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Results: Your answers indicate that you may not know how to calm your cough. If you can control a cough that is interfering with your sleep or daily activities, you will have more energy to fight illness and get through the day.
The first step to treating a cough is identifying what's causing it:
- A cold or flu often causes a cough.
- Allergies to pets, dust, and household cleaners are another cause.
- Some medicines, smoking, and even second-hand smoke can cause a chronic cough. Rarely, a persistent cough can be caused by a serious health condition.
- A cough may even have more than one cause.
If a cough is not from a cold or flu, has lingered for weeks, or is accompanied by unusual symptoms such as high fever, see a doctor.
For a cough that seems to be from a cold or flu:
- Get plenty of liquids and rest.
- Adults can use an over-the-counter cough medicine, if needed, and children over four years can safely take a child-formula cough medicine.
- Honey may also help calm a cough and can be given to children older than 1.
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If a cough from a cold or flu is bothering you or your child, try these tips:
- Take a steamy shower
- Use a humidifier in the bedroom
- Get plenty of rest and fluids, including warm tea or soup.
For adults, an over-the-counter cough medicine may also help. Read the label carefully before taking a multi-symptom cold and flu medicine along with cough medicine. Follow these guidelines for kids:
- Children older than 4 can safely take an OTC child-formula cough medicine.
- Children age 3 and older can suck on hard candies to soothe an irritated throat.
- Children older than 1 can take honey to relieve a cough. Don't give honey to a child under one year old.
A cough may come and go with a cold, flu, or allergies. If a cough lasts longer than 3 weeks or if you don't know what's causing it, see a doctor.
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If the cough is from a cold or flu, remember that getting plenty of rest and drinking fluids during the day will help. Warm tea or soup, a shower, and a humidifier can also help thin mucus and clear chest congestion.
For adults, cough medicine may also help. Children under 3 shouldn't use cough drops, and kids under 4 should not take an over-the-counter cough reliever. Instead, try the remedies listed above.
If the cough lasts 3 weeks or more, you should see your doctor. Working with your doctor to identify and treat the underlying cause is the only way to treat a chronic cough.
