A Cough It Up Guide
During a cold or other respiratory infection, mucous membranes don’t release as much liquid as they normally do. So the mucus that is there in the tract changes from its benign, watery consistency to the thick, gross, gummy stuff we call phlegm.
Any aid you use to help you cough up phlegm and get it out of your chest and your life is called by a fancy name: expectorant. Many people think that expectorants work by stimulating your cough reflex so you will cough more. That extra coughing, they believe, helps bring up the phlegm. But that is probably not how expectorants operate at all; instead, they do their job by attempting to thin out phlegm so it is easier to cough up.
Which expectorants work? That is hard question to answer, experts say. Expectorants are tough to test under rigorous scientific conditions because everybody’s phlegm is different and difficult to measure. Here is a rundown:
Extra fluids
From water to chicken soup, almost every expert we consulted said that extra fluids were the most effective expectorants to reach for, especially as a first line of defense. Extra fluids go into all compartments of the body, including your respiratory tract, where they help to liquefy hardened mucus so it is easier to cough up. How much extra fluid is enough? Six to eight ounce glasses a day, which includes your usual amount.
Chicken soup made volunteers’ noses run faster than did other hot or cold liquids. But the researchers didn’t attempt to measure the soup’s effect on phlegm deeper in the respiratory tract, the kind that needs to be coughed up.
And what about that oft-quoted piece of wisdom that says avoid drinking milk during a cold because it increases the amount of phlegm in your system? Not true, milk does not produce phlegm, infection does, why do so many people think milk is a phlegm producer? It may because milk is a coating liquid. It gives you the feeling of more phlegm in your throat but the milk is not really increasing the amount.
Over-the-counter drugs
What about cough medicines that combine expectorants with other cold remedies? Many doctors and pharmacists would probably be reluctant to recommend such combination drugs if all you need is an expectorant. But a lot of physicians would also agree that in some situations a cough. Suppressant/expectorant is justified.
Some people may have an incredibly sensitive cough reflex, which the suppressant could help tone down so they are not coughing all the time.
Then, if the expectorant is doing its job, you will only cough when there is something actually ready to be coughed up.
Other home remedies
Lozenges containing licorice, horehound or aromatic oils, such as peppermint or spearmint, are often linked with increased breakdown of phlegm, as they dissolve in your throat, they help liquefy mucus.
Hot & spicy foods the kind that makes your eyes water or your nose run, may also be modestly effective. They help mucous membranes all over, not just in your nose, to secrete more liquid, which can help thin mucus, so you might want to add foods containing hot peppers, curry and other hot and spicy flavorings to your menu when you have a cold.
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Overview On Cough
Because their immune systems are still developing, children are especially vulnerable to viruses and bacteria, and they tend to get sick more than grown-ups. Most of the time, all kids need is a little symptom relief and comfort. Here's how you can help yours recover faster from colds, coughs, and earaches, plus how to tell when sickness indicates something more serious.
Treating colds
Babies and kids typically get six to eight colds a year -- just think of all the stuff they're constantly sticking into their mouths and it's easy to understand why. The good news: These infections actually help strengthen their immune systems down the line. Meanwhile, to help her feel better:
Saline drops in the nose can reduce congestion (follow package directions for dosage). This is especially helpful for babies too young to blow their noses.
Put a cool-mist vaporizer in her bedroom -- moist air helps alleviate congestion.
Give infant acetaminophen (babies older than 3 months only) to ease her discomfort. For babies 3 months or younger, don't give any medication without talking to your doctor first (it can mask a fever, which requires immediate medical attention in infants; for more info, see "Fevers", below).
Call the doctor if...
You suspect the flu in an infant younger than 3 months, go to the doctor right away (symptoms of flu include fever, fatigue, and listlessness); from 3 to 6 months of age, it's less urgent, so call your pediatrician and ask what the best course of action is. (Remember, symptoms of flu come on suddenly -- as opposed to cold symptoms, which come on gradually -- and they're more intense.)
