Cough is a common irritating symptom that can occur for a short period of time, but it can also be chronic. Causes of an occasional cough include viruses (including the flu, the common cold, laryngotracheobronchitis, and human respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV), bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis or sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. A chronic cough lasting more than 8 weeks could be caused by asthma, allergies, chronic sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD), congestive heart failure, emphysema, lung cancer, or tuberculosis.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Taking Care of the Body
Step 1. Keep in mind that coughing is generally important
If you are still experiencing the full middle stage of your coughing illness, most doctors are reluctant to "cure" it, because the cough actually does an important job: clearing the airways. If you feel that the cough is coming from deep in your chest, or if you have a constant cough with phlegm or mucus, accept that what you are experiencing is positive; remember that the body has an innate ability to help itself to get better.
If you have had a cough for more than 8 weeks, this is considered a "chronic cough". In this case, you should visit your doctor to find out what could be the cause. Among the main culprits are asthma, allergies, chronic sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called GERD, congestive heart failure, emphysema, lung cancer or tuberculosis. Some medications, such as ACE inhibitors, also have coughing as a side effect
Step 2. Drink plenty of fluids
Coughing causes body fluids to be lost due to increased respiratory rate and coughing; moreover, if it is accompanied by fever, even more is lost. Drink water, make soups and broths or sip fruit juice - but not citrus. Hydration prevents further irritation of the throat, reduces mucus secretions and helps you feel better in general.
- Men should drink at least 3 liters of fluid per day, while women should drink at least 2.2 liters. Consider drinking even more if you are sick.
- Avoid carbonated drinks and citrus juices, as they can be more irritating to the throat.
- Some research has shown that warm liquids help loosen mucus secretions and relieve coughing, as well as reduce other common symptoms that occur alongside malaise, such as sneezing, sore throat, and runny nose. Then drink some hot broth, hot tea or even coffee.
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To soothe congestion and reduce coughs, make a drink of hot water, lemon, and honey. Mix 240 ml of hot water with the juice of half a lemon, then add as much honey as you like. Sip this hot drink slowly.
Do not give honey to children under one year of age, as there is a risk that they may be affected by botulism
Step 3. Eat more fruit
Studies have shown that eating a high-fiber diet, particularly fruit, helps reduce chronic cough and other respiratory symptoms.
- Fiber from whole fruit is more effective than fiber supplements at reducing coughs. In addition, fruits such as apples and pears also contain flavonoids, which can help improve lung function in general.
- Fruits rich in fiber are raspberries, pears, apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries.
Step 4. Take a warm shower or bath
Inhaling the steam from a hot bath or shower helps hydrate the airways and clear them of congestion. This also reduces the urge to cough.
- Get ready for a hot shower, close the bathroom door and place a towel between the bottom of the door and the floor. Stay at least 15-20 minutes to inhale the steam that builds up in the room.
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You can also find an alternative to inhale the steam. Bring a pot of distilled water to a temperature just before boiling. Carefully pour it into a heat-resistant bowl and place the bowl on a flat, stable surface, such as a table or kitchen counter. Lay your face over the bowl, being careful not to burn yourself with the steam. Lay a light cotton towel over your head and breathe deeply, inhaling the steam.
Be sure to keep children away from the bowl and boiling water, as they could get burned. If you have children with coughs, the best thing is to have them sit in the bathroom and open the hot water in the shower to inhale the steam
- Remember that dry secretions do not dissolve with steam, but it is easy to remove wet ones from the lungs and airways.
Step 5. Loosen congestion with percussive techniques
If you are at home and have a partner who can help you, ask him to slap your chest to try to relieve chest congestion. This method is especially effective when done in the morning and before bedtime.
- Sit with your back against a chair or wall. Your partner should cup their hand by bending the knuckles of the fingers. Ask him to clap his hands over the pectoral muscles quickly and firmly. Stay in this position for 5 minutes.
- Lie on your stomach with a pillow under your hips. Bend your arms at the elbows and hold them to the sides of your body. Ask your partner to use a cupped hand to tap it firmly and quickly over the shoulder blades and upper back. Stay in this position for 5 minutes.
