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Coughs stick around way too long. The throat tickle that won’t quit, the awkward moment in a quiet room, the friend who scoots three feet away from you at lunch. You’re not contagious anymore (probably), but your throat didn’t get the memo.
Whether it’s dry or producing phlegm, a cough is your body trying to clear irritants from your airway. That’s useful for about five minutes. After three days it’s just noise pollution with bonus social isolation.
Here’s what actually works to calm things down and get you back to breathing like a normal person.
1. Honey
Straight honey or mixed in tea. Coats your throat, reduces the tickle, and actually has some evidence behind it (unlike most things you’ll try). A spoonful before bed helps if nighttime coughing is wrecking your sleep.
Skip this if you’re giving it to kids under one year old. But for everyone else, it’s the first move.
2. Steam Inhalation
Lean over a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head. Or just stand in a hot shower for 10 minutes. Steam loosens mucus and soothes irritated airways.
Works best for wet coughs where you’re trying to get stuff moving. Less useful for dry coughs, but the warmth still helps.
3. Throat Lozenges or Hard Candy
Keeps your throat moist and triggers saliva production. The menthol ones (like Halls) have a slight numbing effect that can buy you 20 minutes of peace.
Hard candy works too if you don’t have lozenges. The sucking motion is what matters, not the fancy ingredients.
4. Humidifier
Dry air makes everything worse. A cool-mist humidifier in your bedroom keeps your throat from drying out overnight.
Clean it regularly or you’re just misting bacteria into your face. That defeats the purpose.
5. Stay Hydrated
Water, tea, broth. Whatever you’ll actually drink. Dehydration thickens mucus and makes your throat more irritated.
Warm liquids work better than cold ones for soothing the tickle. Hot tea with honey hits both the hydration and coating angles at once.
6. Avoid Irritants
Smoke, perfume, cold air, dust. Anything that makes you cough more. Seems obvious but people forget that scented candles and cleaning products count.
If you’re still smoking while dealing with a cough, well, there’s your problem.
7. Elevate Your Head While Sleeping
Prop yourself up with extra pillows. Keeps mucus from pooling in your throat and triggering coughing fits every time you lie flat.
Side sleeping helps too. Anything but flat on your back.
8. Warm Salt Water Gargle
Quarter teaspoon of salt in warm water, gargle for 30 seconds. Helps with the scratchy throat sensation and reduces inflammation.
Not pleasant, but it’s quick and you probably have salt already.
Most coughs clear up in a week or two. These methods won’t cure anything, but they’ll make the waiting period less miserable and stop your coworkers from treating you like a biohazard.