sâmbătă, 31 martie 2012

Can you take cough syrup with antibiotics?

 

It depends what your antibiotics are for. If you are taking antibiotics to treat a bronchial, lung, or throat infection, I would say stay away from any cough syrup containing dextromethorphan. This suppresses your cough, which is your body's natural defense against foreign material in your airway. Think about it. You have bacteria trying to grow into a colony in your throat. If you keep coughing them up, they will have a much harder time growing and thriving. If you suppress your cough, they will be able to settle down without much disturbance.

However, if you get a cough syrup with guaifenesin as it's active ingredient, that may be best. Guaifenesin does not stop you from coughing, but helps you cough up whatever is in your airway better. It breaks up all that phlegm in there and allows it to pass. This may be your best bet. Just be SURE to drink a full glass of water with each dose of Guaifenesin. You will be surprised how much it helps!

However, if your antibiotic is for some other type of infection, like an ear infection or something not related to your cough at all, I would guess any type of cough syrup is fine.

Remember, DM is for a DRY cough, and Guaifenesin is for a wet cough.

It is best to ask the doctor who perscribed the antibiotic, or consult with a pharmacist. They know these things very well.

vineri, 16 martie 2012

How to stop Coughing ? Let me teach you

Learn How To Stop Coughing With 10 Home Remedies

When a cough comes upon you, your number one goal is to figure out how to stop coughing.  Your body naturally relieves itself of any illness you may have or any impurities you might have breathed in by coughing.  It can be extremely irritating and even painful if severe, not only for your throat but even for your back.  Coughing primarily comes from allergies, asthma, viral infections, smoking cigarettes and being exposed to chemicals and dust.  It is your body’s way of flushing out mucus. However, if you’re sick, you are also spreading germs to those around you.  Before you rush to the drugstore at the sign of a cough, you should know that over the counter medications are not always needed and they can leave you with unwanted side effects. 
Here are the easiest 10 home remedies you can use to learn how to stop coughing:
  1.  Hot Tea With Lemon and Honey - This is and always will be a great natural remedy that has passed down through generations.  Tea has a natural soothing effect and the honey puts a nice coating on your throat to stop your cough.

  2.  Cinnamon And Lime - This is an incredible remedy that isn’t all that popular, but is definitely effective.  You can boil one or two cinnamon sticks in a cup of lime juice.  The vitamin C boosts your immune system and the combination of cinnamon and lime cuts excess phlegm.

  3.  Warm Bath Or Shower - Here is another easy natural healer.  A person seeking advice on how to stop coughing has been told this method at some point.  The steam from the shower helps to hydrate your throat passages.  Simply stand in the shower breathing deeply in the warm steam.  This is also very relaxing.

  4. Apple Cider Vinegar - Mixing waterwith a few teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar will help decrease any inflammation in your throat and upper respiratory tract.

  5.  Water - Drinking plenty of water is an easy solution especially if you are going to be doing a lot of talking during a meeting or presentation.  The water simply keeps your throat passage moist.

  6.  Humidity - Simply put, dry coughs are from dry air that you’re breathing in.  Humidity can help prevent respiratory tract infections.  Running a humidifier is ideal but if you don’t have one on hand, you can put a bowl of water in front of heat vents, boil some water on the stove, or even leave some water in sunlight.  When water heats, it puts moisture into the air.

  7.  Aromatherapy - This may not be for everyone and unless you’ve used natural oils before, you will probably need a trip to your local health food store, but these are great ingredients to keep on hand anyway. Take three drops of Eucalyptus oil, two drops thyme oil and two teaspoons soft or melted coconut oil and mix together.  Rub this on your chest and breathe in.  It’s like a little drop of heaven.

  8.  Hot Milk And Honey - Mix together a warm glass of milk and stir in some honey.  Drink this slowly and be prepared to have a cough-free night.  In addition to the soothing, warm milk will also help you to sleep.

  9.  Cool Washcloth - Take a washcloth and run it under very cold water and wring it out.  Lay down flat and place the washcloth over your throat.  Cover this with a dry hand towel.

  10.  Peppermint And Ginger - No, not together but they’re both chewed so I’ve linked them together.  Chewing on a peppermint candy or a piece of peeled ginger stops the impulse to cough.
Next time you find yourself with a sore, scratchy or irritated throat, try one of these natural home remedies.  Knowing how to stop coughing can relieve your irritating symptoms and let you get on with your day or sleep well at night.