For many, the worst part of a cold is a persistent, annoying cough, especially when that tickle in your throat comes at the worst times, like during a presentation at work or when tossing and turning in bed. That’s enough to make you desperately search for ways to get rid of a cough – overnight if possible.
But it turns out there’s a very important reason Why we cough, and it is meant to help you get better. “Cough is a reflex that our body uses in response to irritation, inflammation or infection in the lungs and airways,” explains Chantel Strachan, M.D.., a primary care physician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “This is how our body literally tries to push unwanted germs and irritants out of the body. »
Cough is mostly associated with respiratory infections – such as colds or flu, bronchitis and more serious infections, including COVID-19. But it can also be due to acid reflux, allergies, asthma, and the unexpected side effects of certain medications., according to Dr. Strachan. While a wet cough (a productive cough that brings up phlegm or mucus) is often a sign of a lower airway infection, a dry cough is usually associated with an irritated or inflamed upper airway, says Glen B. Chun, MD, assistant professor of medicine and clinical director of the National Jewish Respiratory Institute at Mount Sinai. Treatment for a wet cough is often aimed at suppressing the cough completely, while for a dry cough it may be more focused on relieving the associated sore throat, he explains.
So what exactly can you do to treat a persistent, annoying cough? Fortunately, there are a number of effective strategies you can try to improve your cough symptoms – and you may already have the solution at home. From using over-the-counter medications to drinking a cup of tea, here are 11 easy ways to get rid of your cough.