Your child shows symptoms of sinus inflammation or sinusitis (a bacterial infection of the facial cavities), both of which may cause a wet or phlegmy cough, bad breath, and thick yellow or green mucus. Sinusitis may also bring on a headache and fever. If your doctor diagnoses an infection, he'll likely prescribe antibiotics.
Soothing coughs
A cough often develops with a cold, and can be persistent. There's usually nothing to worry about, and the best thing to do is let it run its course. To make your child more comfortable:
Offer liquids to lubricate an irritated, cough-prone throat. For babies, nurse or bottle-feed more frequently. For children, give water, warm tea, or diluted juice (semi-frozen if you want, for its soothing chill).
At bedtime, elevate your child's head with a wedge underneath his mattress.
Always ask a pediatrician before giving a child under 3 years of age an over-the-counter cough preparation or decongestant. For all kids, avoid any medication that contains phenylpropanolamine, which may trigger seizures and increase the risk of stroke.
Call the doctor if...
Your child has a severe cough and a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts more than a day; you'll need to have your pediatrician rule out strep. (A rectal temperature is the most accurate reading.)
Your child is wheezing and coughing to the point that he's having trouble breathing -- or he shows a loss of appetite and unusual lethargy. This could signal a more serious infection such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can lead to bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small tubes of the lungs. Bronchiolitis can be life-threatening in some babies under 6 months, and in preemies up to 1 year.
Your child has a hacking, barking cough -- usually at night -- which means he probably has croup, an infection of the larynx (the voice box). Call the doctor no matter the hour; he'll probably advise you to elevate your child's head and go out into the cool night air with him. If your child is struggling for breath, go to the emergency room. He likely will be given an injection of steroids -- a standard treatment that's safe in kids as young as 3 months -- and perhaps a nebulizer with medication to help open his airways.
Your child's cough persists for a week or two and then worsens, with severe and prolonged coughing jags punctuated by gags and gasps and, occasionally, vomiting. This could be pertussis (a.k.a. whooping cough). In spite of its name, babies under 1 rarely "whoop." Nor do adults (kids do). Your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics.
Babies are especially vulnerable until they get the third of four diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DtP) vaccinations, usually at 6 months. Those under 3 months are at increased risk for pertussis-related apnea, in which they stop breathing altogether and need emergency help. The best prevention: Stay on schedule with baby shots and remain vigilant for signs of pertussis until full protection kicks in around 6 months. When kids hit 11 or 12, they'll need a booster shot.
Fevers
A fever indicates that the body is working to fight an infection, and is usually not a cause for concern. How your child is behaving is actually a better way to tell how ill she is. If your baby has a fever but plays normally (rather than being listless and fussy), there's probably nothing to worry about. Same goes for toddlers and older kids. As long as your child acts like she normally does, all you need to do is comfort her by:
Making sure she gets plenty of rest.
Giving her lots of fluids. Infants and toddlers may be given a commercial rehydrating solution, such as Pedialyte or Rehydralyte.
Sponging her with tepid water or placing her in a bath of lukewarm water.
Giving her acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce her discomfort, as long as the doctor says it's okay. (Children under 18 should never be given aspirin; it's been linked to Reye's syndrome, a serious disease that affects the brain and liver.)
Call the doctor if...
An infant 3 months or younger has a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, even if she shows no other signs of illness. (Always use a rectal thermometer for babies this age since it provides the most accurate reading.) And be ready for a trip to the emergency room to rule out a serious infection -- in the early weeks of life, babies have a limited ability to fight illness because their immune systems are not fully developed.
Your 3- to 6-month-old has a temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, as children this age have a greater (though still small) risk of a serious bacterial infection than older kids do.
An older child's temperature hasn't improved in three days or reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
A feverish child of any age develops other symptoms -- a rash, an earache, swollen glands, or trouble breathing. The pediatrician will want to make sure your child doesn't have a serious illness, such as pneumonia or meningitis.
Your child suffers a febrile convulsion. These seizures are scary but not uncommon, and happen most often in babies between 6 months and 2 years. Have the doctor check your child the first time this happens to make sure it hasn't been caused by an underlying condition. Kids prone to febrile convulsions usually outgrow them by age 6 with no long-term effects.
