Cough

A cough is a natural reflex to clear your airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign particles.

Visit the Emergency Department if you have any of the following:

• Blood in your sputum.
• Breathlessness or wheezing sounds.
• Persistent finger pulse oximeter readings of less than 95%.

Visit the GP or Polyclinic if you have any of the following:

• Cough with fever > 38 degrees.
• Chronic Cough lasting more than 3 weeks, especially if associated with sweating at night.
• A weakened immune system or a pre-existing chronic health condition like asthma, COPD, heart disease or tuberculosis.
• Cough with exposure to patients with tuberculosis.

What you can do:

• Cough Drops or Hard Candy: Sucking on a cough drop or even a hard candy stimulates saliva production, which helps keep your throat moist and can provide temporary relief from a dry, scratchy throat.
• Antitussives (Cough Suppressants): Over-the-counter cough suppressants with ingredients like dextromethorphan can help calm the cough reflex. These are best used for a dry, non-productive cough, especially at night to help you sleep.
• Expectorants: Over-the-counter expectorants with guaifenesin can help thin mucus, making it easier to cough up and clear your airways.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids like water, herbal tea, and clear broth helps to thin the mucus in your throat and lungs, making it easier to cough up. Warm liquids can be very soothing.
• Elevate Your Head While Sleeping: If your cough is worse at night, try propping your head up with extra pillows. This can help prevent backflowing nasal mucus from irritating your throat and triggering a cough.
• Avoid Irritants: Exposure to smoke, dust, strong perfumes, and other allergens can irritate your lungs and worsen your cough.

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