For Your Cough
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Shallow raspy coughs are of no value and will even irritate your throat further. This type of cough should be surpressed. Sometimes post nasal drip running down the back of your throat may be the cause of your cough. In that case, you may need a decongestant as well as a cough medicine.
Natural Treatment & Comfort Measures:
FLUIDS in large quantities (8 to 10 glasses per day) are the best, safest and least expensive cough remedy. Fluids (such as water, juice, soup) help your body thin the mucous from the inside, and make it easier to cough it up. They also soothe and lubricate your throat.AVOID SMOKE from cigarettes, cigars and pipes so that you wont further damage your irritated bronchial tubes. Smoking also hampers your ability to bring up mucous by paralyzing the tiny hairs that sweep the mucous out of the breathing passages. Smokers have a greater tendency to catch colds and have more trouble getting rid of them.
STEAM INHALATION from vaporizer or hot shower will help thin and loosen the mucous and make it easier for you to cough it up.
HARD CANDY or COUGH DROPS may relieve dry tickling coughs.
AVOID ALCOHOL because it has a drying effect on the throat.
Medications:
1-ROBITUSSIN, as an example, is a good expectorant cough preparation for tight coughs. It helps your cough to do what it is supposed to do--loosen and bring up mucous. Dosage: 2 tsp. every 3-4 hours. No side effects.2-ROBITUSSIN--DM or Novahistine DMX, for example, is an expectorant-suppressant cough preparation. It will help to suppress a dry, hacking, non-productive cough. It also helps loosen mucous. It contains Dextromethorphan, the non-narcotic cough silencer.
Dosage: 2 tsp. every 3-4 hours. No side effects.
Symptoms Which Might Indicate
You Need to See a Clinician:- Cough lasts a week or longer than other symptoms and worsens.
- Wheezing or chest pains.
- Short of breath or cough is bloody or greenish sputum.