First aid for dry cough: how to cure in 24 hours at home

First aid for dry cough: how to cure in 24 hours at home

Dry cough is an exhausting and often irritating condition that can seriously disrupt everyday life. Unlike wet coughing, which helps to remove mucus from the respiratory tract, a dry cough is unproductive and often occurs due to irritation or inflammation. Fast relief is of paramount importance, and, fortunately, there are many effective home remedies that can be used to alleviate the symptoms and accelerate recovery, even in 24 hours. This comprehensive guide is deepened into the causes of dry cough, diagnostics and a wide range of home remedies, as well as precautions and recommendations for seeking a doctor.

Understanding dry cough: causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Before starting treatment, it is important to understand what dry cough is and why it arises. Dry cough, also known as an unproductive cough, is characterized by a lack of sputum or mucus. It is often felt like tickling or irritation in the throat, which leads to irrepressible attacks of cough.

Causes of dry cough:

Numerous factors can cause dry cough, including:

• Viral infections: A cold and flu are frequent culprits. Viruses affect the upper respiratory tract, causing inflammation and irritation, which leads to dry cough.
• Allergies: Allergens, such as pollen, pets wool and dust mites, can provoke allergic reactions, leading to inflammation of the respiratory tract and dry cough.
• Environment irritants: Smoke, air pollution, strong smells and chemicals can irritate the throat and respiratory tract, causing dry cough.
• Asthma: This chronic lung disease can cause dry cough, especially at night or after physical exercises.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERB): Acid reflux can irritate the esophagus and throat, causing dry cough.
• Medicines: Some drugs, such as ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure, can cause dry cough as a side effect.
• Postnasal syndrome: An excess of mucus flowing along the posterior wall of the throat can irritate and cause dry cough.
• Dry air: Dry air, especially in winter, can dry the respiratory tract, causing irritation and coughing.
• Foreign bodies: Inhalation of small items, especially in children, can cause a cough.
• Chronic lung diseases: In rare cases, dry cough can be a sign of more serious lung diseases, such as interstitial lung disease.

Symptoms of dry cough:

• Inhibitory cough: The cough does not lead to the formation of sputum.
• Irritation in the throat: Sensation of tickling, scratching or burning in the throat.
• The hoarseness of the voice: The voice can become hoarse or weak.
• Pain in the chest: Coughing can cause pain or discomfort in the chest.
• Fatigue: A permanent cough can be tedious and lead to fatigue.
• Insomnia: Night cough can interfere with sleep.
• Headache: Cough tension can cause a headache.

Diagnosis of dry cough:

Diagnosis usually includes an assessment of the patient’s disease, physical examination and, possibly, additional tests.

• Medical history: The doctor will ask about the duration of coughing, accompanying symptoms, allergies, drugs and medical history.
• Physical examination: The doctor will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to identify any abnormal sounds, such as wheezing or whistling breathing.
• Additional tests: Depending on the suspect, additional tests can be assigned, such as:
  • Chest x -ray: To identify infections or other lung diseases.
  • Blood tests: To identify signs of infection or allergies.
  • Lung function tests: To evaluate the function of the lungs, especially with suspicion of asthma.
  • A smear of nose or throat: To identify viral or bacterial infections.
  • Allergic tests: To identify allergens causing cough.

Dry coughing home remedies: treatment in 24 hours

Although a 24-hour cure cure is not always possible, especially if it is caused by a chronic disease, many home remedies can greatly relieve symptoms and accelerate recovery. These funds are aimed at calming the irritated throat, a decrease in inflammation and moisturizing the respiratory tract.

1. Moisturization:

• Drink a lot of liquids: Water, herbal teas (chamomile, ginger, lakrin), warm broth and transparent juices help moisturize the respiratory tract, dilute the mucus (if it is present) and calm the irritated throat. Warm liquids are especially useful.
• Use a humidifier: The air humidifier adds moisture to the air, preventing the drying of the respiratory tract. Support the humidifier clean to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. The steam humidifier can also be useful.
• Take a hot shower: Steam from a hot shower can help moisturize the respiratory tract and facilitate the congestion of the nose, which can contribute to dry cough.

