Home remedies for cough with mucus (and other tips to get rid of cough)

Who does not know that unpleasant process that begins with a slight itch in the throat and that soon leads to lying in bed, hoarse, drinking one infusion after another and coughing up thick mucus that seems to come from the deepest part of lungs. The question quickly arises, what can help me?

In this video you will find an infusion for a cough with mucus and another for a dry cough:

Causes of cough with hows

Unlike a dry or unproductive cough, the so-called productive cough clears mucus from the airways. This symptom is typical of various diseases and It serves our body to eliminate pathogens and germs from the respiratory tract.

Inflammation, as occurs with certain chronic illnesses or years of smoking, can stimulate mucus production and lead to coughing. A cough with sputum can be due to different causes:

Common cold Influenza Acute or chronic bronchitis Viral or bacterial infection in the lungs (pneumonia) Allergy and bronchial asthma Smoking COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

If you are coughing up sputum for a long period of time, you should Consult your doctor to rule out serious causes or to start prompt treatment.

5 tips against coughing up mucus

1. Expectorant drugs

Strong cough medicines such as codeine are associated with a risk of addiction and are only indicated for chronic disabling dry cough. In cases of bronchitis and mild cough without great suffering, it is expressly advised not to suppress the cough with antitussives and use only expectorant medication or resort to herbal preparations.

Expectorant medications thin mucus and make it easier to clear from the airways. They do not suppress a cough, but rather loosen stubborn, sticky mucus in the airways.

2. Herbal Supplements

Although herbal remedies do not have expensive studies to prove their effectiveness, in many cases experience shows that They are effective in diseases that occur with acute cough. They reduce both the intensity and duration of coughing.

Herbal combination preparations such as ivy and thyme or primrose root and thyme are recommended, especially in acute bronchitis. Eucalyptus phytopharmaceuticals are equally effective.

3. Home remedies

There are promising studies suggesting that honey or inhalation of salt water, for example, have a mitigating effect about upper respiratory tract infections and symptoms such as coughing.

These home remedies do not cause any harm and, as in the case of broths, provide fluids, electrolytes, and other nutrients so there is nothing to say against taking them. They also provide a feeling of comfort that makes the course of the disease less annoying.

4. Avoid cough triggers

Smoking leads to the destruction of cilia on the bronchial mucosa, which causes the cleaning processes to decay. To counteract the dirt, more and more secretion is produced, which smokers cough up in the form of brown mucus, especially in the morning.

Dry or polluted air can also irritate the airways, as can dehydration or even certain medications. For example, antihypertensive ACE inhibitors cause chronic cough in 5–10% of patientsbecause they block the breakdown of some substances in the bronchial mucosa.

5. Cough to expel phlegm

In fact, there are certain coughing techniques that will help you expel phlegm optimally. If you suffer from a chronic respiratory disease, you may be interested in going to a respiratory physiotherapy office. Alternatively, you can use the following technique to facilitate the expulsion of thick phlegm:

Sit on the front edge of a chair, sofa, or bed and place your feet wide apart. Now bend your upper body forward and lean on your elbows on your thighs.Try to relax and don’t cough until you feel mucus moving up your airways.Cough briefly. Between one cough and another, inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through pursed lips and a little pressure.You can do this also standing up, bending the torso and resting the hands on the thighs.

When to go to the doctor in case of cough

You have to go to the doctor if the cough does not go away in three weeks or if at any time the mucus is thick and greenish. Also if wheezing is appreciated when breathing or difficulties in breathing appear.

Other symptoms that may accompany a cough such as fever, ankle swelling, or weight loss are also reasons to see your doctor.

If there is a sensation of choking, vomiting, difficulty breathing, chest pain or bloody mucus, you should go to the emergency room