Effective Phlegm Cough Medicine
Coughing up phlegm can greatly disrupt your daily activities. To relieve it, there are several choices for a cough with phlegm that you can use, both natural and prescription drugs. Anyway, don't have a phlegm between us!
Coughing is the body's natural mechanism to expel mucus, irritants, impurities, and germs through the mouth or nose. The aim is to clear and expedite the respiratory tract. Coughing can be categorized into two types, namely dry cough and phlegm cough.
Phlegm cough is a type of cough that is accompanied by phlegm or phlegm. When experiencing a cough with phlegm, phlegm or phlegm from the respiratory tract accumulates in the throat so that it can interfere with breathing.
Sputum cough is generally caused by viral or bacterial infections in the respiratory tract, for example in the flu, ARI, pneumonia and bronchitis, exposure to pollution or cigarette smoke, and asthma and COPD.
Phlegm cough medicine that can be found at home
Phlegm cough caused by a viral infection can usually heal by itself within a few days. However, if coughing up phlegm is a very disturbing activity, you can take medication to relieve it.
There are some effective natural ingredients used as a cough with phlegm. The following are some natural cough phlegm remedies that you can find at home;
Water
Sputum cough is often caused by respiratory infections, such as flu and ARI. To reduce irritation of the respiratory tract and expedite expectoration, drink plenty of water, especially warm water.
When coughing, you are advised to drink water at least 8 glasses per day. In addition to relieving cough, drinking more water can also prevent dehydration.
Pineapple
Pineapple contains bromelain which is effective for coughing, including coughing up phlegm. A study showed that the bromelain in pineapple can relieve coughing and reduce phlegm that has accumulated in the throat.
To get the properties of the pineapple, you can eat a few pieces of pineapple or fresh pineapple juice.
Honey
Honey contains antibacterial and antioxidant substances that are able to overcome infections and irritations in the respiratory tract, so as to relieve cough. In addition, honey can also help thin the phlegm. That is the reason why honey is considered an effective natural cough medicine.
To help relieve a cough, you can consume 2 spoons of honey directly or mix it with a cup of warm water, warm tea, or lemon water. However, you need to remember, honey should not be given to children under the age of 1 year because of the risk of causing botulism.
In addition to the three natural ingredients above, you can drink warm tea mixed with mint leaves or gargle with salt water to help relieve phlegm cough.
Medicated with phlegm cough
If natural cough medicines do not effectively relieve cough with phlegm, you can use over-the-counter cough medicines or prescribed by doctors. The following are the types of medical drugs that can be used to relieve cough with phlegm:
Mukolitik
Mucolytic cough medicine works to thin the phlegm, making it easier to remove when coughing. One type of mucolytic cough medicine that is often used is bromhexine.
Expectorant
Expectorant type cough medicine can stimulate the expectoration of phlegm from the airways while thinning phlegm. This drug can make breathing feel more relieved. Examples of cough medicines that are included in the type of expectorant are guaifenesin.
Cough medicines containing bromhexine and guaifenesin do not cause drowsiness, so you can continue to do your normal activities after taking them. You can also buy cough medicine without a doctor's prescription.
In addition to these two types of drugs, cough with phlegm can also be overcome with antibiotics. However, antibiotics are only used to treat a cough with phlegm caused by a bacterial infection. Antibiotics also should not be used carelessly and can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription.
Phlegm cough caused by a virus can generally heal itself within 1-3 weeks. To relieve complaints and help expel phlegm so that the cough heals quickly, you can take natural medicines or over-the-counter medicines for coughing up phlegm.
However, if the cough you experience does not improve after 3 weeks, is getting worse, or is accompanied by fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood, immediately consult a doctor.
Source:
Coughing is the body's natural mechanism to expel mucus, irritants, impurities, and germs through the mouth or nose. The aim is to clear and expedite the respiratory tract. Coughing can be categorized into two types, namely dry cough and phlegm cough.
Sputum cough is generally caused by viral or bacterial infections in the respiratory tract, for example in the flu, ARI, pneumonia and bronchitis, exposure to pollution or cigarette smoke, and asthma and COPD.
Phlegm cough medicine that can be found at home
Phlegm cough caused by a viral infection can usually heal by itself within a few days. However, if coughing up phlegm is a very disturbing activity, you can take medication to relieve it.
There are some effective natural ingredients used as a cough with phlegm. The following are some natural cough phlegm remedies that you can find at home;
Water
Sputum cough is often caused by respiratory infections, such as flu and ARI. To reduce irritation of the respiratory tract and expedite expectoration, drink plenty of water, especially warm water.
