Why do I still have a cough?

A cough is usually a reflex action to clear dust, phlegm and other irritants from your lungs and windpipe. Whilst recovering from COVID you may continue to experience a dry cough for some time.

Over time, a cough can develop into a cycle, where excessive coughing causes irritation and inflammation, which worsens the cough. A dry cough may have no obvious cause and using the advice below will help to prevent this cough.

A problematic cough can also make you breathe through your mouth, which means that lots of dry, fast flowing air enters the lungs, affecting the delicate airway membranes and causing further coughing.

 

How can I control my cough?

• Practise a ‘normal’ breathing pattern – gentle, quiet, diaphragmatic (tummy breathing- feeling the tummy rise and fall as you breathe in and out), nose breathing at rest to start with. Aim to practise this little and often so that it becomes habit. Progress this by practising with gentle activity as you are able.

Other techniques to help with reducing your cough:

• Close your mouth and swallow.
• Gently breathe in and out through your nose, until the urge to cough goes away.
• Sip drinks regularly (hot or cold).
• Suck boiled sweets or lozenges.

Using a combination of the above techniques is more effective at reducing your cough – pick the techniques that work best for you!

It can be very difficult to control your cough but keep practising.

 

Why do I have a productive cough?

It is important to realise everyone produces sputum as part of the body’s normal defence mechanisms. It’s how the lungs and airways keep themselves clear and clean.

You may find your chest remains productive with phlegm following an infection with COVID. Your breathing may be noisier than normal, and you maybe short of breath following a chest infection.

It is important to continue to clear the secretions from your lungs. This will reduce the chance of recurrent chest infections, allows you to breathe more freely during exercise and everyday activities and help reduce any uncontrolled coughing.

The breathing exercises below will help you to effectively and efficiently clear your phlegm. It is important not to force clearance and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to rest during and after.

1. Make sure you are sitting upright and comfortably.

2. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose and hold it at the top for a count of 3 (if you can) then let it go gently from your mouth. Repeat 3-4 times.

3. Gentle, relaxed breathing for 20-30 seconds (breathing control, see breathlessness section).

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 through 3 times.

5. Huff 2-3 times (Take a slow deep breath in through your nose, then breathe the air out quickly through your mouth, keeping your throat open as if you are steaming up a mirror or your glasses).

Repeat this for 3-4 cycles or until you feel that the phlegm has cleared. Sometimes you can feel dizzy with doing this cycle. Allow enough time at the breathing control parts of the cycle for your breathing to become quiet. Remember the huffing should be short, try not to breathe out for so long that you need to gasp for air. If the dizziness persists, then stop.

You may need to use this technique several times in a day – find a time that is convenient for you and try to use it at times of the day when you feel most productive.

The following can also help with keeping your chest clear

• Positioning – try and keep upright as much as possible. If you have been advised by a physiotherapist to use other positions, then try them.
• Taking prescribed medication of antibiotics and/or steroids
• Taking your inhalers if you have them.
• Keeping well hydrated.
• Steam inhalation.
• Exercise and keep active.

If your cough is ongoing and you did not require hospitalisation during your COVID infection you should seek advice from your GP.

Coughs

Coughing is the body’s way of protecting our lungs and getting rid of things that irritate them. This is a normal and important function.

Some viral infections can leave us with a dry cough because our lungs have been irritated. This should gradually disappear during the course of your recovery. It's not clear how long after coronavirus you may have a cough and it can be frustrating at times.

A dry cough is one of the most common coronavirus symptoms, but some people may have a cough with phlegm (thick mucus).

It can be difficult to control your cough but there are a few ways to help.

Ways to help a dry cough

Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking small sips of water throughout the day. If you feel yourself starting to cough, take small sips of liquid. You may only need a few sips or you might need to have many to help control coughing. This can soothe your throat. Sucking a sugary sweet may also help.

If you don't have a drink near you, try swallowing repeatedly if you have a cough. This can work in a similar way to sipping water.

You can drink a warm drink, such as honey and lemon, to help soothe your throat.

Steam inhalations can help to add moisture to your throat and nose. Pour hot water into a bowl and then put your head over the bowl. If comfortable, cover your head and bowl with a towel. You don’t need to add anything, the steam alone is sufficient.

If you have a runny nose, blow your nose if required. Try not to sniff.

If you cough when you go to bed, consider using the position discussed above to ease your breathing.

Avoid things that make you cough, for example:

• smoking
• smoky atmospheres
• air fresheners
• strong smelling candles
• strong perfumes or deodorants

Ways to help a cough with phlegm

If your cough has some phlegm (mucus, sputum), you should:

• stay hydrated
• inhale steam
• try lying on either side as flat as you can to help drain the phlegm
• try moving around to help to move the phlegm
• try the breathing control technique described above if you move to an area with a different temperature
• try to breathe in through your nose – breathing in through your mouth can make you cough more

If your cough is not improving, speak to your GP for advice.

Read further information about coughs