What are Medicines for Chesty Cough?

 

Chesty Cough also called as Productive cough or Wet cough, is a cough that produces mucus or flare.

There is another type of cough called dry cough, the treatment modalities for dry cough and chesty cough are different.

Remember coughing is nothing but a reflex or a defense mechanism that helps protect your body from irritants like dust in the air, it is an important way of clearing infected secretions from the lungs so when you have a chesty cough, the aim of the treatment is not to suppress the cough but to improve the efficiency of the cough to help clear the airways.

 

Now let's discuss some natural or home remedies and medicines for a chesty cough but remember these remedies are specially recommended for adults.

Steam can help break down the mucus causing a chesty cough and help you to cough it up, by using room vaporizer or sit down with your head over a bowl of hot water and a towel over your head to inhale the steam. Menthol, camphor or eucalyptus can be added to the water.

 

Precaution: Children should try sitting in a hot steamy bathroom rather than use of a bowl of hot water to reduce the risk of burns.

 

Natural Bees Honey is one of the most effective ways of treating chesty cough it has antibacterial properties and act as a wound healer, honey reduces pain and inflammation. A small clinical trial found that taking 1.5 teaspoon of honey 30 minutes before the bed can help reduce cough and encourage sound sleep.

 

Tea can be mixed with honey or warm lemon water it is helpful in healing sore throats.

 

Precaution: But here it must be remembered one thing never give honey to a child under one year old, it can cause a rare complication called infant bottleism of floppy baby syndrome, it is due to ingestion of a bacterial toxin which can be present in honey, it is harmless to other kids and adults.

A Humidifier can help you avoid breathing in dry air, this is particularly helpful at night when the throat naturally dries out a dry throat, may be more prone to irritation and inflammation. Phlegm in the respiratory tract becomes thinner and easier to move out of the lungs.

 

Taking a Steamy Shower can help moisten your upper Airways, it may also help break up the mucus in your chest, try to stay in the shower or in the steamy bathroom for at least 5 minutes you can repeat this process as needed.

 

Ginger is packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties according to our study few cups of ginger tea per day may help soothe inflammation in your throat while keeping you hydrated.

Research shows that both Thyme and Clove have anti-microbial properties, they may help your body fight off their upper respiratory tract infection. Add fresh thyme and clove leaves to the boiling water, allow to boil for 10 minutes and then strain and serve.

 

Precaution: Always check with medical professional or a doctor before using essential oils as they can interact with other medications and supplements.

Nasal Irrigation: A Neti Pot is a convenient way of performing nasal irrigation with saline water. Research shows that nasal irrigation is good for a stuffy nose, it can reduce the symptoms of wet cough in both children and adults. It can also suit sore throat, however if you use nasal irrigation be sure to use filtered water, rather than the tap water which may contain harmful bacteria.

 

Staying hydrated and avoiding dehydration is extremely important when you're fighting of an infection, it also keeps your throat from drying out or becoming irritated or inflamed. Aim to drink at least eight ounce of glasses of water per day.

 

If you have chesty cough with sore throat, then you can consider Warm salt water Gargle, gargling with warm salt water is one of the simplest and most effective home remedies, the saltier pulls out the mucus from your swollen and inflammed tissue. Salt water gargling helps to relieve the discomfort and scratchy throat. Add about 1/4 teaspoon of salt in lukewarm water, do the saltwater gargling several times each day.

 

Now let's talk about the Medicines. Medicines that can be used to treat chesty cough include:

1) Expectorants

2) Mucolytics.

 

Expectorants are substances that help to loosen and expel mucus from the lungs, they include Guaifenesin, Ammonia, Senegal Sodium citrate and Apica kuana.

 

How Guaifenesin usefull as an Expectorant in Chesty Cough?👇

In comparison Mucolytics such as Bromhexin and Acetyl Cystin helps break down thick sticky chest phlegm making it easier to cough up.

Precaution: Cough syrup is usually available as a combination product, it also contains a Decongestant to relieve a blocked or stuffy nose but make sure that it should not contain cough suppressant. Combination products with cough suppressant are generally not suitable for people with a chesty cough, also some ingredients may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions so it's always better to
consult a doctor before taking any medicines.