Hard Cough

I have been sick with a cold for a few weeks, but tonight i’ve been laying in bed over an hour just coughing non-stop, every 30 to 60 seconds. I’ve already taken more than the recommended dosage of cough syrup which was no help.
Any recommendations on things that can help?

You could try boiling some water and breathing in the steam with a towel over your head, this may help clear your lungs. Or if eat a peppermint candy or two if you have any. If these don’t help you should probably try sleeping sitting up a little so you can breathe better.

I just got over a cold but now everytime I put on my headphones on my ear (I have the kind that you put inside your ear) I end up coughing hard and the inside of my ear becomes irritated and a little itchy. What is wrong with the insides of my ear? Thanks.

The ear nose and throat are all connected it’s possible your not 100% over your cold and it’s effecting you this way. How I’m not sure but would say if it continues much longer I would contact your Doctor and have it checked.

My son is 3yo and he seems happy, fit and healthy. Except that he has a coughing fit when he plays games with us that use a fair amount of exertion and make him puff or laugh a lot. Could this be a sign of some underlying condition? Or is it something that happens often with kids?

It is possible that your child has exercise induced asthma. Is this when he is playing outside, inside, or both. Take a note of the next time this happens because he could just be allergic to something outside… Nevertheless, you should consult a pediatrician.

My 3 year old daughter has croup. I have taken her to the Dr’s and was given prendisolone. Is there anything else I can do to alleviate the coughing so the she (and myself!!!) can get some sleep?

try vicks rubbed onto the soles of feet and put socks on, and rub on chest and back also, not sure if it will work but it does for my children…

My boyfriends been super sick for the past few days. He’s had terrible coughing fits, he’ll start coughing suddenly and sometimes can’t stop until he gags and he can’t breath through his nose at all no matter how much he blows it. I’ve given him MucinexDM for the coughing and a nasal decongestant but they has no effect at all. What is the best medicine can I get over the counter for his symptoms?

try green tea with lemon and honey for the itchy throat. Also Tylenol Severe Sore Throat (it’s a liquid) works wonders on cough. And it will put him to sleep so he can rest. Ultimately, rest and lots of water works best for the cough. Also, you can put Vicks Vapor rub under his nose so he can breathe easier.

My boyfriend has been coughing up blood all day. What does it mean? Is he going ot be okay? Is it serious? Hes going to the doctors tomorrow, but its scaring me.

It can mean lots of different things: from something as simple as a burst blood vessel in his throat all the way up to lung cancer. Chances are it’s something minor, but the only person who can tell you for sure is the doctor.

Assuming cough candies are supposed to relief coughs.

But whenever I’m having a cough, taking cough candies, be it Hacks, Vicks, etc., it’ll irritate my throat and I’d be coughing my lungs out.

Am I allergic to any of the ingredients or what?

It could be that it is doing its job by loosening the congestion and your body is helping release it. Or maybe your right and your allergic to it. If it is causing you grief go see a doctor about it.

When someone has been living for over 2 years with lung cancer, what does it mean when the patient starts coughing up blood? The doctor says there’s nothing they can do.
Tapestry6, I didn’t ask about the symptoms of lung cancer. That’s all you gave.
Just so you know, it’s not me that has cancer, but someone close to me. It is quite advanced, but somehow she keeps going on. Incredibly strong, and doesn’t seem to want to give up. She sometimes improves enough to be able to go for a short walk outside, but this isn’t often.

In my case (Metastatic Kidney cancer that mestastisized to the lung) hemoptasis (sp: coughing up blood from the lungs) meant the cancer was growing near one of the bronchi and that one or more the inferior blood vessels the cancer creates for itself has failed and is bleeding into the bronchi.

This can be remedied, at least temporarily, by an embolization of the bleeding vessels, or a bronchoscopy where they will use a laser to cauterize the bleeding vessels.

Not an MD, just a patient.

my 2 yr. old son is coughing and wheezing. His doctor prescribed albutenol and pulmicont. He is to take this in the form of vapor with a small nebulizer compressor. Personally I’d rather take the natural approach…your suggestions are well appreciated.

Hi Bella,
I also have asthma. The best ‘natural approach’ you can take for your son is to make sure your home is a dust free environment. Wash his bedding frequently with sensitive washing detergent to remove dust, mites and pollens. Pet hair is often problematic so do your best to keep pets away or to choose pets with hypoallergenic fur.

I know what it is like to have bad asthma and being unable to breathe properly. It’s an awful experience and I’d not wish it upon anyone, let alone a two year old child. You will probably find that your son gets immediate relief from inhaling Albuterol through the nebulizer, and my advice from many years of experience, a few visits to the hospital and seeing several doctors is to continue with the treatment… at least until you and your doctor can get a better feel for the causes and symptoms of your son’s condition.

If your doctor is prescribing Albuterol (reliever) and Pulmicort (preventor) the best thing for your child’s health is to stick with them. There are yet no natural remedies that are proven to prevent asthma attacks, so it is vital that you are using the preventor medication as your doctor has indicated. Similarly, in the event of an attack, nothing will stimulate the lungs to open and allow air through as well as the reliever medication. A doctor wouldn’t prescribe both a reliever and a preventor if your child’s condition didn’t call for it.

Depending on your son’s condition you may find that his need for medicines will be reduced as he ages, sometimes asthma clears away completely after childhood. I understand your desire to find natural remedies, but this is really a very serious condition with no effective natural remedies. You could put your son’s life at risk if you were to turn away from these effective treatments.
Good luck with your son, all the best

EDIT –
Please don’t be scared off by what Patti says. A cat is very different to a human. Especially a cat with the complications of diabetes and a tumor.
You can’t compare a dose of steroids in a shot from a vet with that of an asthma reliever when taken as directed.

I’ve been coughing for almost three weeks now. Sometimes there is stuff that comes up, but other times, nothing. I don’t know if its my allergies acting up or if its a cold, or something more serious. I’m not a hypocondriach(sp?), but I just wonder, ya know ?

Chronic cough is a cough that does not resolve (go away). Chronic cough is not a disease in itself; rather it is a symptom of other disorders. It is a common problem and the reason for many doctor visits.
Some common causes of chronic cough include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for example sinus infection), and esophageal reflux of stomach contents. In rare occasions, chronic cough may be the result of aspiration of foreign objects into the lungs (usually in children). It is very important to obtain a chest x-ray if a chronic cough is present.