Some Basics...

• A cough is a very common symptom. It is the reason for many people to visit their doctor.
• Coughing helps to protect lungs from infection. It helps to keep the throat and airways clear.
• Short-term coughs are often caused by a cold. These coughs last less than 3 weeks. They can be treated at home.
• A cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks may have a more serious cause. Smokers may have a long-term cough, mainly in the morning.

Causes

• Most common causes: Postnasal drip from a cold, allergies, and sinusitis.
• Other common causes: Asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, gastroesophageal reflux, and smoking.
• Less common causes: Lung cancer, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, TB, Whooping Cough, and ACE inhibitor drugs. ACE inhibitors can cause a dry long-term cough.

How is a Cough Helpful for the Body?

• Cough clears the airways of infection, foreign bodies, and other irritants.
• It helps protect people from choking on oral and stomach contents.

Does Honey Help Treat a Cough?

• Recent Research Study: A recent study compared honey to the drug dextromethorphan (DM). It showed that honey worked better. Honey scored better in decreasing cough frequency and severity. It also helped people to sleep better. DM scored little better than no treatment at all.
• How Might Honey Work? Honey causes reflex salivation and airway secretions. These fluids may coat the airway. They also remove the tickle that causes a dry cough.
• Adult Dose: Take 2 teaspoons (10 ml) at bedtime.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Coughing helps to protect lungs from infection. It also helps to keep the throat and airways clear.
   • Short-term coughs are often caused by a cold. These coughs last less than 3 weeks.
   • You can treat most short-term coughs at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
     
2. Cough Medicines:
   • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Cough Syrups: Some people find that cough syrups help decrease coughing. Dextromethorphan is the most common cough suppressant in OTC cough syrups. Often the letters "DM" appear in the name.
   • OTC Cough Drops: Cough drops can help a lot. They work best for mild coughs. They soothe the tickling feeling in the back of the throat. Cough drops are easy to carry with you.
   • Home Remedy - Hard Candy: Hard candy works just as well as OTC cough drops. Diabetics should use sugar-free candy.
   • Home Remedy - Honey: Honey has been shown to help decrease coughing at night. The adult dose is 2 teaspoons (10 ml) at bedtime.
3. OTC Cough Syrup - Dextromethorphan (DM):
   • Cough syrups with DM in them may help your cough. Cough syrups work best for coughs that keep you awake at night. They can help with a dry, hacky cough at the end of a cold. They can be used along with cough drops.
   • Examples: Benylin, Robitussin DM, Vicks 44 Cough Relief.
   • Read all package instructions.
4. Caution - Dextropmethorphan (DM):
   • Do not try to stop coughs if you are coughing up phlegm. Coughing is helpful in bringing up mucus from the lungs. This helps you from getting pneumonia.
   • Research Notes: Some research shows DM helps a cough get better. Other research shows it has little to no effect.
   • Drug Abuse: DM has become a drug of abuse.
   • Do not take DM if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 2 weeks. These include: isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
   • Do not take this drug if you are taking venlafaxine (Effexor).
5. Coughing Spasms:
   • Drink warm fluids. Breathe in warm mist. This will relax your airway and loosen up the phlegm.
   • Suck on cough drops or hard candy to coat your throat.
6. Stay Well Hydrated:
   • Drink plenty of liquids.
   • This will help soothe your throat and loosen up the phlegm.
7. Avoid Smoking: Smoking or being exposed to smoke makes coughs much worse.
8. Fever Medicines:
   • For fevers above 101°F (38.3°C) take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
   • The goal of treating a fever is to bring it down. Fever medicine most often lowers fever about 2-3°F (1 -1.5°C).
   • You can take one of the drugs listed below if you have a fever.
   • They are over-the-counter (OTC) fever drugs. You can buy them at the drugstore.
   Acetaminophen (Tylenol):
   • Regular Strength: Take 2 pills (650 mg) every 4-6 hours. Each Regular Strength pill has 325 mg of acetaminophen.
   • Extra Strength: Take 2 pills (1,000 mg) every 8 hours. Each Extra Strength pill has 500 mg of acetaminophen.
   • Do not take more than 3,000 mg of this drug per day.
   Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil):
   • Motrin and Advil: Take 2 pills (400 mg) every 6 hours. Each Motrin or Advil pill has 200 mg of ibuprofen.
   • A second choice is to take 3 pills (600 mg) every 8 hours.
   Extra Notes:
   • Use the lowest amount of a drug that makes your fever get better.
   • Your doctor might tell you to take more than what is shown above. That is because your doctor knows you and your health problems.
   • Acetaminophen is safer than ibuprofen or naproxen in people over 65 years old. Acetaminophen is in many OTC and prescription drugs. It might be in more than one drug you are taking. Be careful how much you take. Too much of this drug can hurt the liver.
   • Caution- Acetaminophen: Do not take it if you have liver disease.
   • Caution- Ibuprofen:
     • Do not take ibuprofen if you are pregnant.
     • Do not take this drug if you have stomach problems or kidney disease.
     • Do not take this drug for more than 7 days without checking with your doctor.
   • Read all package instructions.
9. What to Expect: Viral colds cause a cough that lasts 1-3 weeks. Sometimes you may cough up lots of phlegm. The phlegm can be white, gray, yellow, or green.
10. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Cough lasts more than 3 weeks
    • Fever lasts more than 3 days
    • You get worse

