Knowing the Symptoms and How to Treat a Cold Cough

Knowing the Symptoms and How to Treat a Cold Cough

How treat a cold cough is usually done by taking drugs. However, in addition to using medical drugs, coughs and colds can also be treated in various natural and simple ways at home.

Cough and cold are common upper respiratory tract diseases. Children and adults have had a cold at least 2–4 times a year.

Cough and cold relatively do not cause complications. You can find out the causes and symptoms of a cold cough so that you can do the right way to treat a hard cough.

Cold Cough Causes and Symptoms

Cough and cold are generally caused by viral infections, one of which is the rhinovirus. This virus can live on the surface of objects for 3 hours. Symptoms of rhinovirus infection usually appear 12–72 hours after infection and last for 7–11 days.

Transmission of the cough and cold virus can occur from one person to another through droplets that come out of the patient’s mouth or nose when he coughs or sneezes and is inhaled by others.

In addition, viral infections can also occur if someone touches their mouth, eyes, or nose after handling objects that have been contaminated with the virus.

When you have a cold, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Sneeze
• Shivering
• Postnasal drip or mucus from the nose that flows down the throat

To treat cough and cold, you can use medical drugs or do natural things like drinking tea at home.

How to Treat a Cold Cough by Taking Medicines

Here are medicines that you can take according to the instructions for use as a way to treat coughs and colds:

1. Decongestants

Decongestants work by helping to reduce swelling and inflammation of the nose. This will make your nose feel lighter, and it will be easier for you to breathe.

2. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are usually used to prevent sneezing when you have a cold cough. In addition, this drug can also relieve watery eyes that may occur.

3. Pain relief

NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, can also treat colds and coughs. This drug can relieve fever, inflammation, and body aches.

4. Drugs suppressing cough response

Cough-suppressing drugs such as dextromethorphan are known to be able to relieve cough symptoms in coughs and colds.

5. Expectorant

If you have a cough with phlegm, you can take expectorant cough medicine to make it easier for mucus or phlegm to come out.

In addition to some of the cough and cold medicines above, you are also advised to get enough rest, drink lots of water, and take supplements, such as zinc and vitamin C, to speed up recovery from coughs and colds.

How to Treat a Cold Cough Using Natural Ways

In addition to using drugs, here are some natural ways that you can do as a way to treat coughs and colds:

Drinking hot soup or tea

Consuming hot soup or tea is known to help relieve the symptoms of a stuffy nose due to a cold cough so that you can breathe more freely. The salt in the soup can also help soothe irritation in the throat.

Eating yogurt

Consuming yogurt can also be a way to treat coughs and colds. Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that can improve gut health and fight several diseases.

Although it is a common disease and usually gets better in 7–10 days, cough and cold should not be taken lightly. Cough and cold can be a symptom of COVID-19.

It is recommended that you see a doctor if your cold cough lasts more than ten days and does not go away, even though you have tried various ways to treat a hard cough.