We know how annoying a constant cough can be—it can keep you up at night, make you light-headed, and even cause the loss of bladder control. So, how can you stop constant coughing? The key is suppressing your cough. Read on to find out how to stop constant coughing, so you can get back to your life.
What is a cough, exactly?
A cough is actually very functional—it’s a natural reflex that helps protect your lungs, clearing them of irritants like smoke and mucus. But it can also be associated with a cold or flu virus.
A cough can either be dry or chesty, and either productive (one that produces mucus) or nonproductive (one that does not produce mucus). Chesty coughs are usually productive while dry coughs are usually unproductive.
Dry cough
It is not associated with excessive mucus and is likely the result of some irritation. Dry coughs can be treated with cough suppressants, like dextromethorphan.
Chesty cough
It can be both productive and unproductive. It’s caused by excessive mucus in the lungs and airways, and you may have difficulty expectorating (coughing up) the mucus to clear the airway passages. Chesty coughs are sometimes treated with an expectorant called guaifenesin. This will help thin the mucus and make your cough more productive.
Dextromethorphan is often in combination with guaifenesin to help calm the cough.
Cough medicines and Remedies:
Menthol
This natural cooling ingredient is found in plants such as mint. Experiments going as far back as 1885 have proven menthol to be a great treatment for cough due to the common cold. It interacts with cold receptors in the nose and throat, helping to stop coughing. Vicks VapoRub contains 2.6% menthol to help stop constant coughing fast.
Vicks VapoDrops are also an effective remedy for coughs. Allow 2 drops to dissolve slowly in your mouth to help stop constant coughing.
Cough medicines
Although Vicks products cannot cure a cough, they can help stop constant coughing. NyQuil Cough offers you powerful cough relief so you can get the sleep you need, while DayQuil Cough gives you up to eight hours of non-drowsy cough relief so you can have a productive day.
