Cold & Flu Health Center
Coughs - Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent a cough. To help reduce your risk:
- Wash your hands frequently during the cold and flu season. This helps prevent the spread of a virus that may cause a cold or influenza.
- Avoid people who have a cold or influenza if possible.
- Don't smoke or use other forms of tobacco. A dry, hacking "smoker's cough" means your lungs are constantly irritated. For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.
- Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, both at home and in the workplace.
- Increase your fluid intake. This helps keep the mucus thin and helps you cough it up. It also helps prevent dehydration.
- Get a flu shot (influenza vaccine) each autumn if you are older than 50 or have a health risk that increases your risk for a serious problem. For more information, see the topic Influenza.
- Get a pneumonia shot (pneumococcal vaccine
(What is a PDF document?)
) if you are older than 65 or if you have chronic lung
disease, such as
asthma or
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); you
smoke; or you have a
health risk that increases the seriousness of your
symptoms. - Make sure your immunizations are current, such as pertussis to reduce your risk of getting whooping cough. For more information, see the topic Immunizations.
- If your child stays in a day care center, ask the day care providers to wash their hands often to prevent the spread of infection.
Prevention tips for children
- If your child goes to a day care center, ask the staff to wash their hands often to prevent the spread of infection.
- Make sure that your child gets all of his or her vaccinations, especially for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) and for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). For more information, see the topic Immunizations.
- If one of your children is sick, separate him or her from other children in the home, if possible. Put the child in a room alone to sleep.
- For information on preventing allergies or asthma, see the topic Allergic Rhinitis or Asthma in Children.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
February 25, 2008
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

