A cough is an inconvenience no matter what the cause. From the common cold and flu to bacterial infections, no cough is a good cough! Knowing how to best treat your cough will help you get over your symptoms quicker and return to normal activities cough-free.

Can I Treat a Cough Without Medication?

You can use non-medication methods to manage the symptoms of your cough. Unfortunately, this type of treatment can’t always cure your cough. Non-medication treatments include:

• Rest
• Fluids
• Take a warm shower or let the shower run while you sit in the bathroom to breathe in the steam
• Drink warm liquids
• Avoid dairy, alcohol, and smoking
• Sleep with a humidifier nearby
• Get plenty of nutrients in your diet or through a multivitamin

Do Over the Counter Medications Work?

Over the counter medications are a great first route of treatment for a cough. They work effectively to manage symptoms. If your body is fighting a virus, over the counter medications can manage symptoms until your body fights off the virus. Over the counter medications will not cure a cough caused by a bacterial infection though.

In general, over the counter treatments should be seen as a way to manage symptoms while you work to cure the cause of the cough.

When should I Go to the Doctor?

You should go to the doctor if your cough continues to get worse, persists for more than a week, or produces green phlegm. Visit an urgent care center for same-day treatment from a qualified medical team with no appointment required! At an urgent care center, they will assess your symptoms, test for common illnesses like covid-19 and the flu and reach a diagnosis. 

If you have a bacterial infection such as bacterial bronchitis, an urgent care doctor can send in a prescription for antibiotics to cure the infection. They may also be able to prescribe stronger cough medications than what you can purchase over the counter.

Having a cough is a common occurrence, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your body. If you feel like you aren’t improving with home treatments, seek professional help! A cough is generally a symptom of another issue that needs to be treated as well. Stop in to your local urgent care center today for a flu shot and covid-19 vaccine booster to lower your risk of a cough this flu season!