Your healthcare provider can recommend the right amount of honey based on the ill person’s age. Studies show that honey stops coughs as well as (or better than) most OTC cough medicines. But don’t give cough drops or hard candies to children under 4. Sucking on a hard lozenge promotes saliva production that soothes the throat. Try hot tea or water with honey and lemon to soothe irritated airways.

Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.

And children younger than 4 years of age shouldn’t take any cough medicine because of the risk for serious side effects. Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines aren’t usually that helpful. Most dry coughs clear up when you treat the underlying cause. How can I treat a dry cough and tight chest?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

You should see your healthcare provider if you have concerns about a cough. Rarely, a dry cough indicates a more serious, potentially life-threatening health problem.

Postnasal drip (upper airway cough syndrome).Ĭan a dry cough be a sign of a more serious problem?.

Side effects of medications, such as those that treat high blood pressure.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or laryngopharyngeal reflux.Allergies, asthma or exposure to chemicals and irritants.Other conditions that cause dry coughs include: Your healthcare provider may recommend a COVID-19 test to identify the cause of the cough. However, wet coughs can also happen with COVID-19 infections. Most people who get sick with COVID-19 have dry coughs - not wet coughs like with the cold or flu. This sensitivity can make your throat more ticklish, causing you to cough. During this time, the lungs and airways may be extra sensitive to inhaled irritants. It can take a while for inflammation from respiratory infections to go away. Later, dry coughs may linger during recovery. You should seek immediate medical care.ĭo colds, flu and COVID-19 cause a dry cough?Ĭolds and flu tend to cause wet, productive coughs when you’re sick. Sudden, unexplained chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. You may feel a squeezing sensation in the chest or pressure, like there’s a weight on your chest. Most people have a feeling of chest tightness with a dry cough. You may develop chest pain with the cough. A dry cough that is very vigorous or lasts longer than three weeks ( chronic cough) can strain your lungs or chest muscles. When you have an unproductive dry cough, you essentially cough up air. As you forcefully expel air, your throat can become irritated and dry. You may try to clear your throat by coughing. With a dry cough, you may feel a tickling sensation in your throat. This unproductive cough doesn’t open up the lungs or air passages. When you have a dry cough, nothing comes up. If too much phlegm builds up in the lungs, you may become short of breath and develop other problems.

Healthcare providers consider a wet cough to be productive because it clears phlegm (mucus) from the lungs and airways. When you have an illness that affects your respiratory system, you may cough up mucus. What’s the difference between a dry cough and a wet cough?Ī cough is your body’s way of clearing the lungs and airways of irritants so you can breathe better. This lack of mucus (phlegm) makes it an unproductive cough. Because there isn’t mucus blocking the lungs or airways, nothing comes out when you cough.

Coughing up phlegm but not sick