This article was medically reviewed by Joshua Batt, DO. Dr. Batt is an Emergency Medicine Physician at Riverside Community Hospital in California. He received his D.O. from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and has over 5 years of emergency medicine experience.
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A dry cough is a cough that doesn’t produce any phlegm or mucus. Dry coughs usually come along with an annoying tickly-feeling throat and are certainly no fun! There are a number of reasons you might have a dry cough, but they are most commonly associated with viruses and infections and go away on their own after 3 weeks or less.
Here are 10 effective ways to get rid of a bothersome dry cough.
Steps
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Tips
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- Make some chicken noodle soup with garlic, onions, rosemary, thyme, lemon, ginger, and basil. Have a bowl or two a day to give your cough the boot! The herbs provide extra healing power.
- When you lay down to rest, put on some mellow tunes or a comfort show you've seen 100 times. It can help you relax and fall asleep more easily.
- If you've got a cough, don't engage in too much physical activity. You need to rest. Your cough may get worse if you don't rest.
- Add a little peppermint essential oil to your humidifier. That minty vapor feels so soothing on your throat.
- If you have a sore throat, try to hush up as much as possible to keep from straining your voice.
- Take cough medicine with menthol. It really soothes your throat.
References
- ↑ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/cough/diagnosing-treating
- ↑ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/cough/diagnosing-treating
- ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ug1887#ug1887-sec
- ↑ https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/cough
- ↑ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/cough/diagnosing-treating
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-cough/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351580
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/
- ↑ https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/cough
- ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ug1887#ug1887-sec
About This Article
To get rid of a dry cough, start by drinking plenty of fluids to keep your throat moist and hydrated. Plain, warm water is one of the most soothing options, and you can gargle warm salt water a few times per day to relieve pain and decrease inflammation in your throat. You can also take hot, steamy showers, which will help moisten and loosen phlegm, making it easier to cough up. Using a humidifier and taking an over-the-counter antihistamine are also helpful options. For tips on pinpointing what's causing your dry cough, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "After my asthma attack, I was still coughing up a significant amount of mucus. Didn't know what to do, and as a firm believer in natural home remedies, I found this article super helpful! I tried essential oils to sooth my cough, and it worked a treat! Thanks, How.com.vn, you never disappoint! "..." more
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