How to Cure a Congested Cough

Coughing is your body's natural response to irritation in the throat, bronchial tubes or lungs. When you cough, it may be because you have a cold, asthma, heartburn or some kind of irritant such as smoke. When you cough, you need to pay attention as to whether the cough is dry or whether it is congested. A congested cough could lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, so you will want to cure it as soon as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Tea
• Honey
• Tabasco sauce
• Water
• Vicks VapoRub
• Vitamin C

Instructions

1. Quit smoking. If this is the cause of your congested cough, then you will begin to heal. If it is not the cause, at least you will not continue to aggravate the real cause.

2. Make some hot tea and add a little honey to it. This will loosen any mucus you may have in your lungs.

3. Fill an 8 ounce glass with water and then drop in 15 drops of Tabasco sauce. Mix it up, gargle with it and then swallow it. This will also break up the mucus and get it out of your body so you stop coughing.

4. Spread some Vicks VapoRub on your chest. The vapors work to stop the coughing and give your lungs a much needed rest so that they can heal. Use it every couple of hours as needed.

5. Take some vitamin C. Take a chewable tablet every couple of hours. This will increase your body's immune system so that it can work to get rid of the cause of your congested cough.

6. Take a hot shower. The steam from the shower will break up the mucus in your lungs and give you some relief from the coughing.

7. See a doctor and get antibiotics if needed. If your congested cough is because of an infection, you will need antibiotics to cure it. If you don't get antibiotics, it may not go away on its own and it could get worse. People have died from pneumonia so take it seriously.

Tips & Warnings

• Suck on cough drops throughout the day to give your lungs a rest from all the coughing.

• Don't drink any cold beverages as this will cause you to cough a little more. Try to stick with hot tea. Stay away from dairy products as they will increase your mucus and cause you to cough more.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Congested Coughs