5 tips to manage your cough

There are several reasons that can cause a cough: from allergies to asthma, from acid reflux to dry air and smoking. Sometimes the simplest and cheapest way to treat a short-term cough may be a homemade cough remedy containing honey and lemon or taking over-the-counter medicine and cough lozenges, removing potential allergens, or even just standing in a steamy shower. According to WebMD, here are five tips to manage your cough at home: (1) Staying hydrated: An upper respiratory tract infection like a cold or flu causes postnasal drip. Drinking fluids helps can thin out the mucus in postnasal drip and also helps to keep mucous membranes moist(2) Trying lozenges and hot drinks: Menthol cough drop anddrinking warm tea with honey also can soothe the throat. (3) Taking steamy showers: A hot shower can help a cough by loosening secretions in the nose. This steamy strategy can help ease coughs not only from colds, but also from allergies and asthma. (4) Remove air irritants: Perfumes and scented bathroom sprays may seem benign. But for some people they can cause chronic sinus irritation, producing extra mucus that leads to chronic cough. (5) Medications to treat coughs: Decongestants relieve nasal congestion by shrinking swollen nasal tissue and reducing mucus production. Cough suppressants and expectorants can help if you’re coughing so much that your chest hurts and you’re getting a bad night’s sleep. Cough suppressants should be used only at night. If your cough is caused by smoking you should consider quitting. Three to nine months after you stop smoking, your breathing will have improved, and you will no longer have a cough or wheeze. In any case you should consider talking to your doctor if your cough lasts longer than 4 weeks, or if you are coughing up blood or having other symptoms such as weight loss, chills, or fatigue. ...

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