- Lie on your back with a pillow under your hips. Extend your arms to the sides of your body. Ask your partner to use a cupped hand and tap it firmly and quickly over the pectoral (chest) muscles. Stay in this position for 5 minutes.
- The "blow" with which your partner hits you should make a hollow sound. If it seems more like a "slap", ask him to cupped his hand more.
- Make sure it doesn't hit you on the spinal or kidney areas.
Step 6. Learn a new coughing technique
If the throat is tense and irritated due to a continuous and persistent cough, try the technique of coughing with the "huff", to avoid a coughing fit.
- Empty your lungs by exhaling as much as possible; then inhale slowly and take a deep breath; keep your mouth open and relaxed, as if to say an "O".
- Contract your upper abdominal muscles to induce a short "cough". Take a small inhale and repeat with another mini cough. Take an even shorter breath and do another mini cough.
- Finally, do a strong, violent cough. You should feel that the phlegm loosens a little. The small coughs are used to move the mucus towards the upper part of the airways, so that more of it can be expelled with the last, great cough.
Step 7. Stop smoking
Smoking is responsible for many types of coughs; in particular, it is the most common cause of chronic, as well as being incredibly harmful to health in general. Quitting smoking can help relieve coughs and allow the body to start recovering from the damage it has suffered.
- When you stop, you may actually notice that you cough more than usual during the first few weeks. This is completely normal, because smoking inhibits the function of the cilia (small hairs) in the lungs, as well as causing chronic inflammation of the airways. When you stop smoking, your eyelashes start to work better and the inflammation starts to subside. The body needs up to 3 weeks at times to adjust to this recovery.
- Stopping smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, as well as reducing the severity of respiratory symptoms such as cough in the long run.
- It should also not be forgotten that it also benefits close people, who could experience many health problems due to exposure to secondhand smoke.
Step 8. Wait
Most minor coughs should subside within 2-3 weeks. If it persists, is frequent or severe, you should see your doctor; in fact, when it lasts for a long time, it can be a sign of another disease. You should see your doctor right away if you have underlying health problems that could aggravate your cough (such as asthma, lung disease, or immune deficiencies), or if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Thick green or greenish-yellow phlegm that persists for more than a couple of days or is accompanied by pain in the face or head or fever.
- Pinkish or bloody phlegm.
- Feeling of suffocation.
- Wheezing or "whooping" cough.
- Fever above 38 ° C for more than 3 days.
- Shortness of breath or chest pain.
- Difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
- Cyanosis or bluish color of the lips, face, fingers or toes.
Method 2 of 4: Using Natural Remedies
Step 1. Get honey
Honey is a natural cough suppressant and soothes a sore throat; it is also known for its ability to reduce many of the causes of allergy related to chronic cough. Mix some in a cup of hot tea to relieve coughs. You can also eat a tablespoon of pure honey before bed to try to calm your cough during the night.
- You can safely give honey to children aged 2 and up. This food has been shown to be as effective in children as the drug dextromethorphan. However, be aware that you should never give it to babies under 12 months, as it could cause infant botulism, a serious type of food poisoning.
- Studies have shown that honey from buckwheat can also help with your cough problem. Plus, the one harvested in the area you live in can also help fight common allergens in your environment.
Step 2. Use a saline-based nasal spray to relieve congestion
A saline spray can help loosen mucus in the nose or throat, thereby reducing coughing. This is a product that you can buy in stores or you can make yourself.
- To create a saline solution, add 2 teaspoons of table salt to 1 liter of warm water. Stir until the salt dissolves completely. Use a neti pot or bulb syringe to irrigate your sinuses. You can use this spray when you feel congested, especially before bed.
- If a small child has a cough, try giving him the spray before breastfeeding or feeding him.
Step 3. Gargle with hot salt water
These gargles help to moisturize the throat and consequently calm the cough. You can make the salt water solution quickly at home:
- Mix ¼ or ½ teaspoon of whole salt or pure crystallized salt (sodium chloride) with 240ml of warm distilled or boiled water.
