A dry cough
is a type of cough which does not produce any mucus or phlegm. It is
closely related to tickly coughs and often, these terms are used
interchangeably. Both dry coughs and tickly coughs are known as non-productive
coughs, as distinct from chesty coughs where mucus is produced.
A dry cough
is most often the result of infection by cold and flu viruses. It can also be
triggered by atmospheric pollutants (such as cigarette smoke) irritating your
throat. In most of these situations, dry coughs occur because the back of your
throat (or pharynx) becomes irritated or inflamed, but may also arise from
deeper in the chest
Causes of dry coughs
The most
common causes of a dry cough are the viral infections we know as the common
cold and flu. These coughs may occur at the start of the illness or
most often, towards the middle or the end of the infection.
Other causes
of a dry cough include:
- Side-effect of medication – some
medicines, particularly those for high blood pressure, can result in a dry
cough
- Hay fever - this is an allergy to grass
and tree pollen. It sets off inflammation in the eyes and nose. Sometimes,
this inflammation can also affect the deeper tissues in the chest, leading
to a dry cough.
- Psychological conditions – this is
when coughing has become a habit. It is also sometimes referred to as a
psychogenic cough. There is no physical illness behind the cough and often
the person does not even realise he or she is coughing. A feature of this
type of cough is that it goes away when one is asleep
- Nerves and stress – many people cough
when they are in a stressful situation. Breathing becomes shallow when you
are anxious and this can trigger the cough reflex. Some people tend
to be more anxious than others, and for them the ‘natural’ nervous cough
can become a problem if they find themselves in uncomfortable situations.
A dry cough
that lingers for more than three weeks may be the result of an underlying
medical condition such as:
- Asthma – this is a recurring disease
which causes your airways to become inflamed and partially blocked
- Heart disease – this is one of the
most common causes of ill-health in the Western world. Heart problems can
lead to heart failure and a build up of fluid in the lungs and a
persistent cough, especially at night
- Lung problems and cancer – a
persistent cough can also be a specific sign of lung problems, including
lung cancer
- Whooping cough – this is a bacterial
disease caused by Bordetella pertussis characterised by bouts of coughing
followed by gasping of air in a distinctive ‘whoop’ sound. It is not as
common as it used to be
- TB – Tuberculosis is a highly
infectious bacterial disease which primarily affects the lungs. In the
early stages, it gives rise to a persistent dry cough. TB was once thought
to have become extinct throughout the World, but cases have increased
recently because of a combination of drug resistance and lowered immune
resistance.
Remedies for Dry Cough
1. Steam
Before you
even begin to pile up on medication or other remedies, you must try
breathing in steam for persistent dry cough. All you will need is a large pot
of boiled water and a clean towel (optionally, you can get another heat-safe
container to put the water in while you carry out the remedy). Place the towel
over your head and bend over the pot, until your face is directly above it.
Breathe in the steam for as long as you can until it becomes too hot.
2. Honey
One of
Mother Nature’s gentlest and sweetest home remedies is honey. This delicious
solution will soothe your aching throat and speed up the healing process,
thanks to its strong antimicrobial, analgesic and antioxidant properties. There
are many ways in which you can consume honey for treating persistent dry cough,
but we recommend mixing it into a glass of hot milk for delightful results.
3. Hot Shower
Just like in
the case of breathing in steam from a pot, taking a hot shower or bath will do
wonders for getting rid of that never-ending cough. To boost the effects of
this home remedy, turn on the hot water and close the bathroom door while it
runs, in order to allow steam to form. Make sure that after you take the hot
bath or shower you get on warm clothing and climb into bed under blankets to
avoid any harmful exposure that will aggravate the cough.
4. Oregano
The last
place you ever imagined seeing oregano as an ingredient is probably on a list
of home remedies for persistent dry cough. We usually associate this yummy herb
with hearty, home-cooked meals, but it also serves as a trusted solution for
calming down coughs. Studies show that a particular type of oregano is good for
getting rid of dry coughs, namely marjoram. All you have to do is boil a bit of
oregano into one cup of water, strain it and enjoy it as a tea.
