How To Stop Coughing: 9 Tips and Tricks

Summary: Coughing is your body’s natural way of clearing out germs and junk, but it can be super annoying when it ruins your sleep or interrupts a quiet meeting. To stop a mild cough, try sucking on cough drops, but don't eat too many menthol ones because they can actually make it worse! Natural tricks like drinking ginger tea or eating a spoonful of honey can soothe your throat and thin out mucus. Just remember, never give honey to babies under one year old.

At night, use a cool-mist humidifier and prop your head up with extra pillows so mucus doesn't pool in your throat. If you need medicine from the store, choose wisely: use dextromethorphan for a dry, hacking cough, and guaifenesin for a wet, chesty cough. Drink plenty of water, and make sure to see a doctor if your cough lasts more than three weeks, sounds like a barking seal, or makes it hard to breathe.

For more details, see Cleveland Clinic at health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-stop-coughing (opens in new tab)