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How to Get Rid of Cough Fast

Amanda Gurton 7 min read Beginner
How to Get Rid of Cough Fast

Quick summary

This article provides fast cough relief strategies tailored to dry or wet coughs, including warm fluids, honey for adults and children over one, hard candy or cough drops, steam inhalation, and a clean humidifier. It recommends matching the remedy to the cough type: soothing irritated throats for dry coughs and thinning mucus with fluids and steam for wet coughs. It also advises avoiding smoke, scented sprays, and dust, and seeking medical care for breathing difficulty, chest pain, or a cough lasting more than three weeks.

Key Takeaways

  • Warm fluids, honey, and throat lozenges can calm throat irritation and help you cough less.
  • A dry cough needs soothing, while a wet cough needs hydration and mucus-thinning support.
  • Clean humidifiers and warm showers may ease coughing, but dirty humidifiers can make symptoms worse.
  • Get medical advice for breathing trouble, chest pain, blood, worsening symptoms, or a cough lasting more than three weeks.

Once in a while every one of us must have had that miserable feeling when the lingering cough hits you and you want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Cough has two types mainly dry cough and the wet cough, you treat both the types differently and accordingly however there are some more techniques that can help you in dealing with any type of cough you have either wet or dry. Following are some useful and effective techniques you can try to get rid of cough fast with.

How to Get Rid of Cough Fast

  • Inhale water vapor (warm)

Coughing can lead to almost never-ending allergy if, not treated with proper care. Therefore, it is very beneficial to inhale steam and take a hot water shower. You can run a humidifier with warm water and breathe. Taking the inhaling of warm water is very essential for the type of cough that is caused by asthma, cold and allergies. Nasal secretions are loosed by the steam you take and put backs the moisture in the air. However it is very necessary to clean the humidifiers neatly and regularly or else you will end up harming yourself instead of being benefitted from this remedy, other bacteria and fungi can build up and get regulated to the air along the steam side.

  • Honey

Honey has countless benefits ranging from getting cure of different diseases to natural skin care tonic. It is widely used in ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines around the world. However due to its numerous miraculous benefits, it can also help in curing your cough. Therefore, a sore throat can be soothed along with suppressing the cough as well by trying this effective and easy remedy of honey.

How to use

You can use the honey by taking it directly to about 2 tablespoons in almost every few hour unless your cough gets well and you start feeling better. Or you can also add 2 tablespoon of honey to one glass of a tea with also lemon in it, but be careful you don’t give honey to the kids that are under the age of one as this might increase the risk of botulism in infants. According to many researches and studies, honey is one effective cough suppressant of all the time.

  • Piece of hard candy

If you are a type of a person who does not prefer to take medicines and have no time for trying on with home remedies, you must consider the option of enjoying a simple piece of hard candy that will help you feel much and a lot better.

How to use

The cough can usually be stopped by sucking a hard candy piece. However lemon drops can work in your favor if you have got the wet cough as it produces phlegm. Hard candy supports your dry cough as well because of the phlegm it produces can be halted by a piece of hard candy nearly the candy helps you in producing more saliva and will help you to swallow more thus suppressing the cough you have.

  • Warm and clear fluids

Even in your normal routine it is always advised by doctors to consume more of a water to keep yourself safe and free from many of the diseases, it is very necessary to maintain the hydration level when you have a cough either be it a dry cough or wet, drink at least about 8 glasses of water in a day when having cough to keep yourself better.

Another option could be drinking light, fresh and clear juices if you have problems drinking water alone, apple juice can be one example of it even mixing it with any other would do no harm as well. If you have a dry cough mucous membranes moist because of the hydration as it thins the membranes by preventing the dryness of your throat and encourages the most dried cough. However having the wet cough thins the mucous that causes your cough by discouraging it and helping you to get rid out of it completely.

  • Change your coughing style

Irritation in throat causes bad cough. In order to prevent prolonged cough, you need to change your coughing style. By changing the style, means taking light and small coughs instead of large and too forceful coughs. The benefit of doing so will be of great level as taking small coughs will move your mucus at a slow pace. After you are done with taking smaller coughs, end the procedure with taking one large cough.

A large cough in the end will move that mucus towards out. This process or way will prevent your throat from further irritation.

How to get rid of a cough fast

  • Medicated chest menthol balms

In your childhood, your mom must have applied balms to your chest and rubbed over the surface to give you relief during your flu and fever days. Well, flu and fever somehow leads to getting cough. Sometimes the cough is more irritating than both; flu and fever.

