What To Take For A Dry Cough Due To Allergies

There Are Various Reasons Why You Could Be Experiencing A Cough Or Sore Throat

Post-nasal drip will also irritate your esophagus and occurs because of sinusitis or the more chronic allergic rhinitis also known as Hay Fever. Post-nasal drip occurs when your sinuses become clogged, hence the term plugged up. Usually, youll experience additional symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sneezing and a runny or itchy nose, similar to symptoms we notice when our are acting up.

Even food allergies can cause a sore throat. Generally, youll notice almost instant swelling and enlarging of the throat, which can quickly advance to anaphylaxis. This is a much more serious allergic reaction than an irritated throat. Often allergy medications , such as Benadryl, can have side effects such as a dry, scratchy throat, along with dry mouth. Consult a doctor before taking any medication and monitor your reactions to these types of allergy medicines.

For those with more serious allergies, symptoms can last an entire season, especially in the springtime. The flu and common cold will generally only have symptoms for a week to two weeks. If it is allergies, you will most likely also experience:

• tiredness
• itchy, watery eyes
• post-nasal drip

Its important if you are experiencing these symptoms to get tested by your local allergist. Rather than treating the symptoms, its best to find and treat the cause.

What Are The Causes

Hay fever occurs when natural allergens enter the body and cause an allergic response.

Some people with hay fever develop sensitivities because of over-exposure or recurrent exposure to an allergen. Many others are born with sensitivities, or have conditions that increase the likelihood of sensitivities developing.

Seasonal hay fever tends to be caused by a different group of allergens from those that cause perennial hay fever, though some people experience both conditions.

Any foreign material can cause an allergic response. While most people are only sensitive to one allergen, others are sensitive to several, and these allergens are usually related.

Socan Allergies Cause Coughing Give It To Me Straight

In short, yes. Usually, create dry coughs . If thats the case, youll likely have other symptoms . Headaches and wheezing often come with allergies, too, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Timings also a factor. If youre allergic to pollen , for example, youll likely notice symptoms almost immediately, or within an hour of being exposed. And those symptoms could last for hours after youve been exposedeven after the allergen isnt nearby anymore.

Coughs related to allergies are also dependent on patterns, so doctors always try to look at the big picture. Say you get a cough every single March. That could be a sign youre actually suffering from allergies, instead of the common cold. You need to look at everything thats going on, says Paul Bryson, MD, an otolaryngologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Your best defense for a cough from allergies? Antihistamines like Allegra, Claritin, and Zyrtec, which are all available over-the-counter. Other options include steroid nasal sprays and immunotherapy shots, which can work to regulate your bodys response to allergens, instead of just relieving the symptoms.

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What Happens If I Miss A Dose

Since Robitussin Allergy & Cough is taken when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Sore Throat Caused By Allergies

Got a sore throat? Allergies might be to blame. Though many sore throats can be caused by viruses, such as the common cold or flu, or bacteria such as strep throat, allergies are an over-overlooked culprit. If you suspect your sore throat might be caused by allergies, heres what you need to know about treating the problem and alleviating the symptoms.

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How To Get Rid Of An Allergy Cough

If you’re bothered by pollen, mold, pet dander and environmental pollutants, you may be suffering from an ongoing allergy cough. While this type of cough is not harmful, it can be a nuisance. When your cough is disrupting your sleep, irritating your throat and limiting your time outdoors, it may be time to consider natural remedies, over-the-counter medications or a visit to the specialist.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Boil water in a pot on the stove and let it cool slightly. Place your face several inches above the pot and drape a towel over your head. Breathe deeply, inhaling the steam for several minutes. Steam helps loosen the phlegm and mucus caused by allergies.

Enjoy a cup of licorice root tea.An age-old, herbal remedy for colds and allergies, licorice kills bacteria and soothes mucus membranes. Try Yogi Egyptian licorice or Alvita licorice teabags, drinking the tea one to two times per day after meals.

Combine one part warm honey with two parts fresh lemon juice. Mix the two thoroughly and take as needed. This natural treatment has antiseptic properties and soothes the throat irritation that leads to a hacking cough.

Elevate your pillow or the top of your bed before going to sleep. This allows allergy mucus to drain more effectively and prevents the hacking cough caused by post-nasal drip.

Tips

Warnings

Perennial Hay Fever Allergens

Allergens often associated with perennial hay fever include:

• pet dander
• the excrement, saliva, and shells of dust mites
• spores from indoor mold and fungus
• chemical irritants in cleaning products, such as laundry detergents
• chemicals found in scented products, especially sprays and aerosol products
• smoke
• off-gasses from materials such as rubber, canvas, and leather
• air pollution, such as car exhaust

Also, the excrement, saliva, and shells of cockroaches are highly common allergens. An estimated 63 percent of households in the United States contain cockroach allergens. In urban areas, the rates can reach 98 percent.