When coughing, you are advised to drink water at least 8 glasses per day. In addition to relieving cough, drinking more water can also prevent dehydration.
Pineapple
Pineapple contains bromelain which is effective for coughing, including coughing up phlegm. A study showed that the bromelain in pineapple can relieve coughing and reduce phlegm that has accumulated in the throat.
To get the properties of the pineapple, you can eat a few pieces of pineapple or fresh pineapple juice.
Honey
Honey contains antibacterial and antioxidant substances that are able to overcome infections and irritations in the respiratory tract, so as to relieve cough. In addition, honey can also help thin the phlegm. That is the reason why honey is considered an effective natural cough medicine.
To help relieve a cough, you can consume 2 spoons of honey directly or mix it with a cup of warm water, warm tea, or lemon water. However, you need to remember, honey should not be given to children under the age of 1 year because of the risk of causing botulism.
In addition to the three natural ingredients above, you can drink warm tea mixed with mint leaves or gargle with salt water to help relieve phlegm cough.
Medicated with phlegm cough
If natural cough medicines do not effectively relieve cough with phlegm, you can use over-the-counter cough medicines or prescribed by doctors. The following are the types of medical drugs that can be used to relieve cough with phlegm:
Mukolitik
Mucolytic cough medicine works to thin the phlegm, making it easier to remove when coughing. One type of mucolytic cough medicine that is often used is bromhexine.
Expectorant
Expectorant type cough medicine can stimulate the expectoration of phlegm from the airways while thinning phlegm. This drug can make breathing feel more relieved. Examples of cough medicines that are included in the type of expectorant are guaifenesin.
Cough medicines containing bromhexine and guaifenesin do not cause drowsiness, so you can continue to do your normal activities after taking them. You can also buy cough medicine without a doctor's prescription.
In addition to these two types of drugs, cough with phlegm can also be overcome with antibiotics. However, antibiotics are only used to treat a cough with phlegm caused by a bacterial infection. Antibiotics also should not be used carelessly and can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription.
Phlegm cough caused by a virus can generally heal itself within 1-3 weeks. To relieve complaints and help expel phlegm so that the cough heals quickly, you can take natural medicines or over-the-counter medicines for coughing up phlegm.
However, if the cough you experience does not improve after 3 weeks, is getting worse, or is accompanied by fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood, immediately consult a doctor.
Source:
- Poole, P., Sathananthan, K., & Fortescue, R. Cochrane (2019). Mucolytic Agents for Chronic Bronchitis or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
- Scaglione, F. & Petrini, O. (2019). Mucoactive Agents in the Therapy of Upper Respiratory Airways Infections: Fair to Describe Them Just as Mucoactive? Clinical Medicine Insights. Ear, Nose and Throat. 12, 1179550618821930.
- Peixoto, et al. (2016). Use of Honey Associated with Ananas comosus (Bromelain) in the Treatment of Acute Irritative Cough. Revista Paulista de Pediatria: Orgao Oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo. 34(4), pp. 412–417.
- National Health Service UK (2018). Behind the Headlines. Honey, Not Antibiotics, Recommended For Coughs.
- American Lung Association (2019). Cough Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors.
- Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School (2019). No Coughing Matter.
- Cedars Sinai Hospital. Bronchitis.
- Fookes, C. Drugs (2018). Expectorants
- Family Doctor, American Academy of Family Physicians (2019). Cough Medicine: Understanding Your OTC Options.
- Healthhub Singapore (2016). Bromhexine Tablet.
- Ashpari, Z. & Nall, R. Healthline (2016). The Best Natural Cough Remedies.
- Marcin, A. Healthline (2017). 7 Ways to Get Rid of Phlegm: Home Remedies, Antibiotics, and More.
- Osborn, C.O. Healthline (2018). Treating a Wet Cough at Home: 10 Natural Remedies.
- Osborn, C.O. Healhtline (2018). What Illnesses or Conditions Cause Wet Cough, and How Do I Treat It in Myself or My Child?
- Knott, L. Patient Info UK (2018). Mucolytics.
- Brouhard, R. Verywell Health (2020). How Honey May Help Your Cough.
- Duda, K. Verywell Health (2020). Is Your Cold Causing a Wet or Dry Cough?
- Leader, D. Verywell Health (2020). What to Know About Expectorants.
- WebMD. Vitamins & Supplements. Bromelain.
- WebMD (2019). Can Antibiotics Treat My Cold?
- WebMD (2019). OTC Medicines for Cough: What You Need to Know.
- Alodokter.
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