How to Treat Cough

Cough is a common illness with unpleasant symptoms that are short-lived or chronic. Short-term causes of cough can be viral (including influenza, common cold, croup, and respiratory syncytial virus RSV), bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. response. A chronic cough that lasts more than 8 weeks can be caused by asthma, allergies, chronic sinus infections, gastroesophageal reflux disease, congestive heart failure, pneumothorax, lung cancer, or tuberculosis.

Table of Contents

Body Care

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Cough is often an essential symptom. If you have an illness that causes a cough, most doctors are reluctant to “treat” it, because coughing has an important function, which is to clear the airways. If your cough feels like it’s coming from deep in your chest, or if you’re constantly coughing up phlegm or mucus, you should accept that coughing is a good thing. Your body has an innate reflex to keep it functioning properly.

If you cough for longer than 8 weeks, it is considered a “chronic cough”. You should see your doctor to see what is causing the cough, common causes of a chronic cough include asthma, allergies, chronic sinus infections, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), heart failure stasis, pneumothorax, lung cancer or tuberculosis. Some medications, such as ACE inhibitors, also cause a cough as a side effect. ^{[1] X Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Go to Source}

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Drink lots of fluids. Coughing dehydrates your body because of the faster breathing and reflexes that come out when coughing, if the cough is accompanied by a fever, you will lose more water. Drink water, fruit juices (except citrus) and eat liquid soups. Staying hydrated helps keep your throat from getting irritated, thins mucus secretions, and makes you feel better in general. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Men should drink at least 13 cups (3 liters) of fluids per day, while women should drink at least 9 cups (2.2 liters) per day. Try to drink more when you are sick. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Avoid carbonated drinks and citrus fruit juices as they irritate the throat more. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Research shows that warm liquids help thin mucus and reduce coughing, as well as other symptoms that occur with coughing such as sneezing, sore throat, and runny nose. ^{[5] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} You can drink warm broth, hot tea or even hot coffee.
To clear phlegm to relieve cough, you should drink warm lemon water with honey. Mix a cup of warm water with the juice of half a lemon, mix well with the amount of honey according to your taste. Then drink a glass of lemonade slowly. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
- Honey should not be given to infants under one year of age because of the risk of neurotoxicity. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Eat more fruit. Research shows that a diet high in fiber, especially fiber from fruits, can reduce chronic cough and other symptoms of the respiratory tract. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

To relieve cough, fiber from unprocessed fruit is more effective than fiber in dietary supplements. Fruits like apples and pears also contain flavonoid pigments that help improve lung function in general. ^{[9] X Research Source}
High-fiber fruits include raspberries, pears, apples, bananas, oranges, and strawberries. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Take a hot shower in the tub or shower. Inhaling the moisture that rises from hot water helps moisten the airways, reducing congestion or throat phlegm, ^{[11] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to the source} and soothe the urge to cough. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Turn on the hot water in the shower, close the bathroom door, and insert the towel between the door gap and the floor. Breathe in the steam for 15 to 20 minutes, which is also the time for more steam to accumulate.
You can also use steam baths. Bring a pot of water to a boil, then stop, carefully pour the water into a heatproof bowl and place the bowl of water on a firm flat surface, such as a countertop or kitchen floor. Bring your face into the space above the bowl of water, but be careful not to let the steam burn your face. Cover your head with a thin towel and breathe deeply, inhaling the steam.
- For children, remember not to let them approach the hot water bowl to prevent burns. Ideally, you should have them sit in a closed bathroom and turn on a hot shower, asking them to inhale the steam.
Remember that dry mucus cannot move, but when wet it is easier to push out of the lungs and airways.

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Reduce congestion by flapping technique. If you are at home and have someone to support you, chest flaps can be used to relieve chest congestion. This method is especially effective in the morning and before going to bed. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Sit with your back against a chair or wall. Ask the facilitator to bring the hand into a cup shape by curving at the knuckles. Then have them slap their hands quickly and firmly on the chest muscles. Hold the sitting position for 5 minutes.
Lie face down with pillows under hips. Bend your elbows and keep your arms at your sides. Ask the facilitator to use their hands (collected in a cup shape) to pat quickly and firmly on the shoulder blades and the shoulder area. Hold that position for 5 minutes.
Lie flat on your back with pillows under your hips. Lower the arms to the sides. Ask the facilitator to use their hands (collected in a cup shape) to quickly and firmly press their hands over the pectoral muscles. Hold that position for 5 minutes.
This way of “slapping” should make a hollow sound, if it sounds like “slapping”, then you say the person holds the hand more curved.
Never clap your hands on the spine or kidney area.