Ear infections
By age 3, 70 percent of children have had at least one ear infection. The vast majority occur when fluid accumulates in the middle ear and becomes infected (usually a bacterial infection), causing pain, swelling, and redness. If your baby seems uncomfortable and begins pulling on his ears, you may have an ear infection on your hands.
About 80 percent of the time, the infection will clear up on its own in a few days, so you may not need an antibiotic. New evidence shows that antibiotics simply don't help most kids that much -- they end pain at best half a day sooner than if left untreated. Many experts think it's best to wait on antibiotics and manage the discomfort by:
Giving your child acetaminophen or pain-numbing drops (which your doctor can prescribe)
Applying mild heat to the ear-try a warm, moist washcloth.
Call the doctor if...
You suspect an ear infection and your child is 2 or younger.
Your older child has mild pain in his ears for more than 24 hours; is in great pain; is running a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; or you notice pus coming out of his ears, or the glands in his neck seem swollen.
Your child gets one ear infection after another. If this is the case, talk to your pediatrician about whether ear tubes are a good option. These tubes are implanted surgically, and are designed to allow bacteria-friendly fluids to drain from the ear. Tube implantation should be a last resort, but chronic ear infections shouldn't be ignored since they can affect a young child's hearing and delay speech.
Preventing ear infections
To lower your child's odds of getting an ear infection:
Breastfeed. This is associated with a lower risk of ear infections.
Feed upright. In young children, the ear's Eustachian tube goes in a straight line from the mouth to the nose to the ear, so when a child lies flat, formula or milk may drain through the tube into the middle ear and provide a meal for bacteria.
Limit pacifiers. A study found that babies who didn't use pacifiers had one-third fewer middle ear infections. If your baby loves his, try giving it only at naptime and bedtime.
Stop sniffles. Ear infections often follow colds, so cold-prevention tips matter: Remind kids to wash hands with soap and water after they cough or sneeze, and before meals.
Don't smoke. Kids who are exposed to secondhand smoke get more ear infections; it irritates mucous membranes and damages tiny hairs in the middle ear.
Stay up-to-date with vaccines. The pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar (recommended for all healthy children under 2), mainly prevents bacterial meningitis, but also guards against seven strains of ear infection-causing bacteria. (Babies typically get four shots, between 2 and 15 months.)
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A Guide To Kids' Cough
As miserable as a cough can make your kid -- and you -- it does serve an important purpose: "That forceful exhalation of air propels mucus, bacteria, and other irritants out of the airways," explains Thomas Ferkol, M.D., director of pediatric allergy and pulmonary medicine at Washington University, in St. Louis. While that's all well and good, relief is all anyone really wants. The key to finding it? Knowing what's causing the hack to begin with. The chart below can get you on the road to peace. In the meantime, watch out for certain danger signs: If your child's been coughing for more than two weeks or develops a high fever, take her to the pediatrician. If she has trouble breathing, begins turning blue, or can't eat or swallow, head straight to the ER. And if you're tempted to give her an over-the-counter cough medicine, hold up. Studies show they're not effective, and some may even be harmful.
If your kid's cough is:
WET AND PRODUCTIVE
It means: she has mucus to clear out of her airways, or she's got postnasal drip
The likely cause is: an infection (such as a cold, sinusitis, or pneumonia), or allergies
For sweet relief: Use saline nose drops, and offer her lots of fluids to thin the mucus. If she's got a fever along with the cough, call the doctor to rule out a more serious infection.
DRY AND RASPY
It means: there's irritation somewhere in her airways
The likely cause is: an infection, allergen, or other irritant, such as dust, pollen, or smoke, that produces little or no mucus
For sweet relief: Soothe it as you would a wet cough, with nose drops and lots of fluids. If you suspect the cough is allergy-related, do your best to limit your child's exposure and wait it out.
SOUNDING LIKE A BARKING SEAL OR DOG
It means: her airways are constricted and/or inflamed
The likely cause is: croup, a viral infection that's usually worse during the night
For sweet relief: Sit with her in a steamy bathroom for 15 to 20 minutes, or go outside in the fresh air if it's cool (not cold). If she's having significant trouble breathing, go to the ER.