1. What You Should Know:
   • Colds are very common and may make you feel uncomfortable.
   • Colds are caused by viruses. They cannot be cured with a drug or shot. Antibiotics do not help.
   • Colds are usually not serious. Most colds can be treated at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. For a Stuffy Nose - Use Nasal Washes:
   • Salt water washes are a good way to treat colds. You can pour, spray, or squirt salt water into your nose. Then let the water run back out.
   • How It Helps: The salt water rinses out mucus, dust, and allergens. It also keeps the nose moist.
   • Methods: There are a few ways to do nasal washes. You can use a:
     • Saline nasal spray bottle (sold at drugstores)
     • Rubber ear syringe
     • Medical syringe without the needle
     • Neti Pot
   Step-By-Step Instructions:
   • Step 1: Lean over a sink.
   • Step 2: Gently squirt or spray warm salt water into one of your nostrils.
   • Step 3: Some of the water may run into the back of your throat. Spit this out. If you swallow the salt water, it will not hurt you.
   • Step 4: Blow your nose to clean out the water and mucus.
   • Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4 for the other nostril. Do this 2 or 3 times a day if it helps you.
   How to Make Salt Water Nasal Wash:
   • You can make your own salt water nasal wash.
   • Add 1/2 tsp of table salt to 1 cup (8 oz.; 240 ml) of warm water.
3. For a Very Runny Nose: Blow the Nose.
   • Runny noses help to wash viruses and bacteria out of the nose.
   • Blowing the nose is all that is needed.
   • The skin around your nostrils may get irritated. You can rub a tiny amount of petroleum ointment on it 1-2 times a day.
4. Medicines for a Stuffy or Runny Nose:
   • Most cold drugs that are sold over-the-counter (OTC) are not helpful.
   • Antihistamines are only helpful if you also have nasal allergies.
   • If you still think you need medicine, try using a nasal decongestant.
5. Nasal Decongestants for a Very Stuffy or Runny Nose:
   • Nasal decongestants can help you breathe better and reduce the amount of nasal drainage. They may be taken as pills by mouth or as a nasal spray.
   • Most people do NOT need to use these drugs.
   • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed): This is sold OTC in pill form. Normal adult dose is two 30 mg tablets every 6 hours.
   • Pheylephrine (Sudafed PE): This is sold OTC in pill form. Normal adult dose is one 10 mg tablets every 4 hours.
   • Oxymetazoline Nasal Drops (Afrin): These are sold OTC. Blow your nose to clean out the mucus before using. Spray each nostril once. Wait one minute and then spray a second time.
   • Phenylephrine Nasal Drops (Neo-Synephrine): These are sold OTC. Blow your nose to clean out the mucus before using. Spray each nostril once. Wait one minute and then spray a second time.
   • Read all package instructions.
6. Caution - Nasal Decongestants:
   • Do not take these drugs if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, an enlarged prostate, or an overactive thyroid.
   • Do not take these drugs if you are pregnant.
   • Do not take these drugs if you have taken a MAO inhibitor drug in the past 2 weeks. Life-threatening side effects can happen. Examples of MAO drugs include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
   • Do not use nasal decongestants for more than 3 days.
7. Pain and Fever Medicines:
   • For pain or fever relief, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
   • Treat fevers above 101°F (38.3°C).
   • The goal of treating a fever is to bring it down. These medicines most often lower fever about 2-3°F (1-1.5°C).
   • You can take one of the drugs listed below if you have pain or a fever.
   • They are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. You can buy them at the drugstore.
   Acetaminophen (Tylenol):
   • Regular Strength: Take 2 pills (650 mg) every 4-6 hours. Each Regular Strength pill has 325 mg of acetaminophen.
   • Extra Strength: Take 2 pills (1,000 mg) every 8 hours. Each Extra Strength pill has 500 mg of acetaminophen.
   • Do not take more than 3,000 mg of this drug per day.
   Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil):
   • Motrin and Advil: Take 2 pills (400 mg) every 6 hours. Each Motrin or Advil pill has 200 mg of ibuprofen.
   • A second choice is to take 3 pills (600 mg) every 8 hours.
   Extra Notes:
   • Use the lowest amount of a drug that makes your pain and fever feel better.
   • Your doctor might tell you to take more than what is shown above. That is because your doctor knows you and your health problems.
   • Acetaminophen is safer than ibuprofen or naproxen in people over 65 years old. Acetaminophen is in many OTC and prescription drugs. It might be in more than one drug you are taking. Be careful how much you take. Too much of this drug can hurt the liver.
   • Caution- Acetaminophen: Do not take it if you have liver disease.
   • Caution- Ibuprofen:
     • Do not take ibuprofen if you are pregnant.
     • Do not take this drug if you have stomach problems or kidney disease.
     • Do not take this drug for more than 7 days without checking with your doctor.
   • Read all package instructions.
8. How It Is Spread:
   • The cold virus is in your nasal secretions.
   • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.
   • Wash your hands often with soap and water.
   • You can return to normal activities after your fever is gone. This includes work and school.
9. What to Expect:
   • Fever may last 2-3 days
   • Runny nose may last 7-10 days
   • Cough may last up to 3 weeks.
10. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Trouble breathing occurs
    • Fever lasts more than 3 days
    • Runny nose lasts more than 10 days
    • Cough lasts more than 3 weeks
    • You get worse