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Learn a new cough technique. If your throat is tired and uncomfortable due to constant coughing, you should try applying the “Huff Cough” technique to stop the cough. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Empty the lungs by exhaling completely. Next, inhale slowly to prolong the breath deeply. Open your mouth and relax, as if saying the letter “O”.
Contract the muscles in the upper abdomen to produce a short, “small cough”. Take a short breath and repeat another small cough. Take another short breath and cough for another hour.
Finally, you try to give a strong cough. If done correctly you will feel the phlegm loosen. Small coughs help move mucus up your airways, so you can expel more phlegm when you last coughed hard.

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Give up smoking. Smoking is the culprit in many cases of cough, in fact it is the most common cause of chronic cough. ^{[15] X Research Source} Smoking is also injurious to health, so quitting is a way to relieve a cough and allow the body to begin the recovery process. ^{[16] X Research Source}

After you stop smoking, you may notice that you actually cough more than usual for the first few weeks. This is normal because smoking inhibits the function of the ciliary system in the lungs (very small hairs), plus it causes chronic inflammation in the airways. When you stop smoking the cilia work better and the inflammation starts to go away. It takes about 3 weeks for your body to get used to this recovery process. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, as well as reducing the severity of respiratory symptoms such as coughing over the long term. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}
Quitting smoking also benefits those around them, as they can develop many health problems from exposure to secondhand smoke.

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Wait. Most mild coughs go away in 2-3 weeks, if it persists or is severe you should see your doctor. A persistent cough could be a sign of another illness, so you should see your doctor right away to see if there’s something else that’s keeping your cough from going away (such as asthma, lung disease, or a weakened immune system). , you should also see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: ^{[19] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Green or yellow-green sputum, which lasts for several days and is accompanied by headache, facial pain, or fever
Pink or bloody sputum
Suffocation
Wheezing or “clear throat”
High fever over 38 degrees Celsius for more than 3 days
Panting or chest tightness
Difficulty breathing or unable to swallow
Cyanosis, or pallor of the lips, face, fingers or toes

Using Natural Treatment

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Use honey. Honey is a natural cough suppressant, soothing throat irritation and reducing the effects of allergies on chronic coughs. Stir a little honey into hot tea to drink to relieve cough. ^{[20] X Research Source} You can also eat a spoonful of honey before going to bed. ^{[21] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Children two years of age and older can use honey. In children, honey was found to be as effective as the drug dextromethorphan. ^{[22] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} However, you should never give honey to infants under 12 months of age, as it can lead to infant botulism, a form of poisoning Severe food poisoning. ^{[23] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Research shows that buckwheat honey is also effective for coughs. ^{[24] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} Honey harvested from your own area can combat common allergens there. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Use saline nasal spray to relieve congestion. Salt water thins mucus in the nose and throat, thereby reducing cough. You can buy saline solution from a pharmacy or make your own.

To make a brine solution, add 2 teaspoons of table salt to 4 cups of warm water. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Use a dedicated nasal irrigation bottle or nasal spray syringe to wash your sinuses. ^{[26] X Trusted Source Michigan Medicine Go to the source} This is a pretty effective way to get rid of a stuffy nose, especially before going to bed.
Try salt water spray on an infant or young child before feeding.

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Gargle with salt water. Gargling with warm salt water helps to moisten the throat so it also relieves cough. ^{[27] X Research Source} You can easily make saline at home: ^{[28] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}^{[29] X Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Go to source}

Mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of granulated salt with 250 ml of warm distilled or boiled water.
Once completely dissolved, take a large sip and gargle for one minute, spitting it out when finished. Remember not to drink salt water.

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Use spicy mint. Peppermint’s active ingredient is menthol, which is a natural expectorant that can relieve coughs, including dry coughs. ^{[30] X Source of Research} Currently, peppermint is processed into a widely available commercial product, in the form of essential oils and herbal teas. You can also grow your own mint at home.

