Cough usually happens reflexively and is the body’s way of clearing irritants in the airways. It may be mild, acute or severe. The mild cases do not last very long, acute cases may last for three weeks or less and chronic or severe cases may last for up to eight weeks.
There are different kinds of cough :dry cough, wet cough and whooping cough. Cough is often treated depending on the cause and nature.
What are the Causes and Symptoms of Cough?
Acute cough in adults may occur as a result of an infection caused by pathogens like viruses and bacteria.
It could also be as a result of health problems like pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
For infants, a cough could be as a result of asthma or a viral infection. If it’s a wet cough, it could be that the infant has inhaled a foreign body, cigarette smoke or other environmental irritants.
A cough usually begins with a dry hacking cough that may cause heaviness in your chest and then lead to coughing up phlegm as it progresses. It will often feel like something is stuck in your chest or a tickle at the back of your throat.
Other symptoms associated with a cough include a whistling sound while breathing or coughing, fever, chest pain or tightness, rattling and breathlessness.
It may follow a cold or a sore throat and may be worse by morning. It could disrupt your work, your sleep and the people around you.
When to See a Doctor
Coughs often subside on their own, with time. However, there are times when you should seek medical attention. If any of these occur, then you should seek medical help :
• The cough gets worse instead of better
• You cannot breathe or even eat properly
• There is blood in the phlegm you cough up
• Chills, dehydration, fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), weakness, thick, yellow-tinted and foul smelling phlegm.
• The cough lasts for close to a month
• You’re beginning to lose weight for no reason
• There are swollen glands on the side of your neck
• Chest pain
Natural Remedies to Deal with Wet Cough at Home
Here are some home remedies for a wet cough.
1. Salt Water Gargle
Gargling with salt a few times a day provides some relief from cough. Salt will help get rid of the mucus from your respiratory tract while the warm water relieves irritation in your throat.
Salt’s antiseptic properties may also help fight off infections that could be responsible for the illness.
To use :
• Add about half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water
• Mix well till the salt thoroughly dissolves.
• Then gargle with the mixture two to three times daily till your congestion clears.
2. Steam Inhalation
Steam inhalation is another effective way to get relief fast enough from a cough. The moisture and heat that come from the steam helps break down the mucus. When the steam is infused with tulsi leaves extracts, it will help relieve cough and cold better.
To use :
• Fill a bowl with hot water and add the equivalent of six to eight tulsi leaves.
• Put a towel over your head and inhale the steam for as long as you can, breathing deeply.
• Repeat this thrice a day.
Alternatively, you could take a hot shower and breathe deeply for five minutes. Do this twice daily till the cough disappears.
Note: Inhaling steam may not be suitable for young children, high blood pressure patients, patients with a heart condition or pregnant women.
Honey helps reduce the thickness of mucus, thus promoting easy removal from the respiratory tract. Plus, honey has antibacterial and antiviral properties that are useful in fighting infections.
To use :
• Put a large organic onion (thinly sliced) and three teaspoons of fresh thyme (or one teaspoon of dried thyme)in a saucepan (it could be nonstick, glass or ceramic). Add enough honey to the completely cover the ingredients.
• Simmer the mixture over a low heat for one hour, till the onions soften.
• Pour the mixture into a glass jar, cover with a lid and label. You can store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
• Consume a tablespoon of this mixture everyday during the cold season.
• Note that if a child is below one year of age, he or she should not be given honey as it could lead to botulism.
Ginger helps in thinning mucus in the respiratory tracts and expelling them. It also reduces the duration and intensity of the coughing bouts which may be characterized by hyperresponsiveness and inflammation.
Plus, ginger can help boost your immune system, helping you recover quickly.
To use :
• Cut an inch of fresh ginger root into small slices and crush them a little. Put the ginger and one and half cup of water in a pan. Bring it to a boil and allow to simmer on a low heat for five minutes.
• Strain and drink up to thrice a day.
As an alternative, you can mix a tablespoon of freshly extracted ginger juice with a tablespoon of raw honey. Take two times daily for a few days.
If you can, chew ginger too as an alternative.
Garlic is also a great remedy for chesty cough. It acts as a natural expectorant, which helps provide quick relief from coughing.
Garlic also has immune-boosting , antiviral and antibacterial properties that make it effective for getting rid of infection that may be the cause of the cough.
To use :
• Eat a clove of crushed garlic mixed with honey about thrice daily.
• Also add a tablespoon of chopped garlic to a pot of boiling water. Cover your head with a towel and deeply inhale the steam.
• You could also mix garlic oil with a little warm olive oil and use to rub your chest.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar helps thin the mucus in the chest, thus reducing coughing and helping you breathe better
It also helps boost your immunity which will prevent and help fight off cough.
To use :
• Add 2 teaspoons of organic raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of lukewarm water. Mix in 1 teaspoon of raw honey and mix well. Drink this solution 2-3 times a day for a week.
• Mix ½ cup of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with ½ cup water. Boil the mixture and remove it from the stove. Put a towel over your head and inhale the steam for 3-5 minutes through your nose with your mouth and eyes closed. Repeat a few times a day.