reviewed by dr. Shabrina Wakid
Dry cough is a type of cough that is not accompanied by phlegm or mucus. This condition triggers an itchy sensation in the throat and can be a symptom of the flu or other medical conditions, such as allergies, stomach acid, or infections such as the COVID-19 virus infection. Know the various effective ways to treat a dry cough.
Although not always dangerous, dry cough needs to be handled appropriately. If left untreated, this condition can cause discomfort and even interfere with your activities. Therefore, you need to know the various ways to treat dry cough that are effective, from over-the-counter medicines to natural ingredients you have at home. Here’s more information.
How to Treat Dry Cough Quickly and Effectively
There are several ways to treat dry cough that are effective and can be applied at home, namely:
1. Drink water
Flu or cold can cause postnasal drip, which is an increase in mucus production from the area behind the nose to the throat, thus triggering a dry cough. Therefore, it is recommended that you drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. In addition, drinking lots of water is beneficial for keeping the throat moist, reducing mucus, and relieving irritation. If you don’t really like plain water, you can add lemon juice and honey.
2. Drink pineapple juice
Pineapple juice is a way to treat dry cough that you can try. Research shows that all types of pineapple are effective in relieving dry coughs. However, further research is still needed to prove the effectiveness of pineapple in treating dry cough and pineapple cannot replace cough medicine prescribed by a doctor.
3. Consuming warm soup
Consuming chicken soup can be applied to treat dry cough. Vegetables, chicken meat, and chicken broth in warm soup can meet the nutritional and fluid needs of the body. Adequate nutrition and body fluid intake can boost the immune system, so it can ward off viruses that cause dry cough and prevent dehydration.
4. Keep the air moist
Keeping the room air moist is an effective way to reduce dry coughs. To maintain humidity, you can install a humidifier or humidifiers At home. You also need to maintain cleanliness in the room, because dust, smoke and pollution can trigger a dry cough.
5. Drink dry cough medicine
If the methods above have been applied, but the dry cough does not improve, you can take over-the-counter dry cough medicines. One type of drug to reduce dry cough is an antitussive type drug. Make sure you follow the directions for use listed on the packaging label before taking this medicine. If the dry cough is caused by allergies, you can take antihistamines. However, the use of this drug must be according to a doctor’s prescription.
If you have done the methods above, but the dry cough does not heal for more than 3 days or is accompanied by other complaints, such as high fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain, swelling in the neck, or weight loss, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will carry out a complete examination and diagnose the cause, so that treatment is given according to your condition.
