How To Stop Coughing :- Myths And Facts

Constant coughing is often uncomfortable and can become a limitation in your daily activities or while sleeping.

However, according to Medical News Today, coughing plays a crucial role in eradicating infectious elements from the body, so determining its treatment depends on the underlying cause of the cough.  

On the other hand, although there are popular testimonies about the effectiveness of certain natural remedies for cough relief, it is important to consult a doctor before resorting to any treatment, whether conventional or alternative. 

According to doctor Iris Cazali, before taking any medicine, it is essential to determine the cause of the cough, since coughing can often be an indicator of an illness that requires medical attention.

Possible causes of cough

Cazali mentions that various reasons cause coughing in people. These are some of them:

• Bronchospasm
• Allergy
• Asthma
• Smoking conventional and/or electronic cigarettes (vaping).
• Physical activity. In this case, learning to breathe correctly plays a fundamental role in avoiding a coughing attack or any other complication. 
• Irritative cough (post-Covid cough, for example). In these cases, Cazali mentions the effectiveness of histamines to combat this type of cough, among others.

Cazali also referred to the precautions that must be taken in light of the recent air pollution, which has led to cases of respiratory illnesses. 

For this reason, it is not advisable to leave the house during these days for these conditions, especially if there are conditions such as asthma or bronchospasm. If necessary, the suggestion would be to wear a mask when you are outside the house and keep the windows closed as much as possible. 

Alternatives for cough prevention

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are five alternative treatments you can use to prevent cough and dry throat, including: 

1. Drink fluids. In general, fluids help thin out the mucus in your throat. To soothe your throat, you can drink warm liquids such as broth or tea. On the other hand, natural juices can also be helpful for this purpose. 

2. Eating hard candy. Both cough drops and hard candy can be used to soothe your throat. 

3. Honey. It has been proven that a teaspoon of honey can clear the throat. However, this does not apply to children under one year of age, as it can contain bacteria that are harmful to the health of babies. 

4. Humidifiers. In some cases, using a cool-mist humidifier or taking a steam bath may help prevent a coughing attack. However, it is best to consult your doctor before resorting to this measure.

5. Say goodbye to tobacco. Yes, smoking or breathing secondhand smoke can irritate your lungs and significantly worsen your cough. If you are a regular smoker, talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you to quit smoking.