28 November 2023 , 15:56
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There is little worse at this time of year than a dry cough, but a pharmacist's hack could offer some relief.
As the weather gets colder, we become more susceptible to all sorts of ailments that can make us feel rough. Coughing is one of the most common, and oftentimes we struggle to get to grips with it. Whether it's in the middle of the night or during the day, it sometimes seems like the cough follows us everywhere. And in the dead of winter, it is notoriously hard to get rid of.
But one TikToker, a doctor of pharmacy with more than 600,000 followers on the platform, has shared a 'lifesaver' hack to ease a cough. Posting on the platform, she outlined a simple step that can rail in the problem.
"If you wake up at night in the middle of the night coughing like this...", she says while imitating the sound. "All you need to do is just put pressure with your index finger right here in this hollow point and hold it for a few minutes."
Dr Angela, who username of @angelapharmd, points to a spot in the middle of the throat. "That will help you right away", she insisted. "I've been doing it for a few nights now and it's a lifesaver." Commenters sung the praises of the method, with one posting: "Just did this and it worked!" Another added: "This definitely works, thank you very much!"
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Others took the opportunity to recount their cough woes. One said: "I get these random dry cough attacks where it feels like an intense itch where I can’t talk and I'll gag while coughing what’s wrong with me?"
Another user continued: "I wake up with a wet cough (yay for getting phlegm out) and by 3pm I have a dry cough."
According to the NHS, there is normally no need to go to your GP if you have a cough. Instead, most people should rest, drink plenty of fluids and stay at home if they feel unable to do their normal activities.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen can also be used to treat sore throats, while adults kids from a-year-old and up can sooth their throats with hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old). Those aged 12 and older can try a herbal medicine called pelargonium.
Cough syrups, cough medicines and cough sweets can all help you to cough less, but will not get rid of the problem completely. You should see a GP if your cough lasts for more than three weeks, its gets very bad or worse very quickly, you have chest pain, feel unwell, find yourself losing weight for no reason, have a swollen side of the neck, your immune system is weakened or if you are finding it hard to breathe.