Remedy for a Bronchitis Cough

If you have bronchitis, you know that hacking cough is one of the worst parts of the illness 1. And if you have viral bronchitis, you have got to wait out the illness until the virus clears up 1. A bronchitis cough can give you a headache and keep you from getting much-needed rest, so it is important to do what you can to alleviate the coughing as your bronchitis begins to clear up 1.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

See your doctor. If you have bacterial bronchitis, you can take an antibiotic to help kill the bacteria, which will help you feel better faster 1. He may also be able to provide you with a prescription cough medicine to help break up the congestion in your chest and alleviate coughing. An inhaler may also be needed if you are wheezing and have trouble catching your breath.

How to Stop a Gagging Cough

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Hydrate yourself. The worst thing you can do to exacerbate a bronchitis cough is smoke, so if you are a smoker, you need to stop immediately 1. It is also important to hydrate yourself, so drink lots of liquids as you recover from bronchitis 1. Try opening up airways by using a humidifier, or trapping steam in the bathroom when you take a hot shower.

Make a home cough remedy. To ease coughing and break up congestion in your chest, try making a home cough remedy. Honey and lemon juice can soothe and help manage a cough, so mix together about a 1/2 tsp of each and take it a few times a day. You can also mix it into a hot drink for a soothing cup of cough comfort.

Bronchitis and Exercise

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Give it time. A cough from bronchitis can linger for weeks or even months after other bronchitis symptoms have subsided 1. Be persistent in your treatments, take medications as prescribed by your doctor and follow up with another appointment if your cough is persisting at least a month after your diagnosis.

Tips

Take it easy on activity and exercise, or anything that worsens your coughing, while you are recovering.

Warnings

Call your doctor immediately if you begin coughing up blood.

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