5. Peppermint
Aside from
having a highly pleasing scent, peppermint is also a super duper cough buster.
Healthline explains that the “menthol in peppermint soothes the throat and acts
as a decongestant, helping to break down the mucus”. You can enjoy all of
peppermint’s benefits for treating coughs by sipping on some hot tea or by
inhaling steam with a couple of drops of peppermint oil in it. We guarantee
that you will enjoy either one of these two methods.
6. Gargle
As far back
as we can remember, salt water gargle has been one of the most tried and proven
methods of battling off persistent dry cough. Even when we were children, our
mothers would always trick us into gargling with salt water when a cough
creeped up on us. Even though we always despised the taste (and, frankly, we
still do so now), we are aware of how beneficial it can be to our health. You
know the drill – add salt to a glass of warm water and gargle daily. The
effects will always be surprisingly pleasant.
7. Carrots
While you
might believe that carrots should not be on a list for treating persistent dry
cough, think again; have you ever realized how many nutrients these delicious
orange veggies have? Let’s just take a quick look: carrots come packed with
Vitamin A (a whopping 334% of your daily recommended value in just 100 grams of
carrots), dietary fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin B-6, calcium, magnesium,
sodium, protein and iron. Take four or five carrots and juice them, adding a
teaspoon of honey if you want to sweeten the juice up a bit. It is recommended
that you repeat the process three or four times daily so you can feel better.
8. Ginger
Ginger
literally is a miracle worker for persistent dry cough. It can be consumed in
several different ways, all of them equally effective in helping you get well.
If you can take the powerful taste, sprinkle a bit of salt on a piece of ginger
and gnaw on it for a couple of minutes. If you want an easier solution, you can
brew a pot of fresh ginger tea. Slice up the ginger into tiny pieces and boil
as you would do so normally. In the end, add a bit of honey to sweeten the tea
up and drink when you feel that your cough is getting out of control.
9. Turmeric
You can make
an excellent herbal tea out of turmeric to fight off that worrying cough. Take
one teaspoon each of carom seeds and turmeric powder and boil them, adding
honey at the end. Another tea you can make with turmeric contains black pepper;
follow the same instructions given for the herbal tea. No matter what turmeric
tea you choose to prepare, make sure that you drink it two or three times a day
in order for the remedy to be effective.
10. Lemon
Another old
yet reliable solution for combatting persistent dry cough is by using lemon,
particularly in combination with honey. The high levels of Vitamin C included
in these fruits (88% of your daily recommended value in 100 grams) will
encourage rapid healing while rebuilding your immune system. All you have to do
is squeeze a fresh lemon into a glass of warm water and add honey to taste,
repeating the remedy every time your cough starts acting up again. This
solution works so well because lemon relieves congestion, while honey soothes
your aching throat.
11. Onion
Remember
what we said earlier about home remedies for persistent dry cough from your
childhood? This is definitely another one that has stood the test of time.
Personally speaking, when I was young my chronic bronchitis led me to infinite
fits of dry coughing, my mother would brew up some onion tea that she almost
had to force me to drink down. I was equally surprised every time to see how
amazing I felt afterwards. As a tip, try holding your nose before you can feel
the smell of onion and add some honey to help wash it down.
REMEMBER
Dry coughs
caused by cold and flu viruses usually disappear quickly. However, seek medical
advice if you:
- Suspect or know that your cough
is caused by an underlying medical condition
- Cough up blood
- Feel short of breath or wheezy
- Suffer from asthma and experience a
dry cough, especially at night
- Your cough does not improve within 7
days
- Are suffering from an unexplained
persistent cough (one lasting longer than 3 weeks)
- Also feel tired or lethargic
- Experience fever
- Notice unexplained weight loss.