There is nothing more disturbing when you sleep than a persistent cough. If you have had it before, you will know what it feels like: it starts with a small itchy tickle on your chest and minutes later, you are bowling your lungs out in the middle of the night.
A cough, also called a tussis, is your body’s natural way of clearing your lungs or throat of irritants such as microbes, mucus, particles, fluids, and pollutants. It can be done deliberately or involuntarily. A persistent dry cough can resolve on its own after a few days without the need for medical treatment, but sometimes, it is also a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition.
A persistent cough can be brought about by various conditions. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. It’s your body’s means to clear the throat. If your throat or airways get clogged with irritants or mucus, the body’s natural reflex is to expel them – thus, the coughing spree.
2. It’s a result of viruses and bacteria. Constant coughing is one symptom if you have contracted a respiratory tract infection like the flu or cold. Infections caused by bacteria or viruses may take a while to clear up and you may want to opt for a prescription medication so you can quickly recover from it.
3. It’s because you smoke a lot. Long-time smokers usually develop what’s called a smoker’s cough which sounds different from a regular cough. You can usually hear the distinctive wheezing and crackling sounds and it is accompanied by mucus and phlegm.
4. You are having an asthma attack. Asthma is a prevalent cause of cough among children. If your kid has asthma, you can usually hear wheezing sounds accompanying the cough.
5. It’s a rare side-effect of some medicines. Some drugs used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems have coughing as a side effect. Drugs like Zestril and Vasotec are examples of these medications.
6. It’s a symptom of other ailments. You can get a cough if you are suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pneumonia, croup, whooping cough, pulmonary embolism, postnasal drip, or if you have vocal cord damage.
If you have a nagging cough, there are home remedies that you can try to relieve it. Here are five effective ways to ease persistent coughing:
1. Prop up your head if you go to sleep. When you are flat on your back or your side while you sleep, it is easier for cough triggers to make their way on your through. This can start an annoying coughing fit. Try stacking pillows to elevate your head before sleeping or taking a nap.
2. Have a ginger lozenge. Raw ginger has a strong taste and has potent natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Cut a thin slice of raw ginger, wash thoroughly, pot it in your mouth, and suck it like a lozenge. The juices will help soothe your itchy throat. If you think that raw ginger is too strong for you, try making hot ginger tea instead. There are ginger tea powder packs available in Asian stores, but if you only have raw ginger root on hand, you can make your concoction. Get 60g of peeled and sliced ginger root. Boil for five minutes in one to two cups of water (you can adjust depending on how strong you want your ginger tea to be). Add a bit of maple syrup or honey for a sweet taste. Take it three times a day or every time you start feeling that itchy sensation.
3. Take a tablespoon of honey. Got a jar of honey somewhere in your pantry? You’re in luck. Honey is a great natural remedy for cough. You can mix this bee by-product in a glass of warm lemon drink or a cup of hot tea to soothe your itchy chest. However, honey in itself is an effective remedy for cough. It is full of anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s consistency also has a soothing effect on your throat. Before going to sleep, take one tablespoon of honey and a cup of warm water.
4. Try steam inhalation or an essential oil diffuser. Breathing in steam can fight that back-of-throat itch and can keep your throat from getting dry, triggering a coughing fit. It can also loosen mucus build-up so you can expel it easily. On the other hand, using a diffuser to improve your room atmosphere, can help ease a heavy chest or stuffy nose. Try putting peppermint or any mentholated essential oil in the diffuser for that soothing air.
5. Drink a cough syrup or decongestant. There are a lot of over the counter commercial cough syrups or decongestant tablets available in pharmacies and markets today. If you happen to stock these medications in your medicine cabinet, don’t hesitate to take one especially if your cough is already getting in the way of your daily routine or is disturbing your sleep.If you feel like you need to schedule a doctor’s appointment but you cannot get out of the house, try calling an instead. An online doctor can give you diagnosis and treatment through video chat or audio calls. Find one on the internet today.
