Various Choices of Natural Dry Cough Medicines and Pharmacies | Good Doctor

Dry cough is usually accompanied by itching in the throat which is very uncomfortable. If it’s like this, you are definitely looking for several choices of the right dry cough medicine.

There are many dry cough medicines that you can consume, both medical and natural medicines. Check out this article review to find out what pharmacy and natural medicines can relieve your dry cough, OK!

Recognize dry cough

Coughing is actually the body’s way of clearing our airways and mucus.

A dry cough in medical terms is known as an unproductive cough, because it cannot remove mucus, phlegm, or irritation from the lungs or nasal passages.

This can happen for weeks after you have a cold or flu. There are several things that can cause dry stones, such as asthma, GERD, or also due to pollution.

Causes of dry cough

More often than not, a dry cough is the result of a virus. It’s not uncommon for a dry cough to continue for weeks after a cold or flu.

The combination of cold and flu season is the fact that a home’s heating system can lead to dry air. Breathing dry air can irritate the throat and prolong healing time.

Other common causes of dry cough include the following:

• Asthma makes the airways swell and narrow. This can cause a dry cough along with symptoms like difficulty breathing and wheezing.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is a type of chronic acid reflux that can cause damage to the esophagus. Irritation of the esophagus can trigger a cough reflex.
• Postnasal drip is a symptom of the common cold and seasonal allergies. Mucus drips down the back of the throat, activating the cough reflex.
• Airborne allergies and irritants can trigger the cough reflex, prolong healing time, or cause excessive mucus production. Common irritants include smoke, pollen and pet dander.
• ACE inhibitor medications, such as enalapril (vasotec) and lisinopril (prinivil, zestril), are prescription drugs that cause chronic dry coughs in about 20 percent of people.
• Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory infection that causes a characteristic dry cough with a “whoop” sound when gasping for air.

Characteristics of a dry cough

Just like other conditions in general, dry cough also has characteristics that need to be known. The characteristics of a dry cough include:

• The first characteristic of a dry cough is a tickling sensation in the throat
• Does not produce phlegm or mucus
• Cough frequency can be worse at night and affect sleep quality

1. Dry cough due to Corona

This type of cough is one of the symptoms of Corona or COVID-19. This type of cough does not produce mucus.

According to Dr. Sarah Jarvis, clinical director at patientaccess.coma persistent dry cough is a symptom of being infected with the Corona virus.

Some of the signs of a dry cough due to COVID-19 include:

• Dry cough occurs continuously, not because of coughing or because there is something stuck in the throat
• Lasts at least half a day
• The cough that is felt is something new for the sufferer, for example, different from an ordinary cough, for example, a cough caused by smoking

This type of dry cough should be very wary. What’s more, if other symptoms of COVID-19 appear, such as fever or even fatigue.

Various dry cough medicine that you can choose

Dry coughs are very uncomfortable and can be experienced by anyone, from adults to children. As a way to deal with a dry cough, you can use dry cough medicines that are available in pharmacies or naturally.

So, here are some pharmacy and natural medicines that are known to be able to relieve dry coughs.

Natural dry cough medicine

Most dry coughs can be treated at home with over-the-counter medications such as cough suppressants and lozenges. There are also some home remedies that can help speed healing, such as adding moisture to the air and natural ingredients.

Here are some natural ingredients that you can use as a dry cough remedy:

1. Honey

The first natural dry cough remedy is honey. Based on several studies, honey can relieve coughs. Honey can be used to treat coughs in adults and children aged 1 year and over.

Honey has antibacterial properties and can also help coat the throat, reducing irritation.

According to a study conducted in 2007, honey is more effective than dextromethorphan, which is known to relieve coughs and colds. Honey can also reduce coughing at night in children.

How to use honey as a cough suppressant can be by mixing a teaspoon of honey and then mixing it into tea or warm water and then drinking it.

What you need to remember, honey as a cough medicine for children is only for children 1 year and over, not for babies. Because it can cause them to experience tissue compilation or botulism.

2. Ginger

Ginger has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties so it can relieve dry coughs or asthma.

One study showed that some of the anti-inflammatory compounds in ginger can relax the membranes in the airways, which can reduce coughing.

