There are several things a person can do that might help relieve a coughing attack. However, the best way to treat a cough is to tackle the underlying cause.
Coughing is a symptom of many different health conditions. Some of these conditions are relatively harmless, while others are much more severe.
There are several methods a person can try to stop a coughing attack when one begins. These include:
- drinking plenty of water
- sipping hot water with honey
- taking over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines
- taking a steamy shower
- using a humidifier in the home
Many coughs occur due to dryness or irritation in the throat. The methods listed above can all help relieve dryness and irritation if present.
A cough can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition. In these instances, treating the underlying condition should stop the cough.
How to stop infants coughing
Children and infants who have a cough should drink plenty of water. This will help soothe the throat and minimize coughing.
Placing a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier next to the childs bed can help alleviate nighttime coughing.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source do not recommend giving OTC cough medicines to children under 2 years of age.
Additionally, people should not give honey to infants under 1 year of age, as it can lead to an illness called infant botulism.
Types of cough
Many different health conditions can cause a cough. In order to identify the cause, it can be helpful to understand the different types of cough.
According to the American Lung Association, healthcare practitioners classify coughs as follows:
- Acute cough: This is a cough that comes on suddenly and lasts up to 3 weeks.
- Subacute cough: This is a cough that comes on suddenly and lasts around 3–8 weeks.
- Chronic cough: This is cough that lasts longer than 8 weeks.
- Productive cough: This is a cough that produces phlegm.
- Dry cough: This is a cough that does not produce phlegm.
- Nocturnal cough: This is cough that only occurs at night.
- Hemoptysis: This means coughing up blood or blood stained mucus from the lungs.
