With cold and flu season well on its way, coughs can be one of the most lingering and frustrating symptoms of these two respiratory illnesses.
But not all coughs are the same.
Knowing whether or not you’re dealing with a dry or chesty cough can help you find the right treatment and have you feeling better sooner rather than later.
What’s the difference between a dry cough and a chesty cough?
A dry cough, which is also known as a ‘non-productive cough’, is a cough that doesn’t produce any mucus or phlegm1.
This cough feels like a tickle in the back of your throat, and can be caused by allergies, the cold or flu or exposure to dry air or smoke.
A chesty cough, which is known as a ‘productive cough’, is the opposite1.
This is a cough that happens when your body is trying to clear mucus or phlegm from your lungs or airways.
It’s your body’s way of clearing things out and often comes with congestion or a blocked nose.
Why do dry coughs linger?
Dry coughs can be challenging to manage as they can turn into longer coughing fits. This is because there may be inflammation or irritation in your airways, but there isn’t any mucus to cough up.
They can linger for up to two months due to airway sensitivity!
How to calm down your coughing
When you’re in the middle of a coughing fit, it can feel very frustrating. There are some things you can do to calm your coughing, which include1:
- Drinking plenty of water and staying well hydrated.
- Rest and avoid vigorous activity until your symptoms go away.
- Some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can provide relief, including cough liquid, lozenges and more.
- At home remedies, like having some honey as it may help to reduce the severity and the amount of time you have your cough.
How Duro-Tuss can provide relief for dry coughs
Duro-Tuss Dry Cough Liquid can provide fast, temporary relief of dry and stubborn coughs. It can provide long-lasting relief for up to eight hours and is available in a tasty lemon flavour.
It’s also free from lactose, gluten and artificial colours.
If you can’t find the relief you need from dry and stubborn coughs, visit your local Blooms The Chemist pharmacy and speak to our expert Pharmacists.
They’ll be happy to help you.