You can use ginger as a dry cough remedy by making it into a tea, simply adding 20-40 grams of sliced ​​ginger to hot water. Let stand a few moments before drinking.

You need to know, in some people, ginger tea can cause stomach pain or heartburn.

3. Peppermint

You already know that peppermint contains mentholand helps provide relief to the throat.

Peppermint can also relieve pain and reduce the urge to cough.

As a natural dry cough remedy, you can drink peppermint tea before going to bed to relieve coughs at night.

4. Turmeric

How to deal with a dry cough that can make you uncomfortable can also use turmeric.

Turmeric has been used as a trusted source for treating upper respiratory conditions, bronchitis, and asthma in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.

Turmeric contains curcumin which is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties.

To use this natural dry cough remedy is very easy. You can use turmeric by adding 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper to a drink, such as cold orange juice, to drink. Or you can also make it into hot tea.

5. Eucalyptus

You can use eucalyptus essential oil as a natural dry cough medicine by way of aromatherapy.

Eucalyptus can relieve dry coughs by working as a decongestant. Try adding the scent of eucalyptus to a diffuser, spritzer, or inhaler. You can also add a few drops to hot water in a bowl and inhale the steam.

Drugs for dry cough in pharmacies

Apart from using natural ingredients, how to deal with a dry cough can also be done using medicines available at pharmacies or prescribed by a doctor.

1. Antitussives (Cough suppressants)

Antitussives are believed to reduce the cough reflex so that the possibility of coughing is smaller. Antitussives such as pholcodine, dextromethorphan are the most common active ingredients in cough suppressants, available as lozenges.

However, antitussives should not be used if the cause of the cough is smoking, emphysema, asthma, pneumonia or chronic bronchitis. Because it can make the cough worse.

What needs to be considered too, these two types of drugs, pholcodine and dextromethorphan can make you sleepy. So you should not drive or operate machinery if you are still under the influence of this drug.

2. Demulcent (cough soother)

Demulcent can coat the throat to reduce irritation, dryness and soothe coughs. This type can be found in suction cough medicine. However, it contains sugar, so if you are diabetic, you should choose a sugar-free inhaler.

3. Combination drugs

Combination medicines contain a combination of an expectorant, a cough suppressant, and another active ingredient. This can include antihistamines, painkillers, and decongestants to treat multiple symptoms at once.

Dry cough medicine for children

Colds and coughs are conditions that often occur in children. When this happens, of course it can make your little one uncomfortable.

In addition to honey which can be used in children aged 1 year and over. There are several other dry cough medicines for children that can be used, such as:

1. Warm soup

Not only delicious, warm soup can also be used as a natural dry cough remedy for children, you know. Launching from the page Parentsresearch shows that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Water

Water can also be used as a dry cough remedy for children. When your little one is sick, it is very important to keep him hydrated. Water can help the body fight disease.

Apart from that, this method of dealing with a dry cough can also be used to treat a dry throat.

3. Make sure your little one gets enough rest

When your little one has a dry cough, you should make sure he gets enough rest. Because, adequate rest can help children to recover quickly.

Not only that, getting enough rest can also help relieve a dry throat. Both a cough or a dry throat can make your little one uncomfortable.

Those are some natural dry cough medicines or those you can find in pharmacies. What you need to pay attention to when using drugs, both natural and medical, is what are the side effects and the rules for using these drugs so that they don’t cause anything worse.

If within a few weeks the dry cough doesn’t go away, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.

Also read: Beware of Shortness of Breath and Recurrent Coughing as Symptoms of COPD

When to see a doctor?

A persistent dry cough is rarely a sign of a medical emergency. But see a health care provider immediately if your cough is accompanied by fever, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.

In addition, if a dry cough has occurred for more than 2 months or seems to get worse over time, it is highly recommended to see a doctor.

Get to know the characteristics of a dry cough as explained earlier. If from time to time it gets worse after using some drugs, it’s a good idea to get tested and get the right treatment.

You can seek treatment directly at the health center or online via telemedicine. In order to facilitate the treatment of dry cough which can be done on an outpatient basis, you should still use insurance facilities, OK?

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