What is a dry cough?
A dry cough doesn’t produce mucus. Because there isn’t mucus blocking the lungs or airways, nothing comes out when you cough. This lack of mucus (phlegm) makes it an unproductive cough.
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What’s the difference between a dry cough and a wet cough?
A cough is your body’s way of clearing the lungs and airways of irritants so you can breathe better.
When you have an illness that affects your respiratory system, you may cough up mucus. This is a wet cough. Healthcare providers consider a wet cough to be productive because it clears phlegm (mucus) from the lungs and airways. If too much phlegm builds up in the lungs, you may become short of breath and develop other problems.
When you have a dry cough, nothing comes up. This unproductive cough doesn’t open up the lungs or air passages.
What are the symptoms of a dry cough?
With a dry cough, you may feel a tickling sensation in your throat. You may try to clear your throat by coughing. As you forcefully expel air, your throat can become irritated and dry. You may develop a sore throat.
Why does my chest hurt when I cough?
When you have an unproductive dry cough, you essentially cough up air. A dry cough that is very vigorous or lasts longer than three weeks (chronic cough) can strain your lungs or chest muscles. You may develop chest pain with the cough.
Most people have a feeling of chest tightness with a dry cough. You may feel a squeezing sensation in the chest or pressure, like there’s a weight on your chest.
Sudden, unexplained chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. You should seek immediate medical care.
FAQs
How can I treat a dry cough and tight chest?
- Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated. Try hot tea or water with honey and lemon to soothe irritated airways.
- Suck on cough drops or hard candies. Sucking on a hard lozenge promotes saliva production that soothes the throat. ...
- Take a spoonful of honey. ...
- Use a humidifier.
Chest pain (or pressure) and coughing may result from bronchitis, pneumonia, the flu, chronic conditions of the lungs, asthma, acid reflux, cancer, and inflammation in the covering of your heart, among others.
What medicine helps a dry tight cough? ›
Cough suppressants (antitussives): These medications quiet your cough by blocking your cough reflex. This is helpful for dry coughs that are painful or that keep you up at night. The primary OTC cough suppressant medication is dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym, Theraflu Thin Strips Cough).
Why is my dry cough not going away? ›
These coughs are stubborn, and can be painful, even leading to pulled muscles or incontinence in older patients with severe cases. This could have a number of causes, including allergies, inflammation, or be a side effect of medication. This could also be caused by “long COVID-19” and post-viral asthma.
How to relieve chest tightness? ›
Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Relaxation Techniques: Engage in activities like meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga to reduce stress and promote relaxation, which can alleviate chest tightness associated with anxiety or tension.
How to cure a dry cough faster? ›
Home remedies for dry cough
- 1: Warm drinks. Staying warm and hydrated is vital for those with a cough or cold. ...
- 2: Saltwater gargles. It is one of the most effective home remedies for treating a sore throat and cough. ...
- 3: Ginger. ...
- 4: Raw honey. ...
- 5: Turmeric. ...
- 6: Licorice root.
- 7: Marshmallow root. ...
- 8: Mint leaves.
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.
What antibiotic is good for a dry cough? ›
If your cough is caused by chronic infectious upper respiratory infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic therapy. Amoxicillin clavulanate is the common antibiotic prescribed for cough.
How long will a dry cough last? ›
It's rarely a sign of anything serious. Most coughs clear up within 3 weeks and don't need any treatment. A dry cough means it's tickly and doesn't produce any mucus (phlegm). A chesty cough means phlegm is produced to help clear your airways.
What medicine is good for tight chest cough? ›
If you have a chesty cough, a preparation containing an expectorant such as guaifenesin or ipecacuanha is the most suitable to try. Your pharmacist can advise you which one may be suitable for you.
Avoid irritants
As mentioned before, even minor exposures to throat irritants that can cause the inflammation of the throat and airway can lead to dry coughs. Avoiding irritants like cigarette smoke, perfumes, or irritating vapors and fumes can keep your throat from getting drier.
How do you stop a dry coughing fit? ›
These include:
- drinking plenty of water.
- sipping hot water with honey.
- taking over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines.
- taking a steamy shower.
- using a humidifier in the home.
- using cough drops or hard candies.
Over-the-counter cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan include:
- Delsym (available as a syrup)
- Tussin (generic cough syrup)
- Robitussin Cough Gels & Syrup.
- Vicks 44 Dry Cough Relief.
Share on Pinterest Staying hydrated and drinking warm water with lemon may treat a tickle in the chest. The most effective way to treat a tickle in the chest is to address the underlying cause. The symptom usually results from irritation in the chest or throat, which may be caused by the common cold or bronchitis.
Why does my chest feel dry and tight? ›
Tightness in the chest can result from health issues, such as infection, injury, anxiety, cardiovascular conditions, lung conditions, and digestive issues. If you feel like your chest is tightening, you may worry that you're having a heart attack.
How to stop a tickly cough immediately? ›
Gargling with lukewarm salt water will help extensively to reduce the irritation in your throat. Follow this treatment four to five times a day to soothe your throat. Lemon and honey are both renowned for calming a sore throat. Lemon helps to remove excess mucus, and honey coats your throat with its smoothness.
How do you stop an uncontrollable cough? ›
How to stop coughing
- drinking plenty of water.
- sipping hot water with honey.
- taking over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines.
- taking a steamy shower.
- using a humidifier in the home.
- using cough drops or hard candies.
