How to Stop a Wheezing Cough
There are innumerable causes for coughing and wheezing. When there are no obvious illnesses accompanying your cough, you might have a chronic respiratory disease such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema or pneumonia. Coughing and wheezing are also your body's way of letting you know that your upper respiratory tract is irritated, blocked or infected. Coughing and wheezing can prevent you from going to sleep and make you tired and irritated. By employing all the remedies below, you can effectively put a stop to wheezing coughs.
Step 1
Drink one cup of ginger tea before going to sleep. The potent spicy compounds in ginger can act as an expectorant, eliminating aggravating phlegm that causes itchiness in your throat. It will also relax your airways and give you a cool feeling in your chest. You can also eat ginger candy, which will give you the same effect.
Step 2
Massage eucalyptus and menthol oils on your chest. The fumes from these powerful oils will penetrate your airways making breathing easier while soothing your cough reflex. Placing a warm wet towel over your chest will maximize the benefit. Leave the oils and towel on your chest for about 30 minutes then take a hot shower.
Step 3
Take a hot shower and breathe deeply for 15 minutes. The heat and steam from the hot water can help ease your wheezing by relaxing air passages and soothe your chest.
Step 4
Take one tablespoon of wild cherry bark syrup at the onset of a cough and when needed. This all natural syrup can help stop a wheezing cough by forcing mucous out of your airways while cooling your throat. This effect can last for a few hours.
Step 5
Drink one cup of peppermint tea twice day. The potent compounds in peppermint can soothe your throat while suppressing your cough reflex. Avoid adding sweeteners like honey and sugar to your tea since these can make your throat itch and aggravate your cough.
Step 6
Take over-the-counter drug Primatene tablets. This drug helps you breathe better by reducing the spasms of your bronchial muscles. It temporarily relieves wheezing, tightness of chest and coughing which can be due to asthma. Follow the directions in the packaging before taking the medication.
Step 7
Use a prescribed metered dose inhaler (MDI) such as albuterol. Albuterol is a bronchodilator which is usually prescribed by physicians to help treat asthma and other respiratory conditions. It works by relaxing your muscles in your airways to improve breathing in order to prevent wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Use the inhaler as prescribed by your physician.
Things You'll Need
Ginger tea
Eucalyptus oil
Menthol oil
Cherry bark syrup
Peppermint tea
Warning
Consult your physician before embarking on any self-treatments for a wheezing cough.
Wheezing and coughing in infants can be a sign of croup (barking cough), which for babies can be life threatening.