A 2015 study found that roughly 18 percent of children aged under 17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with hay fever, especially in southwestern and southeastern states.

If a primary care doctor suspects that a person has hay fever, they will usually refer the person to an allergist, a doctor who specializes in allergies.

An allergist will ask questions about lifestyle habits, home and work environments, medical history, and symptoms, then perform a physical exam of the nose and throat.

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Choices Choices Choices Of Cough Medications

OTC cough and cold medicines come in a bewildering number of varieties. We say cough and cold remedies because while there are some products marketed purely as cough remedies often called tussins many have additional ingredients that are supposed to control cold symptoms, too.

It may be a little easier to make a choice if you realize that most of these products contain the same few active ingredients, in a limited number of strengths and combinations. Here’s a rundown of the five main types of ingredients:

Expectorants. These cough medications work chiefly by affecting the production, consistency, and clearance of mucus in various ways. Guaifenesin , which thins mucus, is the most common OTC expectorant. The cough guidelines cite studies showing that guaifenesin is effective, but also point to others showing that it’s not. Want a free, reliable way of loosening mucus? Just try drinking plenty of water the next time you have a cold.

Suppressants. These cough medications work by suppressing the cough reflex in the brain. Dextromethorphan is one of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter cough medicine products.

Still, exactly how the older drugs suppress a cough is unclear. Some researchers say they may work by blocking histamine in the central nervous system. In the brain, histamine is a neurotransmitter, one of the many chemicals that enable cell-to-cell communication. Products billed as “multi-symptom” solutions often include these older drugs.

Allergies Follow A Pattern And Symptoms Tend To Stick Around Longer

If you have allergies, your symptoms will flare up at certain times throughout the year when the allergens youre sensitive to are present. For example, if you have a tree pollen allergy, your symptoms will first appear in the early spring.

This also means that your symptoms can last for several weeks until that particular allergy season has ended. To put that into perspective, colds usually only last about a week.

Cold viruses are present all year, so you can catch one at any time. However, the winter cold season is when getting sick is more likely.

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Allergies Do Not Cause Fevers

People often wonder if allergies can cause a fever. The answer is no. Allergies cannot cause a fever, though you could have an allergy flare at the same time youre experiencing a fever from another infection.

With a cold, your temperature can run warmer, but typically it will be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mucinex Dm Cough Suppressant Tablets

This product, which also comes in a regular strength option, starts to work very quickly and a single dose lasts for 12 hours. This is because the tablets are bilayer meaning the various ingredients are delivered in a timed-release manner and the stomach is protected from irritation.

The DM in the name is nothing mysterious. It stands for an ingredient called dextromethorphan which is simply a cough suppressant designed specifically for a dry cough.

Be sure to take these tablets with lots and lots of water to achieve maximum benefits.

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Can You Get A Sore Throat From Allergies And What Causes It

Yep, and how you develop it all comes down to how your body reacts when its exposed to an allergen like pollen. If you have allergies, your immune system will react to being exposed to an allergen by releasing histamines,chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.

For many people with seasonal allergies, those histamines can cause a stuffy, runny noseand that can trigger post-nasal drip, i.e. mucus running down the back of your throat, explains Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. And that can cause irritation back there. Cue the sore throat. Often, first thing in morning it will be worse from laying down all night, Dr. Parikh says.

Post-nasal drip isnt the only reason you might develop a sore throat from allergies, though. Coughing and mouth breathing can also mess with the way your throat feels, says Kara Wada, MD, an allergist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Of course, not everyone with allergies gets a sore throat. Allergies can affect each of us differently, Dr. Wada says. There are some things that might make you more prone to struggling with a sore throat from allergies, Dr. Parikh says, including how severe your allergies are and the anatomy of your nose.

Does Asthma Cause Dry Coughing

Yes, asthma can cause a dry cough. This type is often called cough-variant asthma and can be due to the same triggers as normal asthma. Triggers include dust, cold air, stress, pollen, and a change of seasons. Cough-variant asthma is confirmed by its responsiveness to standard treatments for asthma. If you take your asthma treatments as prescribed and continue to cough, you may have something other than cough-variant asthma.

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What Is The Difference Between A Cold And An Allergy

Cold and allergies have many similar symptoms, such as coughing, runny nose, and . If you have asthma, both conditions can also cause and . However, colds and allergies are different conditions with distinct causes.

