How to Treat Dry Cough in Adults
When you have a dry cough you will definitely feel uncomfortable, even though you are an adult. To be able to relieve it, you need to know how to treat dry cough in adults. This can be done with natural remedies or by taking medicine.
A dry cough is a cough that is not accompanied by phlegm or mucus. This condition can be caused by several factors, such as viral infection, exposure to smoke and dust, asthma, to acid reflux.
Symptoms that accompany a dry cough vary, depending on the cause. For example, in cases of acid reflux, a dry cough is usually accompanied by a burning feeling in the throat and heartburn. Meanwhile, in the case of asthma, dry cough is accompanied by shortness of breath and wheezing.
How to Treat Dry Cough in Adults
Dry cough is generally caused by irritation of the throat. This irritation causes inflammation that stimulates the cough reflex. If the inflammation is severe enough, then the cough reflex will be very difficult to hold.
Treating Dry Cough Natural In Adults
How to treat a dry cough naturally is aimed at reducing inflammation so that the cough reflex can subside. Well, here are some natural ways that can be used to treat dry cough in adults:
1. Honey
Honey contains high anti-inflammatory and antibacterial substances so that it can reduce inflammation and irritation in the throat that causes a dry cough. How to use honey for dry cough medicine is to consume it directly 1-2 spoons or you can also mix it with a cup of warm water, warm tea, or lemon water.
2. Ginger and turmeric
Ginger and turmeric have long been used as natural remedies to treat complaints of dry cough, relieve bronchitis, asthma, and acute respiratory infections. That's because ginger and turmeric have high anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. How to use ginger and turmeric as a dry cough medicine for adults is to boil ginger and turmeric with water. After that, drink it warm. In addition, you can also boil it in milk to make golden milk.
4. Salt water
Inflammation in the throat and cough that is difficult to stop can lead to swelling that makes the throat uncomfortable. Gargling with salt water can reduce the swelling. In addition, salt water can also kill bacteria in the throat and mouth. How to make a salt solution used for gargling is to put 1 teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and stir until dissolved. After that use the salt solution to rinse your mouth, but you have to be careful not to swallow the salt solution.
Treatment Dry Cough in Adults with Medicine
In addition to using natural ingredients, there are also medicines that can be used to relieve dry cough in adults. As for some medicines that can be used to relieve dry cough are as follows:
1. Antihistamines
Antihistamines are a type of cough medicine that works by blocking compounds that can cause inflammation in the throat. One type of antihistamine that is often used to treat dry cough is chlorpheniramine maleate.
2. Antitussive
Antitussive is a type of cough medicine that works by suppressing the cough reflex in the brain, so that the urge to cough is reduced. One type of antitussive that is often used to relieve dry cough is dextromethorphan HBr.
If you want to take medicine, you should pay attention to the rules for use, including the dose of the medicine and how often the medicine is taken. Also, pay attention to the side effects. Both types of cough medicine usually cause drowsiness. So, after taking the cough medicine, do not do activities that require vigilance, such as driving a vehicle.
That's the explanation we can write about how to treat dry cough in adults. If the dry cough you are experiencing does not subside, or gets worse, accompanied by fever, chest pain, or shortness of breath, then immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.