Finally get rid of a dry cough through new habits

Health

Many people are currently complaining about a dry cough that just won’t get better. Cough suppressant and lots of warmth? That’s pretty much the worst thing you can do right now.

More about health

A dry cough often persists, especially after a serious infection such as corona or flu. What many people don’t realize is that we ourselves can often influence how quickly the unpleasant, scratchy cough disappears – with simple behavioral changes.

What is dry cough?

• It is also known as a dry cough because it does not produce mucus – in contrast to a productive cough.

In general, many people have the wrong idea about coughing, says Jens Wagenknecht. He is a general practitioner in Lower Saxony and was on the board of the Association of General Practitioners for many years.

People tend to see coughs as a separate illness and then go to the doctor to have it checked out, says Wagenknecht. “But when I cough, I’m defending myself against irritation of the mucous membrane in the throat. So the cause lies somewhere else.”

Wrong habits as the cause of the dry cough

One problem is that those affected often do not draw the right conclusions. Wagenknecht gives an example from everyday life: When you go for a walk in the fresh air, your dry cough goes away. Inside, in front of the fireplace, it’s even worse. “Unfortunately, those affected do not conclude from this that they should avoid dry, warm indoor air. Rather, they need cough suppressants and expectorants from the pharmacy.”

Wagenknecht recommends listening more to your own body instead – and asking yourself very simple questions:

• When do I actually have a cough and when don’t I?
• Why do I cough less after drinking a sip of water?
• Why do I cough a lot in heated rooms in winter?

One should then come to the following conclusions: Moisture relieves the dry cough – dry, warm room air intensifies it. “If you have a cough, it is an indication that the mucous membranes are not moist enough,” says Wagenknecht. Actually, they should now get some fresh air so that they can recover. “That’s not possible if you’re sitting warmly protected in the living room in front of the radiator or – even worse – in front of the open fire,” he says.

After an infection, such as corona or flu, the surface of the mucous membrane is often sore and red. It releases more moisture than normal and therefore dries out more quickly, says Wagenknecht. “And heating or oven air promotes this drying effect.”

Oven off – cough gone?

Even if the temperatures outside are low, according to Wagenknecht, the warm indoor air is anything but beneficial for your health: “For example, if you always stay in a room that is 24 degrees, then you will never get rid of your cough.”

Wagenknecht gives simple tips to combat persistent coughs: ventilate regularly and wear a sweater when it gets cold. But does it really make sense to sleep with the window open if you have a persistent cough? “Yes,” says Wagenknecht, “we have to recommend that. If you live in a low-energy house, it’s difficult from an energy perspective. But you simply cough less if you ventilate for a long time at night or leave the window open.”

Humans are actually used to sleeping in cold environments, says Wagenknecht. “People used to sleep in winter with their nightcaps under a down blanket in a room with 6.7 degrees. Hardly anyone had a dry cough.”

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About the interlocutor

• Jens Wagenknecht is a practicing family doctor from Lower Saxony and a long-time, former board member of the Association of General Practitioners.

Sources used

• Telephone interview with Jens Wagenknecht

Editorial note

• The information in this article does not replace personal advice and treatment from a doctor.

“This is how the editorial team works” informs you when and what we report on, how we deal with errors and where our content comes from. When reporting, we adhere to the guidelines of Journalism Trust Initiative.

Teaser image: © Getty Images/iStockphoto/brizmaker