It can be tough, but if you need to, take a day off from work. Keep your kids home from school as well. Their teacher and all the other parents will appreciate it! Viruses are often spread through droplets sprayed by coughing. Make sure you or your child always cover your mouth when you cough. Try to cough into the crook of your elbow and wash your hands immediately if you cough into them.
At a minimum, try to drink eight to 10 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Try drinking green tea, as it contains antioxidants.
Hot cereal, such as oatmeal: Adding a pinch of cayenne pepper can help break up the mucus and increase drainage. Yogurt: The active bacterial cultures can boost your gut bacteria and boost your immune system at the same time. Foods rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants: Foods that have high levels of Vitamin C include red peppers, oranges, berries (like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) and leafy green vegetables. Foods rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin A: These include any yellow or orange food, including carrots, squash and sweet potatoes. Chicken soup: Keep it light with brown rice and a few easily digestible vegetables, such as spinach, peas, carrots, celery, or summer squash.
Don’t swallow! Just gargle and spit it out. The salt water does at least two things: First, the salt helps reduce any swelling in your throat, making a cough less likely. Second, the sea salt can help supply various minerals that can be useful for the immune system (zinc, selenium, magnesium).
On the other hand, the reality is that coughing can really affect your well-being. In some cases, coughing won’t let you sleep and causes it to hurt when you breathe. If this is the case, it’s probably a good time to consider a cough suppressant.
Inhaling an environmental irritant. Certain medications: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Beta-blockers in particular. Both ACE inhibitors and Beta-blockers are prescribed to treat high blood pressure and some heart diseases. Some disorders including Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), tuberculosis, viral infections and congestive heart failure. Smoking. Post-nasal drip irritating the throat and causing a reflex cough. Allergies. Asthma, especially in children. Chronic bronchitis.
For other causes of a cough, make sure you have a proper diagnosis and are being treated for the underlying disorder. If the cough does not disappear after that, you may need to get a second opinion about the specific cause of your cough.
If you or your child are coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. If you or your child are wheezing, or there is a whistling sound at the beginning or end of your breath. If you or your child experience any odd sounding coughs and have difficulty catching your breath, especially at the end of a cough. If you or your child experience a fever of more than 100. 4°F (38°C). If you or your child experience any shortness of breath. If you or your child have a whooping cough. Whooping cough has been on the rise, likely because of decreased immunization rates and the appearance of new bacterial strains. It is characterized by fits of uncontrolled, violent coughs making it very hard to breathe. The deep breaths that follow a fit of coughing often sound like a “whoop. ” This is a highly contagious disease that can be prevented and treated. Early treatment is very important. [3] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Do not give honey to any child under one year old. There is a very small risk of getting infant botulism from the bacterial toxins sometimes found in honey. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Infants have an immature immune system though, and being exposed to botulism could cause a fatal outcome. Medicinal honey (Manuka honey from New Zealand is recommended) can help soothe a cough but any organic honey will have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
To take honey and lemon, gently warm up one cup of honey in a small saucepan. Add 3–4 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 4–5 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice, or a whole lemon, cut into thin slices. Heat over a low flame for 10 minutes and stir constantly until the mixture is warm and the lemons (if you used them) are broken up. Add ¼ to ⅓ cup of water to the honey-lemon mixture and stir. Take 1–2 tablespoons as needed. Refrigerate the mixture.
Combine one cup of honey and one lemon, finely sliced in a small saucepan. Peel two to three cloves of garlic and chop them as finely as possible. Add this to the honey-lemon mixture. Heat on low flame for about 10 minutes. Stir in ¼ to ⅓ cup of water to the honey-lemon mixture. Keep heating briefly over the low flame. Take 1–2 tablespoons as needed and keep the mixture in your refrigerator.
Allow the mixture to cool before taking it to avoid burning your mouth.
Glycerin has a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) status with the FDA. [6] X Research source Pure glycerin is a colorless and somewhat sweet vegetable product that is used to make all sorts of indigestible products and personal care products. Because it takes up water, it can be helpful in small amounts to reduce any swelling in the throat. Be aware that glycerin is used to treat constipation, so if diarrhea becomes a problem, reduce the amount of glycerin used. Prolonged and excessive ingestion of glycerin can increase blood sugar and blood fat levels.
To use as a steam treatment, add 1–2 teaspoons of dried herb to 2 cups of boiled water in a bowl. Being careful to avoid scalding, place your face over the bowl of water (make sure there is at least a distance of 12 inches between your face and the water), cover the back of your head with a towel, and breathe the fumes in through your nose and mouth. As with all herbs, there is a chance you can have an allergic reaction. Try a small amount of tea or steam first and wait 30 minutes. If there is no reaction, you can proceed.
Like peppermint, marshmallow root can be used as a tea or a steam treatment. To make marshmallow root tea place 1–2 teaspoons of dried herb in 1 cup of boiled water. Brew for a few minutes and then remove the herb. Sweeten with honey if desired. Because there is a small risk of allergy as with all herbs, try a small amount of tea first and wait 30 minutes. If there is no reaction, you can proceed.
Ginger root is considered safe for both children and adults
Hold your nose as you drink the fish oil and juice mixture. The perception of taste is based on a number of senses, and if you can’t smell it, the taste won’t be as strong.