ACCOMPANIED BY WHEEZING
It means: she has mucus to clear out of her airways, or she's got postnasal drip
The likely cause is: asthma, or bronchiolitis, an infection of the lungs' small airways that's usually seen in kids under 3
For sweet relief: See the doctor to find out exactly what's going on. If your child has asthma, her medication may need tweaking. If she has an infection, she may need antibiotics.
A SEVERE COUGHING FOLLOWED BY A "WHOOP"
It means: she's literally coughing all the air out of her lungs, then taking in a deep breath
The likely cause is: whooping cough, a bacterial infection known as pertussis
For sweet relief: Call the doctor at once. He may prescribe antibiotics to make your child less contagious, but these won't treat the cough or shorten its duration. This can be a dangerous infection in babies, which is why staying on top of the pertussis shot is so important.
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How to Treat Your Cold Symptoms Series: Coughing
Ah, those tell-tale symptoms of the common cold: Sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing… Who among us doesn’t desperately scour the internet in the hopes of finding that amazing home remedy to help ease our discomforts as we deal with our cumbersome virus?
Colds are just as inconvenient as they are uncomfortable. What’s worse than lying in bed coughing when you can be lounging by the pool or frolicking in the snow? Different allergies affect people every season, but cold symptoms are slightly different and sometimes it is difficult to differentiate. A runny nose, scratchy throat and a slight cough can be an indication that you might have the common cold. Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy has new tips and suggestions that discuss natural remedies and alternative treatments to tackle and treat these pesky common cold symptoms.
The common cold typically evolves and gets worse over the course of a few days. A true cold virus has symptoms that last up to 10 days. However, common cold treatment is often easy and effective, cold and cough usually readily available in your home and work well, especially if treated within the first few days of the onset of symptoms.
In the second of our series, the Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy team is sharing some of the most popular, tried-and-true natural cold remedies for how to treat a nasty cough in hopes of helping you stay healthy!
Most of the time, people can manage and reduce cough symptoms from the comfort of their own homes.
• Elevate and rest: We’ve all had those nights when we can’t sleep and are up all night coughing. Try sleeping with your head elevated. Doing so will allow mucus and phlegm to drain while you sleep and help you breathe easier with less irritation. In order for your body to fight a virus, it needs rest. Relaxing and resting will give your body the energy it needs to replenish and fight the cold.
• A spoonful of honey: Drinking tea or warm water is a time honored, traditional way of soothing a sore throat and suppressing a cough, but recently it has been discovered that a plain spoonful of honey coats the throat and can be used as a sleep aid, leaving you rested and well recovered for the next day. Honey is rich in antioxidants and sweet liquids tend to cause salivation, lubricating the upper airway and thinning mucus.
• Inhale moisture: That back of the throat tickle can be treated with moisture. Hot water from a shower or a vaporizer can relax your throat and minimize coughing. Not only will a warm shower alleviate a sore itchy throat, but the moisture can also ease your breathing and loosen phlegm, helping you cough it up and out.
• Massage it out: If you’re at home and you have someone who can help, have them use a chest percussion technique to help clear the chest congestion. Laying on your stomach on a flat surface, have a partner cup their hands and lightly beat them over your back progressing from lower back to upper back, and repeating. This can help loosen and move congestion up and out.
How to Treat Your Cold Symptoms Series: The Sore Throat
Ah, those tell-tale symptoms of the common cold: Sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing… Who among us doesn’t desperately scour the internet in the hopes of finding that amazing home remedy to help ease our discomforts as we deal with our cumbersome virus? In the hopes of helping you feel better faster, Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy has launched a new series of blog posts discussing various natural home remedies and alternative treatments that can be used to reduce those endless common cold symptoms and help you stay healthy.
In the first of our series, the Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy team is sharing some of the most popular, tried-and-true suggestions on how to treat a sore throat.
Coat your throat:
• The traditional, well-known mixture of honey, warm water and lemon has proven to be a great natural cold remedy. Honey coats your throat and soothes that pesky irritation. Try Organic Throat Coat tea from Traditional Medicinals.
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