Chesty Cough

[andrewb]

I think I have a chest infection or a really really bad case of chesty cough. I can get doctors tomorrow but until then, hints and tips as to what I can use to relieve it? Cough medicine doesnt appear to work. It's fine during the day, in that I don't mind having to cope with constantly coughing, but at night when I'm supposed to be sleeping its not so pleasant.

[MargaretR]

Try sleeping in a recling sitting position - there will less mucus reaching your chest from the back of your nose - this helps overcome the effects of 'post nasal drip'

[Margaret Pilkington]

Andrew, this treatment may sound bizarre, but it does work.
Get some Vicks Vapour Rub.....put a thick layer on the soles of your fet and then put on a pair of old socks.
It is best to do this just as you are going to bed.

I know folk may have laughed at this in one of the other threads on a bad cough, but the people who have used it have had positive results.

The other t hing you may like to try is a steam inhalation.
Put a couple of inches of boiling water into a kitchen jug.......place your nose where the spout is and close the opening of the jug with the lower half of your face and breathe the steam until there is no more steam left.
It will make you cough, but the steam will loosen the mucus and make it thinner(therefore easier to cough up).
This method is less messy that the bowl of water and towel method and you don't have to worry about the steam getting into your eyes......not much of a problem if you are just using steam, but can be problematic if you use menthol crystals or eucalyptus oil.
I hope these tips help and that you feel better soon.

[katex]

Double post .. whoops.

[katex]

So many of these Chest Infections about at the moment, but is that time of year with more people 'close to each other'

You been snogging too many fellow students Andrew at end of term parties ?


Hope you feel better soon.

[andrewb]

Haha kate, oh the rumours!

Thank-you Margaret R and.. Margaret P! I will try both of these, I need to recover for my last week of uni.

I was hoping somebody would suggest whisky.

[emamum]

you could try some whisky with hot water and lemon?

[West Ender]

The whisky doesn't, actually, do any good but you'll enjoy your cough a lot more.

[buttonsmum]

Whiskey, honey, lemon and hot water. It may not do the cough any good, but it will warm you up and help you get a good nights sleep.

[panther]

As my doctor always used to say to me (rest his soul), A cough is there for a purpose, to get the crap of ya lungs, only when you cough up green phelghm do you need my help otherwise smear ya chest with vics till it makes ya eyes water

[emamum]

my little fellas coming down with it as well now

[pipinfort]

All our household has it........................

[panther]

All our household has had it, not very nice i can tell ya