Simple Tips To Deal With Cough Due To Allergies
Seasonal allergies can be very irritating. Once they hit you, it becomes almost impossible to get through the day productively. You have watery eyes, itchiness and non-stop sneezing. It is the worst. But along with these common symptoms, people sometimes get a constant cough that takes the frustration to another level. No matter the amount of water you drink, it doesn’t seem to go away. In such situations, your first step should be to reach out to a doctor. If you have a time crunch, you can get your allergy cough treatment online. Within a few minutes, your doctor will access your symptoms and plan out a treatment for you.
Along with taking help, there are a few simple tips that you can follow on your own and give rest to the bothersome cough.
Begin by identifying if your cough is due to allergies or some other reason. The former is usually a dry cough caused by an irritant like pollen, mold or dust. Observe the timing of your cough. If it started as soon as you came in contact with a possible irritant or allergen, your cough is probably due to allergies. After identifying the cause, move forward with the following tips.
Gargle Everyday
Gargling is not just a remedy for a cold or sore throat, it is also very helpful in relieving cough due to allergies. Cough is basically your body’s response to irritants. It tries to get rid of the allergen by trying to cough it out. Well, you can also remove the allergen from your body without coughing. Try gargling with a mixture of lukewarm water and salt/baking soda.
Gargling flushes out the irritants that may be causing a cough. In case you feel any inflammation or pain in your throat, it will help relieve both these symptoms as well. Gargling also works best if you have a wet cough. It will help loosen the mucus and get rid of it easily. For best results, gargle with salt water at least twice a day until the cough subsides.
Avoid Cigarette Smoke
Cigarette smoke does not do good to anyone especially for people with allergies. When you know that your cough is caused by allergies or if you are sensitive to pollutants, you must stay away from cigarette smoke. Because not only does the smoke triggers the allergies, it can also worsen them. The smoke contains a number of irritants that can irritate your nasal passages and aggravate your throat. So your cough will only get worse if you are around smoke. Also, smoking cigarettes make you more sensitive to allergens. So it is very likely that you’ll be on antihistamines more often than not. It is best for you to not only avoid smoking but also keep away from possible cases of second-hand smoke.
Increase Your Fluid Intake
Whenever you have a cough, your hand involuntarily looks for a glass of water. Do you know why? Because it eases the irritation though temporarily but immediately.
Water is the best solution to a dry cough as it helps in maintaining the right level of hydration around the throat. You can do that by drinking hot or cold fluids (as per your preference). Herbal teas are the best at maintaining moisture as well as relieving any possible inflammation in the throat. Chicken soups, ice chips, green tea etc. are also very effective options.
Hot fluids can also help relieve a wet cough. The heat will help break up the hardened mucus and get rid of it by coughing it up.
Wear a Mask
Your cough is going to get worse if you are continuously getting exposed to the allergens. With seasonal allergies and cough, a walk outside without a mask can aggravate your symptoms even more. This is why it is important to create a barrier with the help of a mask, especially when going outdoors or in a place where you know allergens will be present. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, you may already have a mask on when going out but remember to keep it on even when the outdoors are safe. So wearing a mask can help both as a remedy as well as prevention.
Invest in an Air Purifier
If you think that staying indoors can be a foolproof solution to avoid allergies and cough, you couldn’t be more wrong. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the concentration of pollutants inside your home can be 2 to 5 times more in comparison to outdoors. And considering that we spend most of our time indoors, it is only bad news for people who easily develop allergies. In addition to this, poor indoor air quality also causes other respiratory problems.
To remove these pollutants and allergens from your home effectively, get yourself an air purifier. Make sure that it has HEPA filters and proper indicators of air quality. It is an initial investment but it’s worth the money. Also, make sure that all your windows are closed and any furniture that attracts dust or pollen is cleaned regularly.
Improve Your Immune System
Your body naturally reacts to different allergens but unlike most people, you develop allergies because your immune system isn’t strong enough to fight it appropriately. So, along with taking all the precautions and preventive measures, you must take an added step of strengthening your immune system.
Start by opting for a healthy lifestyle. Have a proper sleep cycle and maintain minimum sleep hours according to your lifestyle. Follow a workout routine and maintain a proper nutritional diet. Include different immune-boosting nutrients like probiotics, fiber, vitamin C, zinc and amino acids. In addition to a nutritional diet, maintain a proper level of hydration with water. It ensures that all body functions work properly and toxins are flushed out so that your immune system can work properly. Get rid of unhealthy habits like alcohol and cigarettes as they can have a negative impact on the working of the immune system.
Conclusion
Cough is not common with seasonal allergies but it can occur as a persistent symptom. The more you let it go untreated, the more aggravated your throat will be. It only raises the severity of allergies. So it’s better to nip the problem in the bud. Take all the precautions to avoid exposing yourself to possible irritants. But if you do develop an allergy, along with talking to a professional, follow these tips diligently.