A longer-lasting (chronic) cough could be the result of another health condition, such as allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or chronic sinusitis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It should come as no surprise that spicy foods are one of the most common culprits, because of the ingredient capsaicin. Foods high in citric acid (like lemons and limes), as well as acetic acid (found in things like vinegar or pickled vegetables), have also proven to tickle our cough centers.
To get rid of colds or dry coughs faster, you'll need to supercharge your choices in the kitchen for a few days — look to protein-rich staples like Greek yogurt, chickpeas, seeds, chicken, and eggs to fuel your immune system when you're experiencing a loss of appetite.
Further explaining why kids should NOT be fed these fruits, Dr Parekh mentions that while strawberries are known to release histamine, which trigger a cough, worsen an existing cough or even cause a cough, grapes and lychees are fruits that are excessive in natural sugar, which is then a good medium for bacteria to ...
Consumption of dairy products with cold and cough causes problems – myth or fact? According to Dr Lakshmi, though it is a common belief that milk and other dairy products increase the production of mucus or phlegm when you have a cold, there is no scientific evidence to back this up.
Stay hydrated with water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you. Eat chicken soup. Chicken soup and other warm fluids, such as warm apple juice or tea, can be soothing and loosen congestion.
In addition, chicken also has a lot of micronutrients with high nutritional value, especially zinc and iron. Zinc is one of the very important nutrients involved in the immune system, increasing resistance, easy digestion. Therefore, abstaining from chicken when coughing is not advisable.
Milk consumption and phlegm production among people with the common cold in a clinical study showed no increased phlegm associated with drinking milk. Self-reported problems with mucus were the same between two study groups — one drinking milk and another drinking soy milk.
Herbal teas are a lovely way to stay hydrated and help to expel mucus – I especially love ginger, turmeric, chamomile and peppermint.
Researchers at London's Imperial College found that theobromine, an alkaloid in cocoa, suppresses coughs better than codeine, a common ingredient in cough medicine. Why does chocolate work so well? Researchers claim it's because cocoa has demulcent properties, which means it relieves inflammation or irritation.
Whatever the case, the combination of honey and coffee (see the recipe in the Appendix) appears to be more effective than either substance alone and is certainly worth a try for persistent cough. Mix the honey and coffee and add 1 T of it to 1 cup of warm water and drink it 3 times a day, about every 8 hours.
Apples and berries are also rich in phytochemicals that help to relieve coughs and reduce inflammation in the throat.
Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion's share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure and heart failure.
Coughing often worsens at night because a person is lying flat in bed. Mucus can pool in the back of the throat and cause coughing. Sleeping with the head elevated can reduce the symptoms of postnasal drip and GERD. Both can cause coughing at night.
Most coughs clear up within 3 weeks and don't require any treatment. A dry cough means it's tickly and doesn't produce any phlegm (thick mucus). A chesty cough means phlegm is produced to help clear your airways.