1. Know Your Cough
There are two kinds of cough, the dry hacking kind caused by a tickle in your throat and the congested, mucus-filled kind caused by congestion in your head or chest. You can suppress a dry cough to help soothe your throat, but you should make a congested cough productive so you can get rid of the congestion. Figure out what kind of cough you have so you can describe your symptoms to your doctor or pharmacist and get the best cough remedies for your kind of cough.
2. Have a Cup of Tea
No matter what kind of cough you're suffering from, drink plenty of fluids to help relieve your cough symptoms and keep you hydrated so you can get better faster. Drink as much water as you can throughout the day, but avoid anything containing milk, which increases the mucus in your throat and chest, making you more congested. For the most soothing experience, drink hot tea or hot water with lemon and honey. Hot beverages like this will soothe your throat, moisten dry passages and break up congestion.
3. Add Some Humidity
Use a vaporizer in your home, especially in your bedroom when you're sleeping. Vaporizers help put moisture back into dry winter air and moisten the mucus membranes in your throat, relieving that tickling sensation that's making you cough. If you don't have a vaporizer, inhale the steam from a hot shower or a boiling pot for the same effect.
4. Grab the Cough Drops
Cough drops are a simple cough remedy that have been around for a long time because they work. Cough drops and lozenges work to help moisten throat passages, soothe sore or irritated throats and help coughs be more productive and release congestion. Use cough drops containing eucalyptus to break up congestion and help get rid of that stuffy feeling in your head and sinuses.
5. Sugar and Alcohol Free is the Way to Be
Lots of over-the-counter cough syrups, drops and medications have high levels of sugar and alcohol in them that can be dangerous for diabetics or people with high blood pressure. Some drugstore cough remedies also affect nasal and throat passages, so people with asthma need to be careful of these kinds of medications. Read the ingredients panel on the packaging of the cough remedy before you buy it. Pay attention to sugar and alcohol content and any warnings or special notes. If you still aren't sure if you should take the medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
