Cough remedies
Having a bad cough can be annoying and painful. Determining the type of cough you are dealing with will determine the type of treatment you need. There are several reasons why we cough. There are dry coughs, wet coughs, coughs caused by bronchitis, allergens, croup, colds, pneumonia and others. One remedy may not solve the problem for all types of coughs. If you have had a cough for a while and it is due to having a cold or allergies then you should see your doctor to determine the reason for your cough. Some coughs are due to having a serious medical condition so it’s important to rule out any infections or chronic illness. For those that have an underlying medical reason for the cough, you may need antibiotics or steroids to help.
For coughs that are cold or allergy related you can try several remedies to help alleviate your symptoms. There are several over the counter medications that a designed to help lessen coughs. If you have a cough that is deep and causes you to feel like you have mucous in your chest then you could benefit from a cough syrup that contains an expectorant. Expectorants are designed to loosen mucous that has settled into the chest so you can cough it out. If you cough is dry, nagging and feels like a tickle in your throat then you may want to try a cough suppressant. A suppressant will quiet your cough and help eliminate the feeling of needing to cough. There are also several types of cough drops that one can suck on to keep the throat coated and quiet coughs. Another medicine found at the store is menthol vapor rub. This is applied to the chest and neck and is breathed in. This has a cooling effect and can help suppress the urge to cough as well.
If you are looking for some other natural ways to help soothe your cough then you can try a few of these methods. One natural ingredient that can be beneficial in treating coughs if honey. By taking a spoonful of honey a couple times a day you may be able to limit coughing to some degree. Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties so it can help heal the body. When mixed with a teaspoon of lime or lemon juice the benefits may be doubled.
Hot steam is another way to loosen up chest congestion. Taking a steamy shower or using a steam machine in your bedroom at night can really help loosen mucous that maybe stuck in your chest. Cool air can also help with coughs. Try sleeping with a window open at night or breathing in a few breaths of cool air outdoors if it is cool outside.
In order to get over a virus quickly it is important to stay well hydrated and nourished. Stay warm since keeping the body temperature up will help fight off bacteria and heal the body quicker. Make sure to drink plenty of water as well as hot liquids such as tea or soup. Sometimes adding fresh garlic or spicy pepper to soups or broth can help loosen congestion and offer healing qualities.
Make sure to take a multi-vitamin and include a lot of Vitamin C and Zinc into your diet through foods or supplements. These are great for your immune system and can often prevent illness or speed up the healing process after already being sick. And although you may not feel up to it, exercising can boost the immune system and help you sweat out an illness by releasing toxins and raising your body temperature. Just be sure to get plenty of rest afterwards, the body needs plenty of rest in order to fight off an illness as well.
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