Cough
A cough is when your body responds by irritating your airways or throat, and an irritation activates nerves that help your brain receive a message. Your brain then instructs your chest and belly muscles to drive air out of your lungs to expel the irritant.
Coughing on occasion is normal and healthy. A problem that requires medical treatment is a cough that lasts for several weeks or one that produces bloody or discolored mucus.
How to treat a cough on your own
You typically don’t need to visit a doctor when you have a cough.
You ought to:
- Rest
- Drink a lot of water
- Stay interior and avoid contact with other people
You might also attempt:
- Ibuprofen or paracetamol to treat any pain
- Lemon and honey hot (not suitable for babies under one year old)
- A herbal remedy is known as pelargonium (ideal for people aged 12 or over)
If you have a cough, a pharmacist can assist you.
A pharmacist can provide you with information about:
- Cough syrup
- Cough medication (you should not give some cough medicines to children under 12)
- Cough drops
- While they won’t make you quit coughing, these might make you cough less
- Decongestants and cough medications with codeine won’t get your cough under control
Consult a doctor if
- Cough persisting for more than three weeks is severe, or worsens quickly, such as a hacking cough or inability to stop coughing
- You’re feeling awful
- You experience chest pain
- You’re losing weight unnecessarily
- Your neck’s side feels uncomfortable and swollen (swollen glands)
- Breathing is challenging for you
- Your immune system is weak
Cough causes
- Colds and the flu are the leading causes of coughing.
Additional factors include:
- Smoking
- Heartburn (acid reflux)
- Allergies, such as hay fever
- Bronchitis
- Mucous trickling from the back of the nose down the throat
Cough is rarely an indication of anything dangerous like lung cancer.
To explore your health concerns in detail and receive expert advice, you can easily access our free doctor consultation service, designed to provide you with the support you need.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022