Cough: Self-care Measures

Cough can be of two kinds: a dry cough, or one that brings up sputum ( productive) Self-Care Measures For coughs that bring up sputum:

• Drink plenty of liquids.
• Use a vaporizer.
• Take a shower. ITake an over-the -counter cough medicine that contains guaiphenisen.

For coughs that are dry:

• Drink plenty of liquids, essentially hot beverages such as tea, milk or soup. - Suck on cough lozenges.
• Take an over-the-counter cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan.

Call Your Doctor For

• A cough that has started suddenly and lasts for one hour or more without stopping
• A cough afflicting a baby or small child that sounds like a whoop or seal's bark (high pitched like a whistle), and if the baby or child develops a fever of 102° F or higher.
• Weight loss (for no apparent reason), feeling tired, and sweating a lot at night.
• Wheezing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and swelling of the abdomen, legs, and ankles.
• A cough with sputum of any colour. IA cough lasting for more than two weeks.

Get Immediate Care for

• Very hard time breathing or if lips become purple.
• chest pain that spreads to the neck, arm, or jaw.
• Fainting.
• Coughing up blood.