2. Rinse and rinse of the throat:

• Rinse with salt water: Rinsing the throat with warm salt water (1/4 teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water) can help reduce inflammation several times a day and calm the irritated throat.
• Rinse honey water: Adding a teaspoon of honey to a glass of warm water can enhance the soothing effect of salt water.
• Rinse by apple cider vinegar: Dilution of apple cider vinegar (1-2 tablespoons) in a glass of water can help to balance the pH level in the throat and facilitate irritation.

3. Honey:

• Take honey directly: Honey has natural anti -inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Reception of 1-2 teaspoons of honey directly or dissolved in warm water can help calm the throat and reduce the cough. Do not give honey to children under 1 year old due to the risk of botulism.
• Honey in tea: Adding honey to herbal tea (chamomile, lemon, ginger) enhances the soothing effect.
• Honey and lemon: Mixing honey with lemon juice (1-2 tablespoons) can help reduce inflammation and facilitate the cough. The lemon also contains vitamin C, which supports the immune system.

4. Herbal remedies:

• Ginger: Ginger has anti -inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can be consumed in the form of tea (cut fresh ginger and pour boiling water), candies or capsules.
• Turmeric: Turmeric contains curcumin with strong anti -inflammatory properties. It can be added to warm drinks (for example, gold milk) or taken in the form of capsules.
• Lacrice root: Lacryz root has expectorant and anti -inflammatory properties. He can help calm his throat and reduce the cough. It can be consumed in the form of tea or loafers. Avoid the use of lacrima root in large quantities if you have high blood pressure.
• Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus contains compounds that can help cleanse the respiratory tract and reduce congestion. It can be used in steam inhalations (add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil into a bowl of hot water and inhale steam) or apply local in the form of ointment.
• Peppermint: Peppermint contains menthol, which can help calm the throat and reduce the cough. It can be used in the form of tea, candies or steam inhalations.
• Timian: Thyme has expectorant and antimicrobial properties. It can be consumed in the form of tea or cough syrup.
• Marshmallow: The root of the Altea contains mucus, which can help calm the irritated throat and reduce the cough. It can be consumed in the form of tea or cough syrup.

5. Steam inhalations:

• Simple steam inhalations: Fill a bowl with hot water and cover your head with a towel. Lean over the bowl and inhale steam for 10-15 minutes. Be careful not to burn yourself.
• Steam inhalations with essential oils: Adding a few drops of essential oils (eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree) in hot water can enhance the effect of steam inhalations.
• Hot shower: Inhalation of steam during a hot shower can also help cleanse the respiratory tract and alleviate the cough.

6. Coughing Lollows:

• Lemonians with honey and lemon: These candies can help calm the throat and reduce the cough.
• Lollice houses with menthol: Menthol can help cleanse the respiratory tract and alleviate the cough.
• Herbal candies: Ledes containing herbs such as ginger, eucalyptus and lacrima root can also be useful.

7. Changes in lifestyle:

• Avoid irritants: Avoid the effects of smoke, air pollution and other stimuli that can aggravate the cough.
• Stop smoking: Smoking irritates the respiratory tract and can worsen a cough.
• Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can dehydrate the body and irritate the throat.
• Rest: Rest allows the body to recover and fight infection.
• Raise your head: Sleep with a raised head can help reduce postnazal syndrome and acid reflux, which can contribute to dry cough.

8. Nutrition:

• Use products rich in vitamin C: Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and helps the body fight infections. Products rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, berries, broccoli and pepper.
• Use products rich in zinc: Zinc also supports the immune system and can help reduce the duration of the cough. Products rich in zinc include oysters, meat, poultry and nuts.
• Avoid reflux products: If you have GERB, avoid products that can cause reflux, such as fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol.
• Eat light, easily digestible food: When you are sick, it is important to eat light, easily digestible food so as not to overload the digestive system.

9. Alternative treatment methods:

• Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine, which includes the introduction of thin needles into certain points of the body to stimulate the natural mechanisms of healing of the body. Some studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective for the treatment of cough.
• Reflexology: Reflexology includes the provision of pressure on certain points on the feet or hands, which correspond to various organs and systems in the body. It is believed that reflexology can help reduce stress and improve blood circulation, which can help alleviate the cough.
• Yoga: Some yoga poses can help open the chest and relieve breathing, which can help reduce the cough.

Precautions and when to see a doctor

Although home remedies can be effective to facilitate dry cough, it is important to know when to consult a doctor.

