Coughing
Coughing
Quiet the Hacking and Quacking
Coughing is such a nuisance, interrupting your sleep (or another's sleep), disturbing your work, drawing unwanted attention in class and meetings. In a way, coughing is worse than sneezing. And when your simple sniffle evolves into an infuriating, roof-rattling, throat-tickling, phlegm-producing cough, you want relief, and fast.
Coughing occurs for a reason: It's your body's reflex, designed to rid your lungs or airways of foreign material or mucus.
BE STILL, MY THROAT
Provided that your doctor has ruled out asthma, a lung infection or other serious condition, here are some tips for quieting your cough.
Put on the kettle. A cough with a tickle needs hot tea to settle it down, says Penelope Shar, M.D., an internist in private practice in chilly Bangor, Maine. To coat your throat, sweeten your cup with some honey and breathe in some steam while it's brewing, she advises. (To avoid a steam burn, don't get too close.)
Create a steamy situation. Another way to give your airways the humidity that they crave is to use a vaporizer, says Sally Wenzel, M.D., associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a pulmonary specialist at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, both in Denver. Or luxuriate in a warm shower to ease congestion that prompts coughing.
Have a piece of candy. Suck on sugarless hard candy or licorice. Women doctors say that they will probably quiet your cough just as well as most lozenges.
Know when to leave well enough alone. If your cough is bringing up phlegm, doctors would call it a productive cough. Dr. Wenzel advises against taking anything to suppress such a cough, since it is clearing out your congested airways. "If you can't sleep, take cough medicine just before bed," she says. And don't swallow phlegm--your body is trying to get rid of it.
Look for the "D" word. For simple, dry coughs Dr. Wenzel recommends syrups containing dextromethorphan. But like many doctors, she discourages overuse of any type of cough medicine. Many of them are filled with ingredients (guaifenesin, terpin hydrate, phenothiazine promethazine) that you don't need, since they haven't been proven to do anything beneficial for your cough.
When To See A Doctor
Coughs can be serious business, so women doctors say that it's wise to see a doctor if your coughing: * Is persistent * Awakens you at night * Gets worse or changes * Interferes with your daily activities "It's especially important to get medical attention if your cough isn't getting better and if you have other symptoms, such as fever, chills, chest pain, ear pain or swollen glands," says Penelope Shar, M.D., an internist in private practice in Bangor, Maine. "If you're feeling rotten and your mucus is greenish, don't delay: Antibiotics will help." Or you may simply need a stronger cough medicine.
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Keep the liquids flowing. Even if your cough is the last remnant of a cold, drink plenty of water, juice and broth, recommends Dr. Wenzel. Drinking plenty of fluids--including chicken soup--will thin the mucus in your airways and lungs.
Consider taking an antacid. If your cough comes on suddenly at night, it may be caused by gastroesophageal reflux, or a backing up of juices from your stomach. Taking an antacid before bed might help. Also try raising the head of your bed and cutting out food and alcohol for a few hours before you retire for the night.
(For practical ways to deal with colds, influenza, sore throat and postnasal drip, see pages 126, 306, 505, and 437.)