Allergies:

• Are caused by an abnormal sensitivity of your immune system to normally harmless substances , such as dust, pollen, and animal dander

• Are not infectious or contagious

• Are irregular. For example, a cough that occurs during pollen season may go away after the season is over.

• Can include frequent or long-lasting symptoms in people with severe or multiple allergies

• Trigger coughing less often than colds

• Often cause itchy eyes

• Do not cause , swollen glands, or body aches

Colds:

• Are due to a of your nose and throat

• Are infectious and contagious. For example, if your cough is due to a cold, other members in your household may also develop a cough.

• Occur most often in the winter

• Generally have symptoms that last for one to two weeks

• Cause coughing more often than allergies

• Rarely cause itching eyes

• Commonly occur with and sometimes with fever, , or swollen glands

Is It Allergies Or A Cold

Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between allergies and the common cold. There are more than a hundred strains of cold viruses. Each tends to become widespread at certain times of the year, which is why you may mistake a cold for a seasonal allergy. Allergies occur at the same time every year and last as long as the allergen is in the air . Allergies cause itching of the nose and eyes along with other nasal symptoms. Colds last about one week and have less itching of the nose and eyes.

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Just Curious: Why Do We Cough Anyway

“The purpose of a cough is to help us,” says Monica Lee, MD, an otolaryngologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Its your bodys way of trying to expel something it perceives as a threat in the airway, she says.

Those perceived threats can be a bunch of different things: a piece of food stuck in your throat, pollen, air pollution, or swelling or drainage from extra mucus in your throat. All those things irritate the sensory fibers in your airway, which then stimulate a cough.

As for what exactly happens in your body during a cough? It’s kind of complex, says Dr. Lee. Basically, your vocal chords close briefly to generate pressure in the lungs. Once enough pressure is built up, your vocal chords open back up, and air flows quickly through your voice box, which generates that coughing sound. Kinda cool, huh?

Symptoms: What Does An Allergy Cough Feel Like

Allergy-related cough is typically a “dry” cough, meaning you probably won’t cough up any mucus or phlegm. It can become chronic, lasting for several weeks at a time. Coughing can occur with several different conditions and illnesses. You’ll likely see a specialist, such as an allergist, for specific testing to diagnose your allergies.

Although coughing occurs with a variety of medical conditions, allergy cough occurs with other allergy symptoms, including:

• Sneezing

• Fatigue

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You Experience Shortness Of Breath

Another annoying symptom of cat allergies is feeling like you just cant catch your breath. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says, Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. For some, this exposure can cause severe breathing problems. Highly sensitive people can begin coughing, wheezing and have shortness of breath within 15 to 30 minutes of inhaling allergens.

Boiron Chestal For Cough Syrup

Boiron Chestal is a more traditional product in that it is a liquid cough syrup, but it is an all-natural, homeopathic product containing no chemicals and none of the typical medicines found in other over-the-counter options.

Its great-tasting honey flavor and convenient measuring/dosing cup makes it great for kids and, because it is all-natural, it can be taken as often as every 2 hours.

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Start With Some Home Remedies For Cold And Allergy Symptoms

When you start feeling icky, some simple home remedies can provide temporary relief. For starters, try to get more rest. Both allergies and colds can cause tiredness, so listen to your body and take it easy.

Also, take advantage of saltwater to soothe irritated nasal passages and scratchy or sore throats.

For your nose, use a neti pot. A neti pot can be picked up at any local drugstore or online, and typically comes with packets to mix with warm, distilled water to create a saltwater solution to pour through your nasal passages.

For your throat, simply mix a quarter or half teaspoon of table salt into an 8-ounce glass of warm water. Take a sip and gargle for a few seconds like you would with mouthwash. Then spit and repeat until the solution is gone. You can do this a couple times a day.

How Do I Know My Cough Is From A Cold

You know how allergy coughs are typically on the drier side? Coughs from colds tend to be on the wetter side .

Coughs that come along with a cold usually come along with stuffiness, along with postnasal drip , which can cause a sore throat or chest discomfort. A low-grade fever may also signal a cold instead of allergies.

Colds aren’t as immediate as allergies. Instead, they tend to develop over the course of a few days, says Dr. Bryson.

You can try a few different things to help relieve a cough. Decongestants can work for, well, congestion. And ingredients like dextromethorphan can can help ease the coughing itself. Just make sure you take any products as-directed.

It should be said, however, that a dry cough isn’t always allergies, just like a wet cough isn’t always a cold. Allergies can plague your nose, for example, causing post-nasal drip , while mild colds might not leave you stuffed up enough to produce any phlegm.

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