• Duration: If the cough lasts more than three weeks, you must consult a doctor to exclude more serious diseases.
• Related symptoms: Consult a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
  • High temperature
  • Dyspnea
  • Pain in the chest
  • Blood in sputum
  • Walking breathing
  • Difficult swallowing
  • Weight loss
• Chronic diseases: If you have chronic diseases, such as asthma, hood or GERB, you should consult a doctor if you have a cough.
• Children: If your child has a cough, consult a doctor, especially if he is younger than 3 months, he has a high temperature, difficulty breathing or bluishness of the lips or face.
• Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before using any home remedies for coughing.

Prevention of dry cough

Prevention is always better than treatment. Here are some tips on how to prevent dry cough:

• Avoid contact with sick people: Wash your hands often and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Vaccinated: Make flu and pneumococcal infection to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
• Quit smoking: Smoking irritates the respiratory tract and increases the risk of coughing.
• Avoid environmental irritants: Avoid the effects of smoke, air pollution and other irritants that can cause a cough.
• Moisturize the air: Use a humidifier to prevent the respiratory tract.
• Drink a lot of liquids: A sufficient amount of liquid helps to moisturize the respiratory tract.
• Take vitamins: Vitamin C and zinc strengthen the immune system and help the body fight infections.
• Follow hygiene rules: Wash your hands often and cover your mouth and nose with coughing or sneezing.
• Support for a healthy lifestyle: Healthy nutrition, regular physical exercises and sufficient sleep strengthen the immune system and help the body fight infections.
• Manage stress: Stress can weaken the immune system. Learn to cope with stress using methods such as yoga, meditation or deep breathing.
• Proceeds the room regularly: Provide a sufficient influx of fresh air into the room, especially in winter, when the windows are often closed.
• Remove dust and allergens: Regularly vacuumed and wipe the dust to remove dust ticks, pets wool and other allergens that can cause a cough.
• Check for mold: Mold can cause allergic reactions and irritate the respiratory tract. Check your house for mold and, if necessary, remove it.

Medications

In some cases, home remedies may be insufficient to facilitate dry cough. In such cases, the doctor may prescribe medications.

• Anticlothes: These drugs suppress the cough, acting on the cough center in the brain. Examples include dextrometerfan and codeine. Codeine is opioid and can cause addiction, so it should be used with caution.
• Expectants: These drugs help to dilute mucus in the respiratory tract, which facilitates its jerking. Examples include hevaifenesin. Expectives are mainly used for wet cough, but in some cases it can be useful for dry coughing if there is a small amount of mucus in the respiratory tract.
• Antihistamines: If the cough is caused by allergies, the doctor can prescribe antihistamines to reduce an allergic reaction.
• Inhalation corticosteroids: If the cough is caused by asthma, the doctor can prescribe inhalation corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract.
• Bronstillers: If the cough is caused by narrowing of the respiratory tract, the doctor can prescribe broneters to relax the muscles in the respiratory tract and relieve breathing.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections. If the cough is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. However, antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, such as colds and flu.

The importance of proper diagnosis

It is very important to correctly diagnose the cause of dry cough in order to get the right treatment. An attempt to treat a cough without determining its cause can be ineffective and even harmful. For example, if the cough is caused by asthma, the suppression of cough with antitussive agents can worsen asthma symptoms.

Recommendations for parents

If your child has a dry cough, here are a few recommendations:

• Consult a doctor: Always consult a doctor before giving a child any cough medicines, especially if he is under 6 years old.
• Provide a sufficient amount of liquid: Make sure your child drinks fluid enough to moisturize the respiratory tract.
• Use a humidifier: The air humidifier can help prevent the respiratory tract.
• Use the salt spray for the nose: A salt spray for the nose can help cleanse the laid nose and reduce posttratic syndrome.
• Give honey: Honey can help calm the throat and reduce the cough. Do not give honey to children under 1 year old due to the risk of botulism.
• Avoid irritants: Avoid the effects of smoke, air pollution and other stimuli that can aggravate the cough.
• Raise your head: A sleep with a raised head can help reduce posttratic syndrome.
• Rest: Rest allows the body to recover and fight infection.

Final remarks

Dry cough can be a grueling and irritating state. However, there are many home remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms and accelerate recovery. It is important to correctly diagnose the cause of the cough and consult a doctor if the cough lasts more than three weeks or is accompanied by other serious symptoms. Preventive measures can also help reduce the risk of dry coughing. Following the advice set forth in this leadership, you can effectively cope with the dry cough and improve your general health.