How to use

So, what you have to do is to rub the medicated chest balm or medicine on your chest. The menthol effect of the balm will give a soothing effect and make you feel better. These type of medicines are known for stopping the cough at its moving track.

  • Get rid of airborne irritants

Coughing causes dryness in your throat. Due to which, it actually makes your cough get worse and leads to taking larger coughs. This type of dry cough usually and most commonly attacks in winters. However, one of the reasons to avoid this cough is to eliminate or remove any sprays around you at least during your cough. These sprays may include room/air fresheners, body sprays at night (use deodorant in fact) or even insecticide sprays.

The sprays should be avoided at most during your coughing period. Due to their scented smell, chronic coughs will get triggered and result in more amount of mucus. If, not treated properly, it might lead to sinus irritation as well.

Read Also How to get rid of Dry Cough

Quick Night-Time Relief for a Cough

A cough often feels worse at night because mucus can drip down the throat when you lie flat, and dry bedroom air can irritate the airways. Before bed, drink warm water, herbal tea, or warm lemon and honey if you are over one year old. Keep the drink soothing rather than very hot, because extreme heat can further irritate a sore throat.

Sleep with your head and upper chest slightly raised using an extra pillow or a gentle wedge. This can reduce post-nasal drip and help mucus move more easily. If the air is dry, use a clean humidifier, but empty and wash it daily so it does not spread mold or bacteria into the room.

Match the Remedy to Dry or Wet Cough

For a dry, tickly cough, the goal is to calm throat irritation. Honey, cough drops, hard candy, warm fluids, and avoiding perfume, smoke, dust, and cold air can help reduce the urge to cough. Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth can also keep the throat from drying out.

For a wet cough, the goal is not to completely stop every cough, because coughing helps clear mucus. Focus on thinning the mucus with fluids, steam from a warm shower, and gentle movement around the house if you feel well enough. Avoid smoking or strong sprays, since they can thicken secretions and make the chest feel tighter.

When Fast Relief Is Not Enough

Home remedies can make a common cough more comfortable, but they do not treat every cause. Get medical advice urgently if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, coughing up blood, blue lips, severe weakness, dehydration, or a fever that will not settle. A cough that lasts more than three weeks, keeps getting worse, or improves and then returns with fever should also be checked.

Be careful with over-the-counter cough medicines, especially for children, pregnancy, chronic illness, or if you take other medicines. Antibiotics do not help most viral coughs, so they should only be used when a healthcare professional thinks a bacterial infection is likely.

For related advice, see [Home Remedies for Cold Sores and Cough](/home-remedies-for-cold-sores-and-cough), [Home Remedies for Sore Throat Pain and Cough](/home-remedies-for-sore-throat-pain-and-cough) and [How to get rid of Dry Cough](/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-cough).

Healthcare professionals commonly recommend treating a mild cough by first identifying whether it is dry or mucus-producing, then using supportive care such as fluids, honey when age-appropriate, clean humidified air, rest, and avoiding smoke or scented irritants. They also advise caution with cough medicines, especially for children, and recommend medical review when symptoms are severe, unusual, or persistent.

Amanda Gurton Expert opinion

Conclusion

To get rid of cough discomfort fast, start with simple measures that soothe the throat and support the airways: warm fluids, honey for adults and children over one year, clean moisture in the air, cough drops or hard candy, and avoiding sprays, smoke, dust, and strong scents.

The best remedy depends on whether the cough is dry and irritating or wet and mucus-filled. Most mild coughs improve with rest and hydration, but warning signs such as breathing trouble, chest pain, blood, persistent fever, or a cough lasting more than three weeks need medical attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

A spoon of honey, warm fluids, and a cough drop or hard candy can quickly coat the throat and reduce the tickle that triggers a dry cough. Do not give honey to babies under one year old.
Not always. A wet cough helps move mucus out of the chest and throat, so it is better to loosen mucus with fluids, steam, and a clean humidifier rather than suppress every cough.
Night coughing often happens because mucus drips down the throat when you lie down, or because dry air irritates the airway. Raising your head and using clean humidity may help.
Menthol balm may make breathing feel easier and give a cooling, soothing sensation, but it does not cure the cause of the cough. Use it as directed and avoid applying it near the nostrils of young children.
Seek medical care if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, cough up blood, feel very unwell, have a long-lasting fever, or if the cough lasts more than three weeks.

Last updated

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a licensed dermatologist or healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.

A
Amanda Gurton

Beauty & Hair Care Editor

Amanda Gurton is a beauty editor and researcher with a focus on translating dermatology and trichology insights into clear, actionable advice. She covers skincare routines, hair health, ingredient science, and everyday beauty habits.

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