How to Get Rid of a Dry Cough
A dry, hacking cough can keep you up at night, irritate your throat, and wear you out. Unlike a wet cough, a dry cough does not bring up mucus, so it can feel like you are coughing for no reason at all. If you are wondering how to get rid of a dry cough, the best approach is to soothe the irritation while figuring out what is causing it.
Most dry coughs improve on their own or with simple home care. But sometimes a cough is a sign of something more serious. If your cough comes with trouble breathing or chest pain, Memorial Springs ER in Spring, TX, provides 24/7 emergency care for adults and children.
What Causes a Dry Cough?
A dry cough happens when something irritates your throat or airways without producing mucus. Common causes include:
- Viral infections: colds, flu, and COVID-19 can leave a lingering dry cough for weeks.
- Allergies: pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander can trigger a tickle in your throat.
- Asthma: a type called cough-variant asthma can cause a dry cough as its main symptom.
- Acid reflux (GERD): stomach acid can travel up and irritate the throat, especially at night.
- Postnasal drip: mucus dripping down the back of the throat.
- Medicines: ACE inhibitors, a type of blood pressure medicine, can cause a dry cough in some people.
- Irritants: smoke, dry air, and air pollution.
- Whooping cough: a serious bacterial infection that causes intense coughing fits.
Home Remedies for a Dry Cough
1. Try Honey
Honey coats the throat and can calm a cough. Research suggests it may work as well as some over-the-counter cough medicines. Mix a spoonful into warm tea or water, and try taking it before bed if coughing keeps you awake. Never give honey to babies younger than 1 year old, because it can cause infant botulism.
2. Use a Humidifier
Dry air makes coughing worse, especially in winter or when the air conditioning runs constantly. A cool-mist humidifier adds moisture to the air and soothes irritated airways, especially while you sleep. Clean it every day and change the water often so mold and bacteria do not build up. Avoid hot-steam vaporizers around children, since they can cause burns.
3. Stay Hydrated
Drinking water, warm tea, and broth keep your throat moist and less irritated. Warm liquids can also loosen the tickle that triggers coughing fits. Sip small amounts throughout the day instead of drinking a lot at once. Limit caffeine and alcohol, since both can dry out your throat.
4. Gargle With Salt Water
Gargling with half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water can ease throat irritation. The salt helps reduce swelling and washes away irritants. Gargle for about 15 to 30 seconds, spit it out, and repeat a few times a day. Do not use this remedy with young children who cannot gargle safely.
5. Suck on Lozenges or Hard Candy
Lozenges keep your mouth and throat moist. Menthol lozenges may also numb the urge to cough. Let them dissolve slowly instead of chewing them, and do not use them as a replacement for fluids. Do not give lozenges or hard candy to young children, as they are a choking hazard.
6. Try an Over-the-Counter Cough Suppressant
Medicines containing dextromethorphan can help calm a dry cough in adults. They work best when the cough is keeping you from resting or sleeping. Follow the label directions and talk to a pharmacist if you take other medicines, since many cold products contain the same ingredient. Over-the-counter cough medicines are not recommended for young children, so ask your child’s doctor first.
7. Avoid Irritants
Stay away from smoke, strong perfumes, and cleaning chemicals. If allergies are the cause, an antihistamine may help. Keep windows closed on high-pollen days and wash your bedding often to cut down on dust and pet dander. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best ways to help your cough heal.
8. Raise Your Head at Night
Sleeping with an extra pillow can reduce postnasal drip and acid reflux, two common causes of nighttime coughing. Raising your head keeps mucus and stomach acid from pooling in your throat. If reflux is part of the problem, avoid eating large meals within two to three hours of bedtime. If your cough still wakes you up night after night, talk to your doctor.
How Long Does a Dry Cough Last?
A cough after a cold or the flu can last 3 to 8 weeks as your airways heal. A cough lasting more than 8 weeks in adults, or 4 weeks in children, is considered chronic and should be checked by a doctor.
When to Seek Medical Care
Call 911 or go to the ER right away if a cough comes with:
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- A high fever
- Bluish lips or face
- Fainting or confusion
See your doctor if your cough lasts more than three weeks, keeps you from sleeping, or comes with weight loss or night sweats.
Dry Cough in Children
Children often develop a dry cough with colds, allergies, or asthma. A barking cough may be croup, and coughing fits followed by a whoop sound may be whooping cough. If your child is struggling to breathe or cannot stop coughing, our pediatric emergency room near me can provide fast evaluation and breathing treatments.
How Doctors Treat a Persistent Dry Cough
Treatment depends on the cause. Your doctor may recommend:
- Inhalers for asthma.
- Acid reducers for reflux.
- Nasal sprays or antihistamines for allergies and postnasal drip.
- Switching blood pressure medicines if an ACE inhibitor is the cause.
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections such as whooping cough.
Get Relief From a Cough That Won’t Quit
Most dry coughs are more annoying than dangerous, but breathing trouble means it is time for a closer look. Memorial Springs ER in Spring, TX, provides on-site X-rays, labs, and short wait times for Spring, Klein, Tomball, The Woodlands, and North Houston.
If you need care fast, our Spring emergency room is open 24/7 for adults and children. Chest pain, coughing up blood, or bluish lips are signs not to wait. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 right away.
Key Takeaways
- A dry cough does not bring up mucus. It is often caused by viral infections, allergies, asthma, acid reflux, postnasal drip, certain medicines, or irritants.
- Honey, a clean humidifier, plenty of fluids, saltwater gargles, and lozenges can soothe a dry cough at home.
- Never give honey to babies younger than 1 year old, and do not give lozenges or hard candy to young children.
- Over-the-counter cough suppressants with dextromethorphan are for adults. Ask a doctor before giving cough medicine to a child.
- Raising your head with an extra pillow and avoiding large meals before bed can ease nighttime coughing caused by postnasal drip and reflux.
- A cough after a cold or the flu can last 3 to 8 weeks. A cough lasting more than 8 weeks in adults or 4 weeks in children should be checked by a doctor.
- Go to the ER right away for trouble breathing, chest pain, coughing up blood, a high fever, bluish lips or face, or fainting and confusion.
- Treatment depends on the cause and may include inhalers, acid reducers, nasal sprays, antihistamines, or a change in blood pressure medicine.
Frequently asked questions
Why Is My Dry Cough Worse at Night?
Lying down allows mucus to drip into your throat and stomach acid to rise. Dry indoor air can also make coughing worse, so raising your head with an extra pillow and using a humidifier may help.
Is a Dry Cough a Sign of COVID-19?
It can be. A dry cough is a common COVID-19 symptom, and testing is the only way to know for sure. If you also have a fever or trouble breathing, get medical care.
Can a Dry Cough Be a Sign of a Heart Problem?
Sometimes. Heart failure can cause a cough, especially when lying flat. See a doctor if you also have swelling in your legs or shortness of breath.
What Drink Helps Soothe a Dry Cough?
Warm drinks such as tea with honey or warm water with lemon can soothe a dry cough. Staying hydrated also keeps your throat moist and less irritated.