to see a doctor. Call it if you start noticing:
- Thick and / or greenish-yellow phlegm;
- Whistling or hissing at the beginning or end of each breath
- Any strange sounding cough (not just wheezing) and difficulty breathing at the end of the cough;
- Fever that exceeds 38 ° C;
- Shortness of breath.
Step 2. Go to the emergency room if you experience severe symptoms
In some situations, you may have other symptoms, besides a cough, that require immediate medical attention. Go to the hospital right away if you try:
- Suffocation;
- Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
- Blood in the phlegm or slightly pink phlegm.
Step 3. Ask your doctor to recommend cough medications
There are several over-the-counter and prescription medicines that help relieve the discomfort of a wheezing cough. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any product, because the right one for you depends on the etiology of the cough. Among the most common drugs are:
- Antihistamines: your doctor can recommend them in case of induced cough or allergies;
- Antitussives: they help when the cough is due to a common cold;
- Decongestants: they are indicated for cough accompanied by congestion of the nasal sinuses;
- Expectorants: particularly suitable if you have a lot of thick mucus that you can't get rid of;
- Inhaled bronchodilators / beta 2 agonists: useful when cough is caused by asthma.
Warnings
- You should see your doctor when you have a wheezing cough, as it can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as an allergic reaction, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or pneumonia.
- If the wheezing is caused by a mass, such as goiter or a mediastinal mass, it may need to be surgically removed.
