Bad Cough...suggestions?!


Question: For about 3 days now, I've had this cough that's gotten steadily worse. I dont have a runny nose or any other symptoms of a cold, except muscle aches from coughing. My coughing prevents me from sleeping because it get worse when I lie down and ive been trying Tylenol Cough, but it barely works. What could I have? Suggestions to help until I got see the doctor on Thursday? Most of the coughing is dry, occasionly its phlegm.


Answers: For about 3 days now, I've had this cough that's gotten steadily worse. I dont have a runny nose or any other symptoms of a cold, except muscle aches from coughing. My coughing prevents me from sleeping because it get worse when I lie down and ive been trying Tylenol Cough, but it barely works. What could I have? Suggestions to help until I got see the doctor on Thursday? Most of the coughing is dry, occasionly its phlegm.

First things first. What sort of cough is it?
There are only two types of cough: productive and non-productive.

Productive coughs are normally phlegm producing and can be a sign of a bacterial infection if the phlegm is green or yellow in colour. These infections need to be treated with antibiotics. If the phlegm is clear then the cause is usually either a viral infection (for which anti-biotics have no effect) or dust or other irritation in the lungs.

Non-productive coughs can be caused by a variety of reasons. Every time you cough you irritate the lining of the lungs and throat and excessive coughing can lead to sore muscles.

I don't think you have anything worse than a particularly nasty cough. Tylenol Cough does contain a cough-suppressent but not a very strong one. Go and see your local pharmacist who should be able to give you something a bit stronger, but don't mix different medicines or take more than the recommended dose or you could do more damage than good. Also try using a couple of extra pillows at night to elevate your chest to help you breath.

people who cough make me laugh.

oh very supportive emily, and it may be a lung infection because i have had a lung infection many times and i coughed up phlegm, go see a doctor hope that helps





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