Download Article
Easy ways to stop a coughing fit fast and general advice to help you manage a cough
Download Article
Are you tired of constantly coughing and ready to put an end to it as quickly as possible? Coughs can be caused by anything from illness (like a cold or flu) to allergies, airborne irritants, and dry air, but thankfully, plenty of remedies can stop a cough in its tracks. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of treatments designed to stop a cough in 5 minutes, along with tips on recovering from your cough for good.
How to Get Rid of a Cough in 5 Minutes
Drink a warm beverage like tea to soothe your throat quickly. You can also suck on cough drops or hard candy to stop coughing temporarily. If that doesn’t work, try gargling with salt water or taking a steamy shower.
Steps
Heal a Sore Throat With This Expert Series
Heal a sore throat fast with these expert articles. Learn how to soothe it, sleep with it, and even cure it naturally.
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionI have had the flu for a couple days I am better now, but I still have a cough. Is it safe for me to travel in my condition?Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.I would wait until my symptoms fully resolve before taking a trip. The stress of travel, plus things like the filtered air on a plane, might cause problems. You do not want to get sicker.
-
QuestionWhat should I do if water does not help with coughing?Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.You might want to try cough drops or over-the-counter cough suppressant medication.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
- Call your doctor if the cough persists longer than 7 days without any improvement. Other warning signs that warrant a doctor visit include bloody mucus, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever lasting longer than 3 days. [16] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to sourceThanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Sleep on an incline. When it comes to nighttime cough, gravity is your enemy. All the postnasal drainage and mucus you swallow during the day backs up and irritates your throat, but sleeping at an angle will help your nose and chest drain.
- I get a lot of relief from warm milk and turmeric. Heat a cup of milk and mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of salt in the milk. Drink it before you go to bed.
- Chamomile tea helps boost your immune system and it soothes a bad cough. It's also usually caffeine free, which makes it perfect for before bed!
- Get lots of sleep. In my experience, sleep is the best remedy for an annoying cough. You've got to give your body time to recover!
- Honey is really good for coughing. If you don't add it to tea or food, try eating a 1-2 teaspoons on its own.
- Avoid cigarette smoke and fumes from cooking. Any kind of lung irritant can keep a cough from healing.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/7-ways-to-combat-coughs-and-colds
- ↑ https://www.muhealth.org/our-stories/how-deal-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/neti-pot/faq-20058305
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/croup-sheet.html
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-infection/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-get-more-probiotics
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hay-fever/in-depth/seasonal-allergies/art-20048343
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/expert-answers/quit-smoking/faq-20057818
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To stop coughing in 5 minutes, drink a glass of warm water or tea, which will help soothe your throat. You can also try gargling with salt water to flush any mucus out of your throat so you stop coughing. If that doesn't help, try taking a deep breath through your nose and holding it for 2 seconds. Then, purse your lips and exhale slowly. For more ways to stop coughing in 5 minutes, like using throat lozenges or taking a hot shower, read the article!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,471,392 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I did try the idea of lifting up the end of the mattress. It does seem to make a small difference. Other ideas that seem to help are hot drinks and even a hot water bottle over my chest - or indeed, a soak in a hot bath. Cough medicines don't seem to do much, but menthol lozenges do help. Codeine/Paracetomol has a good effect, but used sparingly, otherwise the muck in my chest seems to get worse. Off to the doc tomorrow, had it before and antibiotics do work for it in a few days." ..." more
Advertisement
83%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I did try the idea of lifting up the end of the mattress. It does seem to make a small difference. Other ideas that seem to help are hot drinks and even a hot water bottle over my chest - or indeed, a soak in a hot bath. Cough medicines don't seem to do much, but menthol lozenges do help. Codeine/Paracetomol has a good effect, but used sparingly, otherwise the muck in my chest seems to get worse. Off to the doc tomorrow, had it before and antibiotics do work for it in a few days."
..."
more
"I just learned a lot in this article, so it really helped me out. I have also already been doing a lot of the things I saw here, like using my nasal meds, taking cough drops, and drinking hot water, so it's good to know I'm doing things right. Thanks! :)"
..."
more
"Old fashioned remedies such as honey and lemon hot drink helped me a good deal. I also carry out the breathing exercises, which I do very easily now that I have learned to carry this out correctly. Drinking cold drinks, mainly water, is really good."
..."
more
"I think if you stay away from smoke and inhale are through your nose, it really helps. Take 2 to 3 hot showers a day, and drink hot water with cinnamon, lemon and honey in it. You will be better in a day or two."
..."
more
"Helped some ways more than others. If you have a bad cough and don't know what to do, consider following the steps explained, but look closely at shutting the fan off, sitting upright, and drinking hot liquids."
..."
more
