This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD and by How.com.vn staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 3,441,890 times.
Are you tired of constantly coughing and ready to put an end to it as quickly as possible? Coughs can be caused by anything from illness (like a cold or flu) to allergies, airborne irritants, and dry air, but thankfully, plenty of remedies can stop a cough in its tracks. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of treatments designed to stop a cough in 5 minutes, along with tips on recovering from your cough for good.
How to Get Rid of a Cough in 5 Minutes
Drink a warm beverage like tea to soothe your throat quickly. You can also suck on cough drops or hard candy to stop coughing temporarily. If that doesn’t work, try gargling with salt water or taking a steamy shower.
Steps
Heal a Sore Throat With This Expert Series
Expert Q&A
- QuestionI have had the flu for a couple days I am better now, but I still have a cough. Is it safe for me to travel in my condition?Chris M. Matsko, MDDr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
Family Medicine PhysicianI would wait until my symptoms fully resolve before taking a trip. The stress of travel, plus things like the filtered air on a plane, might cause problems. You do not want to get sicker. - QuestionWhat should I do if water does not help with coughing?Chris M. Matsko, MDDr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
Family Medicine PhysicianYou might want to try cough drops or over-the-counter cough suppressant medication.
Reader Videos
Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Video
Tips
- Call your doctor if the cough persists longer than 7 days without any improvement. Other warning signs that warrant a doctor visit include bloody mucus, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever lasting longer than 3 days.[17]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
- ↑ https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/media/4mtpafdw/stop-cough-exercise_jan20.pdf
- ↑ https://www.muhealth.org/our-stories/how-deal-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/neti-pot/faq-20058305
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/croup-sheet.html
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-infection/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-get-more-probiotics
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hay-fever/in-depth/seasonal-allergies/art-20048343
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/expert-answers/quit-smoking/faq-20057818
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/
About This Article
To stop coughing in 5 minutes, drink a glass of warm water or tea, which will help soothe your throat. You can also try gargling with salt water to flush any mucus out of your throat so you stop coughing. If that doesn't help, try taking a deep breath through your nose and holding it for 2 seconds. Then, purse your lips and exhale slowly. For more ways to stop coughing in 5 minutes, like using throat lozenges or taking a hot shower, read the article!
Reader Success Stories
- "I did try the idea of lifting up the end of the mattress. It does seem to make a small difference. Other ideas that seem to help are hot drinks and even a hot water bottle over my chest - or indeed, a soak in a hot bath. Cough medicines don't seem to do much, but menthol lozenges do help. Codeine/Paracetomol has a good effect, but used sparingly, otherwise the muck in my chest seems to get worse. Off to the doc tomorrow, had it before and antibiotics do work for it in a few days."..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.