- Put a large sip of this solution in your mouth and gargle for a minute. Finally spit out the liquid: make sure you don't swallow the salt water.
Step 4. Get some mint
The active ingredient of this herb is menthol, which is a good expectorant able to facilitate the dissolution of phlegm and relieve cough, even a dry one. You can easily find mint in commercial preparations, essential oils and herbal teas. You can also easily grow the plant if you wish.
- Drink peppermint tea for cough relief.
- Do not ingest mint oil. Rub some on your chest for easier breathing.
Step 5. Try eucalyptus
Its active ingredient is called cineole and acts as an expectorant to help soothe a cough. You can often find eucalyptus in commercial preparations, cough syrups, balsamic candies and ointments. You can get eucalyptus oil in herbalist's shops and in the best pharmacies.
- Do not take eucalyptus oil orally, because it is toxic if ingested. Rub some under your nose or chest to help you feel less congested and help fight the urge to cough.
- You can try cough syrup or eucalyptus-based balsamic candies to help fight coughs.
- Make eucalyptus tea by steeping a few fresh or dried leaves in hot water for 15 minutes. Drink the infusion up to 3 times a day to soothe a sore throat and calm coughs.
- Do not take eucalyptus if you suffer from asthma, epilepsy, liver or kidney disease or if you have low blood pressure.
Step 6. Drink chamomile tea
This drink is very popular and known to soothe general ailments. It can help heal chest congestions and facilitate sleep. If you wish, you can buy chamomile oil in health food stores, health food stores and pharmacies.
Add chamomile oil to the bath to inhale the vapors and help relieve coughs. You can also add it to a "bath bomb" to try to loosen congestion and soothe a cough
Step 7. Use ginger
This spice can help calm coughs. Make hot ginger tea to soothe a chronic cough.
You can make yourself hot ginger and cinnamon tea by simmering ½ cup thin slices of fresh ginger, 1.5 liters of water and 2 cinnamon sticks for 20 minutes. Filter and drink by adding honey and lemon
Step 8. Try the thyme
Thyme has always been known for its natural expectorant properties and can help loosen mucus. Some studies have found that it can help treat bronchitis and chronic cough.
- Make a thyme tea. Infuse 3 sprigs of fresh thyme in 240ml of water for about 10 minutes. Filter and mix by adding 2 tablespoons of honey and drink to soothe a cough.
- Do not ingest thyme oil, because it is toxic. You should consult your doctor before consuming thyme if you are also taking blood thinners.
Step 9. Try mallow
Its scientific name is Althea officinalis and you can find its leaves and roots in many health food stores. You can also take it as a supplement to help reduce cough caused by ACE inhibitor medications.
Make hot mauve tea. The combination of water, leaves and roots of mallow produces a viscous substance (possibly you can find mallow mucilage supplements on the market), which creates a protective layer on the throat and helps reduce the urge to cough. Infuse a few dry leaves or roots in hot water for 10 minutes. Filter and drink the tea
Step 10. Try white horehound
Horehound, or madder, is a natural expectorant and has been used since ancient times to treat coughs. You can take it as a powder supplement or as a fruit juice, or you can make a tea from its root.
- To make horehound tea, steep 1-2 grams of its root in 240ml of boiling water for 10 minutes. Filter and drink the herbal tea up to 3 times a day. Keep in mind that horehound is very bitter, so adding honey is recommended.
- Sometimes you can find horehound-based hard or balsamic candies. These can be great to suck on if you have a persistent cough.
Method 3 of 4: Using Drugs
Step 1. See your doctor
Your doctor may want to see if you have a persistent or severe cough. If you visit him, be prepared for the fact that he will probably want to know how long you have been coughing and will want to know its characteristics. He will examine your head, neck and chest and may take a nasal or throat swab. In some cases, although rare, you may have a chest X-ray, blood tests, or treatments to improve your breathing.