Drink mint tea for cough.
Do not drink menthol. Applying a little essential oil to your chest can help you breathe easier.

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Use eucalyptus extract. Eucalyptus leaves have an active ingredient called cinepe , which acts as an expectorant for coughs. ^{[31] X Source of Research} You can buy eucalyptus leaf extract as a commercial preparation, cough syrup, lozenges, and topical ointment. Eucalyptus essential oil is usually available at drugstores.

Do not take eucalyptus oil as it can cause poisoning. You should apply a little essential oil under the nose or on the chest to help open the airways, reduce the feeling of coughing.
You should use cough syrup or eucalyptus lozenges for flare-ups.
Make eucalyptus tea by steeping a few dried or fresh eucalyptus leaves in hot water for about 15 minutes. Drinking this tea 3 times a day will help relieve sore throat and relieve cough.
Do not use eucalyptus products if you have asthma, epilepsy, kidney or liver disease, or low blood pressure.

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Use chamomile flowers. Chamomile tea is a familiar drink for people with poor health, it helps treat cold chest and sleep better. ^{[32] X Research Source} Pharmacies also sell chamomile essential oil.

Add chamomile essential oil to a hot bath, then inhale the vapors that rise with the water, you can also add essential oils to “effervescent bath tablets” to clear nasal congestion and soothe coughs.

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Use ginger. Ginger has the ability to soothe coughs. ^{[33] X Research Source} You should drink hot ginger tea for chronic cough. ^{[34] X Research Sources}

Make cinnamon ginger tea by simmering ½ cup thinly sliced fresh ginger with 6 cups of water and 2 cinnamon sticks for 20 minutes. Filter out the residue and drink with honey and lemon. ^{[35] X Research Source}

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Try using thyme. Thyme also has expectorant effect and clears mucus. ^{[36] X Research Source} Several studies show that thyme helps with bronchitis and chronic cough. ^{[37] X Research Source}

Make thyme tea for cough ^{[38] X Research Source} by steeping 3 sprigs of fresh thyme in 250 ml of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain the grounds and stir in 2 tablespoons of honey before drinking to relieve cough. ^{[39] X Research Sources}
Do not take thyme essential oil as it is toxic. You should consult your doctor before taking thyme if you are taking anticoagulants.

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Use hollyhock. This plant has the scientific name Althea officinalis , its leaves and roots are available at many health food stores. You can take a hollyhock extract supplement to relieve coughs caused by ACE inhibitors. ^{[40] X Research Source}

Brew hollyhock tea. When combined with water, hollyhock leaves and roots produce mucus that coats the throat, reducing the urge to cough. ^{[41] X Research Source} You make tea by steeping dried hollyhock leaves and roots for 10 minutes in hot water. Then filter the residue and drink.

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Use white bitter mint. Bitter mint has expectorant properties and has long been used to treat coughs. Bitter mint is made into a powder or juice, you can also make a tea from bitter mint root. ^{[42] X Research Source}

To make bitter mint tea, steep 1-2 grams of its roots in 250 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes. Filter out the residue and drink 3 times a day. Bitter mint is of course very bitter, so you should add honey.
Extracts of this herb are sometimes found in candies or hard lozenges. You should suck on cough candy with bitter mint if the cough takes a long time to heal.

Using Medicines

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Go to Medical Checkup. Usually your doctor wants to check if your cough is intractable or acute. Therefore, when examining you, they will ask you about the duration of the cough and the characteristics of the disease. She examines the head, neck, chest, and possibly nasal swabs ^{[43] X Credible Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source} or throat with cotton swab. It’s rare but possible that you’ll need a chest x-ray, ^{[44] XTrusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to a source for} blood tests or nebulization treatment.

You must take the full amount of medicine prescribed by your doctor. In case you have to take antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection, remember to take the full course of treatment as prescribed, even if the disease is in remission before the medicine runs out.

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Ask your doctor about over-the-counter medications. You should tell your doctor before taking any medicine, especially if you have a chronic medical condition, are allergic to it, are taking other medications, or are planning to give it to children under 12 years of age. Pregnant or nursing women should also consult their healthcare provider before taking any medication.

You should be aware of studies that don’t have a consistent opinion on the benefits of taking over-the-counter cold and cough medicines.

