What to Do for a Cough and Wheezing

First off, if we are talking about an infant and the coughing and wheezing is accompanied by a fever, go see a medical doctor as soon as possible. There has been a resurgence of whooping cough in the U.S. and, God forbid, it can be deadly. And if your wheezing is making you lightheaded, this may be a sign of asthma, which can also be deadly. If you have coughed up blood in ANY amount, or if you have an uncontrollable cough for more than a week, you should also seek medical advice as these may also be signs of a much larger problem.

There are two kinds of cough, dry is the first, and is rarely accompanied by wheezing. The second is wet, often called productive, because phlegm is brought out of the throat and lungs during the discharge. Now let’s discuss the things that may be causing your discomfort that you have control over.

A quick rundown includes things like clogged-up furnace filters. Keep after them and if your furnace lives in a wet environment you may also have to address that situation because the problem could be compounded by blowing mold directly into your living space.

Carpet – If you have ever pulled up an old carpet in a house you will readily affirm that they DO hold dirt and dust. I have seen the carpet replaced in a clean house, where the owner vacuumed daily and steam-cleaned monthly, and I couldn’t believe the amount of dirt that was in the carpet and also left on the bare floor.

Pets – It may break your heart, but pets in the bedroom are a no-no. You may have to move them out for awhile to find out for sure, but this is a common cause of hacking and raspy breathing. If you can’t break yourself away from them, at least employ a regular, rigorous brushing. And quickly back to the mold; remember, diluted bleach will kill it, just go easy. It also has side effects. And finally, if you enjoy spending time in your yard and garden, try wearing a dust mask as pollens are also a common cause for irritation.

All of us at some point go through spells of asthmatic, sibilate, breathing. More and more people get their relief for these irritating conditions in the supermarket check-out line. If you don’t have a serious condition and haven’t been congested for more than a week, cough drops and the like may be just your medicine. If not, here are some viable alternatives.

My grandmother was a Dutch immigrant and made her own cough syrup by boiling five peeled lemons in a medium sized pot and adding honey from the local area. This is a common natural remedy. My mother used to have us gargle with salt water for a dry cough.

Personally, if I have a tickling cough, which is generally your sinuses draining into your throat, I will dip my finger into heavy salt-water and snort it up my nose. The hacking stops almost immediately. There are several teas recommended by herbalists and ancient healers. These include peppermint, lobelia, mullein, and wild cherry bark. Recipes are widely available online.

Try these first and if you can’t get enough relief, again consult a medical professional. But if you are prescribed inhalers, either oral or nasal, carefully read the side effects as these products contain steroids and can have very adverse effects on some people.

This information should manifest that there is no reason to be miserable now that you know what to do for a cough and wheezing. A little experimentation and you should be on your way to happier, healthy breathing.