Make sure you take all the medicines your doctor prescribes on time. If she tells you about antibiotics for a bacterial infection, go through the full course of medication to the end, even if you have started to feel better
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about over-the-counter medications
Consult with him before taking any medicine, especially if you have chronic health problems, allergies to certain medications, are already undergoing other drug treatments, or if you need to give medication to a child under the age of 12. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also consult with their healthcare provider before taking any medicine.
Be aware that studies have not shown significant benefits in taking over-the-counter medications for many cases of coughs or colds
Step 3. Get an expectorant
It is a medicine that can help dissolve upper and lower airway secretions. The most important active ingredient that must be present in the drug is guaifenesin. After taking it, try to make the cough as productive (or oily) as possible and spit out the phlegm or mucus that goes up the airways.
Among the expectorants that contain this active ingredient you can find Mucinex and Robitussin
Step 4. Take an antihistamine if the cough is caused by an allergy
These medications can be helpful in the presence of allergic symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and runny nose.
- The most suitable ones for your specific problem are Loratadine (Claritin), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Chlorpheniramine (Teldrin) and Diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
- Keep in mind that antihistamines cause drowsiness in most people, especially Teldrin, Benadryl, and Zyrtec. Claritin and Allegra generally cause less sedative effect. If you need to take a new antihistamine, try to take it before bed and don't drive or operate heavy machinery until you know for sure how you react to the drug.
Step 5. Try a decongestant
You can find many commercially, readily available, but the two most common are pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine. But be aware that if your secretions are quite thick and you just take a decongestant, they can become even thicker.
- Pseudoephedrine is a prescription drug. So ask your doctor if they can prescribe it for you and if it is safe for your specific situation.
- If you want to get rid of thick secretions and have severe congestion, the best solution is to combine an expectorant (Guaifenesin) with a decongestant.
Step 6. Take cough suppressants when appropriate
If the cough is oily, you shouldn't take a cough suppressant; if, on the other hand, your cough is rather dry and persistent, a sedative can be helpful.
Over-the-counter cough suppressants typically contain dextromethorphan as the active ingredient, but are not always effective; if you have a severe persistent cough you need to see your doctor. It's important to rule out more serious causes, and your doctor can prescribe a more effective drug (usually containing codeine)
Step 7. Create a protective layer on the throat
If the throat feels like "coated" with a substance, then it does not feel the urge to produce a dry cough (ie it does not expel mucus or phlegm).
- Take a non-prescription cough syrup.
- Suck on a balsamic candy or take some cough drops. The gelatinous substance found in balsamic candies can coat the walls of the throat and minimize coughing. Hard candy can also help.
- However, do not give balsamic candies, dry cough drops or hard candies to children under the age of 4, as they may choke. Remember that choking is the fourth leading cause of accidental death for children under 5.
Method 4 of 4: Change the Conditions of the Surrounding Environment
Step 1. Turn on a humidifier
Adding moisture to the air can help calm coughs. You can purchase humidifiers at most department stores and pharmacies.
- Clean it regularly with a bleach solution. Due to the humidity, these appliances can promote rapid mold growth if not kept properly clean.
- Hot or cold humidifiers are equally effective, although those that produce a cold mist are safer for use around children.
Step 2. Remove all irritating factors in the environment
Dust, airborne particles (including pet fur and dandruff), and smoke are all factors that can irritate the throat and cause a cough. Make sure that the environment in which you live and reside is free of dust and residues.
If you work in a company where a lot of dust or particles are formed in the air, such as in construction, wear a mask to avoid inhaling irritants
Step 3. Sleep with your head elevated
To try to avoid the feeling of suffocation due to phlegm, raise your head with a couple of extra pillows when you lie down or go to sleep. this can help reduce nocturnal cough.
Advice
- Practice good hygiene. If you have a cough or are around people who are coughing, wash your hands often, don't share personal items, and keep some distance from them.
- Do your research. While many herbal and natural remedies actually help fight a cough, others are not as effective. For example, popular belief holds that pineapple is 5 times more effective at treating cough than cough syrup, but there is no "study" to support this myth.
- Try to get enough rest. When you have an illness like a cold or the flu, asking too much of your body delays healing time and can aggravate a cough.
