How To Stop Coughing: 5 Easy And Effective Remedies
Coughing is a completely normal reflex of the body. However, it’s also super annoying. It can cause disruptions to your sleep, work, and in general every day activities. Coughs can tire you out, hurt your chest and cause you trouble breathing. While they may start out as a little tickle, and then as a twinge, coughs can quickly become full on fits that leave you breathless. That’s why it’s important to start tackling the cough as soon as possible. On the bright side, there are plenty of ways to deal with this annoying symptom. So, let’s see how to stop coughing fast and effectively.
Coughing is a completely normal reflex of the body, but it’s also super annoying
Coughs can tire you out, hurt your chest and cause you trouble breathing
Why We Cough
Coughing is a spontaneous reflex of the body. And it’s one of the most important reflexes we have, as it protects your lungs and airways. When things such as germs, dust, pollen, smoke, and mucus get into your throat and slither their way down to your airways, your body reacts by trying to cough them out. This body reaction is much like sneezing or blinking and its main task is you keep the bad things out of your body.
The American Lung Association has a great educational video on the topic
How Do I Know Which Type of Cough I Have?
There are actually four main types of coughs: dry, wet, croup and paroxysmal. And each cough type has its own unique symptoms other than, well, coughing and are usually caused by different things. Before you start treating your cough, it’s important to know what type you have, so you can determine if and when you may need to contact your doctor. Here they are:
There are actually four main types of coughs: dry, wet, croup and paroxysmal
Each cough type has its own unique symptoms and can be caused by different things
#Dry Cough
If you have a tickling sensation in the back of your throat then you most likely have a dry cough. This can lead to long, hacking coughing fits, but even then you typically won’t bring up any mucus. These types of coughs may linger for several weeks, and are frequently caused by inflammation in your respiratory system. A dry cough can be a symptom of a cold, the flu, asthma, allergies, air pollution, laryngitis, GERD, sinusitis, a sore throat, tonsillitis and more. This type of cough can go away on their own, or you can use home remedies and over-the-counter medication.
If you have a tickling sensation in the back of your throat then you most likely have a dry cough
#Wet Cough
This type of cough is considered wet, because it usually brings up mucus. The wet cough is also known as a “productive” cough. This cough can last around three weeks, or it can be considered “chronic” and last up to several months. However, the good thing about wet coughs is that they typically go away even without intervention. But if you are coughing up thick, green-yellow mucus, you are having trouble breathing, you have chest pain or a high fever, it’s best to call your doctor. Wet coughs are usually a symptom of a cold, the flu, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This type of cough is considered wet, because it usually brings up mucus
#Croup Cough
The croup cough is distinctive for it’s “barking” sound, and can cause a raspy voice and even squeaky sounding breathing. This type of cough often affects children as their airways are smaller. Croup is a type of viral infection that causes swelling and irritation in the upper airways, which can make it hard to breathe. On the bright side, croup coughs do clear up in less than a week even on their own. But do keep in mind that this cough is contagious for up to three days after the first symptoms start. If you notice any green-yellow, thick mucus, a high fever, a short of breath and some minor chest pains with the cough, it’s best to call your doctor.
This type of cough often affects children as their airways are smaller
#Paroxysmal Cough
One of the most violent and uncontrolled types of coughs. This type is painful and exhausting. A paroxysmal cough can even cause a shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. This type of cough is caused by pertussis or whooping cough and may be a symptom of asthma, choking, tuberculosis, pneumonia, or COPD. Whooping cough is very contagious and may be difficult to spot early on as its symptoms are similar to that of a cold. However, if you start to develop a painful, annoying cough (paroxysmal) over a week or two, make sure to contact your doctor, who can prescribe antibiotics.
This type of cough can quickly become uncontrollable and will likely need antibiotics
How To Stop Coughing
While coughs are super annoying and exhausting, the good thing is there are plenty of ways to treat them. And no matter the type of cough you have, other than your usual over-the-counter medications, there are also some home remedies that can help you out.
While coughs are annoying, the good thing is there are plenty of ways to treat them
#Warm Fluids
When you are sick, mucus tends to drip down from the back of your nose, through your throat and straight into your airways. That’s why you need to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids. Hydration thins the drip of mucus, which makes it less likely to irritate your throat and airways and trigger a coughing fit. Drinking fluids also makes it much easier for your lungs to clear out any discharge. Plus, a dehydrated body may trigger your immune system to produce more histamines, which are the main cause of your nose to swell and make more mucus that can drip down. So, make sure to drink plenty of teas, water, warm soups and so on.
Hydration thins the drip of mucus, which makes it less likely to irritate your throat
#Honey
Oh, honey. This magic, golden, sticky liquid has a ton of health benefits. When it comes to dealing with a cough, eating some honey can help sooth that terrible scratchy feeling in the back of your throat. Some studies even show that it is just as effective as some over-the-counter medications. It’s also a great way to help if you struggle with a nighttime cough. So, just take a tablespoon of honey, or mix it into a nice cup of tea. Just don’t give any to babies.
Eating some honey can help sooth that terrible scratchy feeling in the back of your throat
#Clear Away Irritants
Some coughs can be caused by irritants such as dust, laundry detergents, perfumes, mold, pollen, pet hairs and so on. All these allergens may be causing a reaction, irritating the sinuses, and causing too much mucus production, which consequently may be causing your cough. So, if you suspect something in your home may be causing such a reaction, an easy fix is to get rid of it. Change your detergent, get a HEPA-filter vacuum, take care of your pet hair (or get a hypoallergenic pet) and so on.
Some coughs can be caused by irritants such as dust, laundry detergents and so on
#Saltwater Gargle
Doing a saltwater gargle can help not only sooth a sore throat, but can also help to loosen all that thick mucus that may be causing your coughing problems. It can also help to clear away bacteria and allergens that may be annoying your throat and airways. Just dissolve a half teaspoon of salt into some boiled and cooled down warm water. Then gargle and spit. You can do this a couple of times throughout the day.
Doing a saltwater gargle can help to loosen all that thick mucus that is causing your cough
#Humidifier
Dry air may be causing your cough. This is especially true for the colder seasons, when all the heating is on and all the moisture gets sucked out. On the bright side, there is an easy fix. You can get a humidifier. This way you can keep the air the right level of moist and make it easier on your nose and air paths.
Getting a humidifier can help bring moisture to the air
These were the best remedies on how to stop coughing fits and get rid of them for good. We hope you found this article useful. Now even if you do have an annoying cough, you will be able to deal with it fast.
These were the best remedies on how to stop coughing fits and get rid of them for good
Related Articles
- 6 Effective Remedies For a Sore Throat
- How To Get Rid of Nausea?
- 7+ Home Remedies To Treat a Headache
- The Best Natural Flu and Cold Remedies
- How To Get rid of a Stuffy Nose
- The Best Teas For a Strong Immune System
Sources:
