What helps with cough? The best home remedies for throat irritation and bothersome dry or wet cough
Cough is a natural and important defense mechanism of the body, which prevents choking and helps clear the airways. Its purpose is to remove excess mucus or a foreign body. However, when it becomes persistent, it can turn into a problem and make everyday functioning difficult.
What are the most common causes of acute cough in children and adults? What works for dry and wet cough? Can cough be a symptom of a serious illness? Are there effective home remedies for both dry and wet cough?
Table of Contents
- Causes Of Cough And Symptoms Worth Paying Attention To
- Treatment Of Cough – From Causes To Effective Methods
- Home Remedies For Dry Cough And Throat Irritation
- Wet Cough – How To Make Expectoration Easier?
- Inhalations For Cough – What Is Worth Knowing?
- Humidifying The Air – A Simple Way To Ease Cough
- Supplements And Vitamins Supporting The Treatment Of Dry And Wet Cough
- How To Effectively Relieve Cough – Key Takeaways
Causes Of Cough And Symptoms Worth Paying Attention To
Cough is a defense reflex of the body and also one of the most common ailments that bring patients to the doctor. Its most frequent cause is viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, flu, or bronchitis. The cough reflex occurs as a result of irritation of the nerve endings (cough receptors) located in the throat, trachea, bronchi, and pleura.
Apart from upper respiratory tract infections, cough can also be triggered by:
- allergies (e.g., to dust mites, animal dander)
- gastroesophageal reflux
- air pollution
- bronchial asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- smoking cigarettes
In the case of a cough with no clear cause or one that raises concerns, it is important to consult a doctor. You should also not delay seeing a specialist if the cough lasts longer than 3 weeks or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood.
Treatment Of Cough – From Causes To Effective Methods
The treatment of cough depends mainly on its cause. Depending on the presence of phlegm, cough can be divided into productive and dry. In terms of duration, it can be classified as acute, subacute, or chronic.
Acute cough in most cases is a symptom of an ongoing respiratory tract infection, usually of viral origin. Subacute cough is often post-infectious, while chronic cough may occur in the course of many different conditions, such as asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or lung cancer.
What works best for a dry or wet cough? Dry cough may require the use of antitussive medications or home remedies to soothe throat irritation. In the case of wet cough, expectorant syrups, inhalations, and air humidification are most effective, as they help thin mucus and make it easier to expel.
Home Remedies For Dry Cough And Throat Irritation
In the case of dry cough, it is worth reaching for simple home methods once used by our grandmothers. To ease persistent discomfort, helpful remedies include drinking warming herbal teas, steam inhalations, and using natural antibiotics straight from the kitchen.
Natural Antibiotics From The Kitchen
Cough is most often a symptom of an infection caused by viruses. Natural antibiotics such as garlic, honey, and ginger can bring good results in fighting it. The active compounds they contain have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties. If cough is bothering you, you can drink tea with honey and lemon or prepare warm milk with garlic. These mixtures will help you relieve persistent cough while also providing your body with valuable nutrients.
Homemade Cough Syrup
An alternative to lozenges can be homemade syrups for dry cough. Onion works best here, as it has expectorant properties and soothes throat mucous membranes. How to prepare onion syrup? Simply peel and dice the vegetable, layer it in a jar with sugar, and leave it in a warm place for a few hours until the onion releases its juice. You can also prepare a similar syrup using black radish with honey or honey with cloves.
Warming Herbal Infusions
What else works for dry cough? Home remedies also include warming herbal teas made from linden, thyme, sage, and coltsfoot. Drinking them regularly moistens the throat and helps reduce the cough reflex without the need for antitussive medicines. Another well-known method to soothe choking cough is flaxseed infusion (also called flaxseed jelly), which has coating and anti-inflammatory effects. To enrich its taste, you can add a bit of honey or raspberry juice.
Wet Cough – How To Make Expectoration Easier?
Although a wet cough is usually less exhausting than a dry one, it is still worth turning to natural methods. To ease bothersome symptoms, you can use saline inhalations, homemade expectorant syrups, and gentle back tapping. To thin the mucus, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, including warm herbal teas.
Physical activity can also support airway cleansing. Light exercises or a short walk in the fresh air may bring relief and help remove phlegm. However, you should avoid dry, very cold, or polluted air.
Inhalations For Cough – What Is Worth Knowing?
Inhalations are recommended for both dry and wet cough. Breathing in steam moisturizes the dry mucosa of the throat and bronchi, and also helps to thin the mucus stuck in the respiratory system, making it easier to expel. Saline solution is most often used for inhalation, but you can also turn to herbal infusions or essential oils by adding a few drops to a bowl of hot water. For the treatment to be effective, each session should last between 5 and 15 minutes.
What inhalations are good for a dry cough? For dry cough during the day or at night, the best choice is inhalations with substances such as sea water or saline solution. What inhalations are good for a wet cough? In the case of wet cough, you can prepare inhalations with herbs that support mucus removal (thyme, fennel, coltsfoot).
Humidifying The Air – A Simple Way To Ease Cough
When dealing with cough, it is worth making sure the air is properly humidified, as air that is too dry can cause mucus to thicken, irritate the respiratory system, and increase the intensity of coughing. To improve humidity at home, you can use a humidifier. Such a device quickly improves the quality of the air we breathe, which is especially important when coughing occurs during the day.
Instead of a traditional humidifier, you can also try simple home methods, such as hanging a wet towel on the radiator or regularly airing out the room.
Supplements And Vitamins Supporting The Treatment Of Dry And Wet Cough
If you often struggle with cough, you may consider using dietary supplements that strengthen immunity. Products in the form of tablets, capsules, or powder can support the proper functioning of the immune system, helping it fight off infections more effectively.
Immunity supplements often contain vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc. A good option may also be taking bee products (honey, propolis). In addition, you can include supplements with natural herbal extracts (curcumin, garlic, elderberry) in your daily diet.
How To Effectively Relieve Cough – Key Takeaways
Cough often occurs with colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis, or bronchitis. Its treatment largely depends on the cause. Syrups for dry cough, troublesome during the day and at night, are mainly intended to suppress the cough reflex. For wet cough, on the other hand, preparations are used to thin the mucus and make it easier to expel.
Cough syrups and tablets should not be used for longer than 3–5 days. When home remedies do not bring the expected results or the cough becomes increasingly persistent, a medical consultation is necessary.
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