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Use expectorant medicine. An expectorant helps clear mucus in the airways. The most essential ingredient in expectorants is guaifenesin. After taking the medicine you try to take advantage of the cough to spit out as much phlegm as possible when it appears in the throat. ^{[45] X Research Sources}

Mucinex and Robitussin are brand names of medicines that contain guaifenesin. ^{[46] X Research Source}

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Take antihistamines for coughs caused by allergies. Antihistamines can be effective for allergy-related symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and runny nose.

Antihistamines you can choose from are loratidine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), chlorpheniramine, and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Remember that antihistamines often cause drowsiness, especially Chlorpheniramine, Benadryl, and Zyrtec. Claritin and Allegra are less likely to cause drowsiness. With new antihistamines, you should try taking them before going to bed, do not take them before driving or operating heavy machinery if you do not know how you will react to the medicine.

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Use a nasal decongestant. There are many medications available for nasal congestion, but the most common are pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanpamine. Remember that if you take a nasal decongestant when there is a thick mucus, it may become even more viscous.

Medicines containing the ingredient pseudoephedrine are often sold when prescribed by a pharmacist, because pharmacies are forced to restrict their sale. You should check with your doctor to make sure they are safe for you.
If you want to clear mucus because your nose is too stuffy, it is best to take a combination of an expectorant (guaifenesin) with a decongestant.

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Use cough suppressants when appropriate. If your cough helps you cough up phlegm, don’t take cough suppressants. But if you have a persistent dry cough, this medicine can help.

Over-the-counter cough suppressants often contain dextromethorphan, but they are not always effective. For a severe cough that is difficult to treat, you should see a doctor. They’ll need to examine you to rule out serious causes of your cough, and then prescribe a stronger cough medicine that you can only buy with a prescription (usually containing codeine).

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Coating the throat. Making your throat feel like it’s “wrapped” in something can help ease your cough once the phlegm or mucus has cleared up. ^{[47] X Research Source}

Drink cough syrup.
Suck cough candy. Cough lozenges have a gel-like substance that coats the throat and relieves coughs, and even hard candies do this.
Do not give cough candy or hard candy to children under 4 years of age as they may choke. ^{[48]X Source of Study} Asphyxiation due to choking on candy is the 4th leading cause of unexpected death in children under 5 years of age. ^{[49] X Research Sources}

Changing Living Environment

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Use a humidifier. Adding moisture to the air can help relieve your cough. ^{[50] X Research Source} Humidifiers are available at supermarkets and drugstores.

Clean the machine regularly with a specialized cleaning solution, because there is moisture, mold easily grows in the machine if you do not clean it. ^{[51] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Warm or cool humidifiers are equally effective, but coolers are safer when young children are around.

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Eliminate environmental irritants. Dust, airborne particles (such as pet hair and dust), and smoke irritate the throat and cause coughing. Therefore you must keep the environment clean, free of dust and suspended impurities. ^{[52] X Research Source}

If you work in an industry with a lot of dust or suspended particles, such as the construction industry, it’s best to wear a mask to avoid inhaling them. ^{[53] X Research Sources}

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Sleep with your head high. To avoid feeling like you’re choking on phlegm, prop up your head with a few pillows when lying down, or raise yourself higher when sleeping. ^{[54] X Research Source} That sleeping position helps relieve nighttime coughing.

Advice

Keep the toilet clean. If you cough or those around you are coughing, wash your hands often, don’t share furniture, and keep your distance from them.
Hard to find out. While there are many herbs and natural remedies that are very helpful, others are not. For example, it is rumored that pineapple is 5 times more effective at treating coughs than cough syrup, but there are no “research” on this claim. ^{[55] X Research Source}
Rest enough. When you have an illness like a cold or the flu, if you work hard, the recovery process will slow down, making the cough harder to treat.
Drink turmeric milk . To make turmeric milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and sugar to a cup of milk. Bring to a boil over low heat for 10-15 minutes, let cool for a few minutes, and then drink while still warm. This drink helps to ease the throat.
Avoid going outside in the cold and then suddenly getting inside too warm, because sudden temperature changes force the body to be under more pressure. A central air conditioning system should not be used that only recirculates old air in the room, as it circulates pathogens and microorganisms back and forth in the room, and at the same time dries the skin.

Steps

Body Care

Using Natural Treatment

Using Medicines

Changing Living Environment

Advice

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