Cough

Types of cough

There are two types of cough that are common: phlegm cough and tickle cough. It is important to know which type of cough you have because the treatment is different.

• Mucus Cough: With this type of cough, mucus comes along from your airways. This can happen during a cold or pneumonia, for example. Coughing helps your body get rid of the mucus.
• Cough: This is also called a dry or irritant cough. In this, you cough up almost no mucus, and it is often caused by a virus. Itchy coughs are often persistent and can be especially annoying at night, as they disrupt your sleep.

Causes of cough

Coughing can be caused by several factors. Usually it comes from an infection, such as a virus or bacteria. Other causes include:

• Asthma
• Smoking or exposure to smoke
• A side effect of medications, such as ACE inhibitors (for example, captopril or enalapril)
• Allergies such as dust mites or pollen
• Inhalation of irritants, such as chemicals or smoke

If your cough persists for more than three weeks, coughs up blood or the cough is accompanied by wheezing, it is wise to make an appointment with your doctor.

What can you do yourself?

Unfortunately, you can often do something yourself to relieve your cough symptoms. Here are some tips:

• Keep drinking enough: Especially warm drinks such as tea with honey can soothe your throat. Also drink extra water to make your mucus thinner, making it easier to cough up.
• Make sure you have clean air: Avoid smoking or inhaling smoke and other irritants. Ventilate your home well to let fresh air in.
• Use a throat candy or honey: A simple licorice or a spoonful of honey can help soothe your throat. This can especially help with a tickling cough.
• Steaming: If you suffer from phlegm cough, steaming with hot water can help loosen mucus. If necessary, add some chamomile or menthol for extra relief.

Medicines for Cough

Cough Relievers

Cough Relievers help soothe your throat, making coughing less painful. They work about as well as a spoonful of honey or licorice to soothe your throat. Examples of these remedies are althaea syrup and thyme syrup.

Cough suppressants

Cough suppressants make you feel less inclined to cough. This is because they raise the threshold in your nervous system, making you less likely to have an itchy cough. These drugs are often used when your throat or lungs are irritated. Examples include noscapine, dextromethorphan, pentoxyverine and codeine.

Remedies for phlegm cough

Some remedies stimulate the production of phlegm, making it easier for you to cough up phlegm. Drinks with aniseed, salmiac or licorice may help. Other remedies thin the tough mucus in your airways, making it easier to cough up. Examples include acetylcysteine, bromhexine and carbocysteine.

Treatment for a cough with phlegm is usually not necessary, because the coughing itself already helps remove the phlegm. Drugs for a cough with phlegm usually do little to speed up this process.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are medications against allergies. They don't directly help with coughing, but they can make you sleepy, which reduces coughing while sleeping. You should not use these drugs if you have a cough that involves coughing up phlegm. Examples are promethazine and oxomemazine.

Camille

If you cough up phlegm, you can steam with hot water to make this easier. You may want to add chamomile to the water.

Levomenthol

Steaming with hot water to which levomenthol has been added can also make coughing up phlegm easier.

Watch out with diabetes

If you have diabetes, you need to take extra care when using cough medicine. Many cough medicines contain sugar, which can affect your blood sugar levels. You can get sugar-free cough medicine at the pharmacy. Ask our advice if you are in doubt.

When to see your doctor?

Although coughing usually goes away on its own, there are situations in which it is better to consult your doctor:

• If you cough up blood or rusty brown mucus.
• If you have shortness of breath or wheezing.
• If your cough persists for more than three weeks.