Cough is a useful but rather annoying bodily reflex that causes discomfort throughout the day and even at night. It helps one keep their lungs, throat, and other parts of the respiratory system free of irritants. It’s also a nuisance, and people naturally want to get rid of it as fast as possible. Dry cough is one of the most common types of this condition.
How one would define a dry cough?
You’ll know that you have a dry cough if your nose doesn’t leak and if your throat isn’t clogged. Some people call this sort of ailment a tickly cough, though medical professionals tend not to use the term. Whatever the terminology, these are coughs that are an entirely different type from those known as chesty coughs, where there is a considerable collection of fluids in the respiratory tract.
Generally speaking, a dry cough tends to occur when the nerves of the throat have been irritated by an infection. This is usually caused by a respiratory illness, such as a cold. Pollution, though, can also cause a dry cough, and even someone smoking in your vicinity. There can be inflammation of the pharynx or of the throat and some irritation.
Sometimes, mucus collects in the chest, which can trigger the coughing reflex and result in a dry cough. Of course, this can be very irritating, and can often result in insomnia for as long as the cough lasts. This disturbed sleep cycle can in turn make one vulnerable to further illnesses and infections.
Dry cough: understanding the triggers
There are certain conditions and factors that may lead to the development of dry cough. It’s important to be aware of them in order to avoid the triggers or speed up the healing process. The better you know the nature of your illness, the easier it will be for your healthcare practitioner to prescribe medications. So, here are some of the most typical causes.
Infections caused by viruses within your system
It’s hard to imagine viral infections like influenza and common colds without continuous urges to clear your throat. The dry cough usually accompanies these illnesses from the very beginning. It’s proved to be difficult to get rid of long after recovery.
PND
When your nose is full of fluids, not only it leaks out of the nostrils, but also drips down the throat. This condition is generally known as post nasal drip. The nerves of the pharynx get affected by the excess fluids from your nose, triggering the coughing reflex.
Allergic reactions
If you’re allergic to dust, cats’ or dogs’ fur, tree pollen, or pollen of flowering plants, you’re sure to experience irritation in the eyes and nasal cavity. These are usually followed by a dry cough. The most important thing to do in these cases is to eliminate an allergen from your surrounding environment. The longer you are exposed to allergens causing dry cough, the more challenging it will be to combat it.
Environmental issues
Environmental problems should be taken into account as well when you try to figure out what causes your dry cough. Dust and tiny particles in the air you breathe in are bound to irritate the back of your throats. Air pollutants are some of the most aggressive triggers. Of course, if you live in a polluted urban area, there is nothing much you can do about it, but if there is a chance to move somewhere with clean air, do that by all means.
Acid regurgitation
Apart from burning pain in the chest, this condition also involves a dry cough. The acids of your stomach move up to the throat as a result of an imbalance in your digestive system. As a rule, coughing increases when you lay down.
Addiction to cigarettes
Normally smokers are recognized by a chesty cough, but a person who’s been smoking for a short period of time may start out with a dry cough. Passive smokers are prone to this condition as well.
Allopathic medicines for combating dry coughs
A lot of people choose to go for home remedies when it comes to curing dry coughs. Although they’ve proven to be rather helpful, it may take some time to recover with such treatment. Common pills and syrups with a cough suppressing effect are represented in abundance in both offline and online services, with Canadian Pharmacy being one of the most reliable ones. Cough suppressors are specifically designed to lessen the urge to cough by directly reducing the reflex response.
In case of allergic reactions, healthcare practitioners usually go for allopathic anti-histamine drugs. If your dry cough is caused by heartburn or some other kind of acid imbalance, a doctor will prescribe PPI remedies to lessen the production of stomach acid contents. Some of these medications may be prescribed by a certified physician, others don’t require any prescription and can be easily obtained in any local medical store. If you feel any pills aren’t working as expected, it’s strongly recommended to revisit your doctor and discuss your symptoms further.
Home remedies to get rid of a dry cough
There are plenty of natural remedies you can go for to recover from dry coughs.
- Rule number one is to keep yourself properly hydrated. It’s recommended to drink at least one and a half liters of clean warm water a day. Keeping your throat dry may add to the issue by increasing irritation, whereas a moist condition reduces the urge to cough.
- A viral infection is always a hit on your immune system, so it’s a good idea to strengthen it with some vitamin C. Eat an orange a day, drink some lemonade, or add a teaspoon of lemon juice to your tea or water.
- Honey is known to have a soothing effect on the throat. Even a spoon a day can make a difference if you suffer from a dry cough. Honey leaves a thin protective layer on the throat’s surface, therefore suppressing the cough reflex. Make sure you buy natural, raw honey.
These are only a few suggestions on how to stop a dry cough. Self-treatment is very common when it comes to combating dry coughs, and usually, they disappear with home remedies. However, if your cough persists and causes a lot of discomfort and pain, it’s recommended to book an appointment with your doctor.
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