Travelling is fun! And most people would love to simply embark on a journey without a strict plan in place. But there are a few things that can put a dent in your adventure, one of them is the sudden onset of cough. A condition that often strikes when the weather changes abruptly or when you move to a more polluted place, cough can be persistent and be a downer! So, in order to help you stay on your journey, here are some quick tips to keep cough at bay while travelling.
Warm water for instant relief
Warm water is very soothing to an irritated throat. It reduces the itching feeling, pain and irritation that you might feel . Apart from that it prevents the back of your throat from getting dry and prevents bouts of coughing. While this is the simplest method, you could go one step further by opting to have some green tea.
All you need to do is ask for hot water, dip a green tea bag in it for a few minutes and sip on the warm tea. Remember not to allow the tea bag to remain in the water for too long as strong tea can irritate the throat. Avoid having tea with lemon infused in it as it can lead to more coughing. Read more about how you can get instant relief from cough.
Toffee can help
Cough is usually felt as an itch in the throat, and this itch can be quite annoying. In order to beat these symptoms and reduce the amount you cough, suck on a toffee. Make sure that the toffee is sugar based and not creamy. Keep it at the back of your mouth and let your saliva do the rest of the work. The toffee makes you secrete more saliva which gently trickles into your throat and beats that itchy feeling. You can pick any flavor except lemon and coffee.
Moist cloth can go a long way
When we cough it is often because our throat tends to get dry and the air we breathe in through our nose worsens this dryness. So if you can’t find a toffee or some warm water that is drinkable, this remedy is for you. Take a handkerchief (big or small size), or a small hand towel. Now wet it well with some water (preferably clean water that does not have an odour), and place this hanky open on your nose. The moisture in the hanky helps moisten the air you breath in; and reduces the itchiness at the back of the throat. It also reduces the amount of dust and pollutants you inhale making it much easier for you to breathe. Make sure you don’t breathe through your mouth while doing this.
If you feel suffocated use the hanky for some time, move it away from your nose for a while and breathe normally. You can alternate between these methods.
If you have access to some eucalyptus oil, add a few drops of it onto the hanky. This will not only help you breathe easy but also open up your airways allowing you to feel less suffocated. Read about some common cough myths.
A blanket to keep you warm
If you suffer from wet cough or have chest congestion, a great and handy remedy is to use a blanket. Wrap the blanket around your chest, back and neck. This will help keep the area warm and help in reducing the amount you cough. It will also reduce the suffocation you might feel due to phlegm build up.
To better this method, either apply some vaporub or add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the oil/cream. It will not only help in relieving some of the congestion but will also help in reducing the constriction you feel while breathing.
Don’t forget your OTC cough syrup
While embarking on travel, you always need to carry some medicine with you in case of emergencies. Some first aid, paracetamol, medicines for diarrhea and vomiting is what everyone carries. But don’t forget to carry some OTC medication for cough as well. Relief from cough is even faster if you use over the counter (OTC) cough medications along with home remedies. Besides medicated lozenges, you could also try cough suppressants that contain ingredients like dextromethorphan. These are particularly useful if you have a hacking or dry cough. If you have productive cough, an OTC product with ingredients that have expectorant properties can help to clear out the mucus in the airways. Read more aboutwhat’s in a cough syrup.
