What should you pay attention to when you have a cough? How to take care of a cough

In autumn and winter, the climate is dry, and people are prone to coughing and sore throats. If coughing keeps you awake, there is a way to relieve it that can help you. Today we will introduce a way to relieve it. In addition, we will focus on what you should pay attention to when you cough. Regardless of whether your cough is contagious, it is recommended that everyone of us follow coughing etiquette.

Contents of this article

1. What should you pay attention to when you have a cough?

2. How to take care of a cough

3. Coughing etiquette

What should you pay attention to when you have a cough?

Drink plenty of water

Drinking a lot of water helps to thin the phlegm and make it easier to cough up. Boiled water and fruit and vegetable juice are both good recovery drinks. Pear juice, watermelon juice, apple juice, radish juice, etc. are all good cough suppressants. You may drink 4-5 large cups of them every day. But be careful not to add sugar and salt. If you want to drink something sweet, you can add a little honey. Honey has the effect of moistening the lungs and relieving constipation, which helps to alleviate symptoms.

Avoid coffee and alcohol

Try to avoid drinking beverages containing caffeine and alcohol, as these drinks have a diuretic effect and cause body fluids to be consumed too quickly.

Keep the air moist

Increasing the humidity of the indoor air can help relieve discomfort such as cough, sore throat, and dry nasal cavity. You can use a humidifier or boil water in a teapot to humidify the air.

Elevated pillow

If your cough is keeping you awake, there is a way to relieve it that can help. Try sleeping on your side with your pillow raised 20 cm. This can prevent mucus from accumulating and can also prevent irritating acid from the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus and being inhaled.

How to take care of a cough

1. Maintain indoor air circulation and comfortable temperature and humidity, drink plenty of water, avoid cold, and avoid contact with allergens (dust and irritating gases).

2. Avoid excessive fatigue, do appropriate exercise and strengthen your physical fitness.

3. If there are lesions in the upper respiratory tract (nasopharynx and throat), they must be treated and cleared.

4. Do not eat foods that cause allergies, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and have a balanced diet.

Coughing etiquette

Regardless of whether your cough is contagious or not, these cough etiquettes are something everyone must consciously follow.

1. Coughing etiquette

When you want to cough or sneeze, whether you are sick or not, you should use napkins, handkerchiefs, or both hands to cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of germs; if you don't have time to take a napkin, you can use the "cuff covering method", that is, cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your sleeves, which can also prevent saliva from flying. The above protective measures are particularly important in small and confined spaces. Used napkins should not be thrown anywhere, but should be thrown into the trash can.

2. Etiquette after coughing

Another important measure after practicing "cough etiquette" when coughing or sneezing is to wash your hands immediately; otherwise, the germs on your hands can be transferred to the surface of these objects through handshakes, door handles, computer keyboards, etc. While practicing "cough etiquette", we should also pay attention to another small detail in life, that is, keep a certain distance when talking to others, don't talk directly to others, don't speak too loudly, and avoid spitting.

3. Etiquette when you have symptoms

When you have a cold, especially in the early stages of the disease when the symptoms are mild, and you have to go to work or go out, and you may share transportation, elevators, and offices with others, you should consciously observe "respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette" and wear a mask to prevent the spread of germs through coughing and sneezing.