Meghan Hodges
Air pollution is a significant risk factor for many adverse health conditions, including respiratory diseases, lung diseases, and heart strokes. High levels of air pollution can cause immediate health problems such as coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, throat irritation, sneezing, and wheezing. This is because pollutants can change the neural control of airways and trigger coughing as a reflex action to clear the airways of irritants. While coughing is generally temporary and natural, persistent coughing can be irritating and keep you up at night, and may indicate an underlying medical condition. To get rid of a pollution cough, you can try natural remedies such as drinking ginger and honey tea, using a humidifier, and wearing a face mask to reduce exposure to air pollution.
How to Get Rid of Pollution Cough
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wear a mask | Use an N95 or a cloth mask when stepping out |
| Humidifier | Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, preventing mucus lining in the throat from drying |
| Herbal teas | Drink herbal teas, vegetable broths, and ginger and honey tea |
| Avoid | Caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and ginger tea in large amounts |
| Rest | Elevate your head with 2-3 pillows at night |
| Saltwater gargle | Mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle multiple times a day |
| Eucalyptus essential oil | Mix a few drops with a carrier oil and rub the mixture onto the chest and throat |
| Eucalyptus steam | Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam |
| Indoor plants | Bamboo Palm helps to purify indoor air by absorbing harmful toxins and airborne particles |
| Consult a doctor | If the cough is accompanied by fever, headache, drowsiness, or shortness of breath |
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What You'll Learn
Drink ginger and honey tea
Drinking ginger and honey tea is a popular home remedy for a pollution cough. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can relax the membranes in your airways, reducing coughing. It also has antibacterial properties that may help protect against cold viruses and prevent certain microbes from replicating in the body. To make ginger tea, add 20-40 grams of sliced ginger to a cup of hot water and let it steep for five minutes.
Honey has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that help in moistening your throat and preventing coughs. It is also known to be more effective than over-the-counter cough medications. You can add one or two teaspoons of honey to your ginger tea to improve the taste and further soothe your throat. Honey should not be given to children under one year of age due to the risk of infant botulism.
You can also add lemon to your ginger and honey tea, as lemon has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce irritation in the throat and lungs. Lemon tea with honey is a great way to treat a baby's cough, but only for babies over one year old.
While ginger and honey tea can help soothe your throat, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor if your cough persists or worsens.
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Use a humidifier
Using a humidifier is a great way to add moisture to the air, which can help ease a pollution cough. Humidifiers are devices that increase moisture levels in the air by releasing water vapour or steam. They can help ease dryness and irritation in the throat and nasal passages.
There are several types of humidifiers available, including cool mist, warm mist, ultrasonic, evaporators, impeller, and central humidifiers. Cool mist humidifiers are generally safe for children and adults and do not pose a burn risk. Warm mist humidifiers can add warmth to the air, which some may find soothing, but they should be used with caution around children. Ultrasonic humidifiers use vibrations to vaporize water, while evaporators produce humidity by blowing air past evaporating water. Impeller humidifiers are child-friendly and use rotating disks to vaporize water, and central humidifiers connect to the central air conditioning to add moisture to the entire space.
When using a humidifier, it is important to maintain good hygiene. The water tank should be emptied and rinsed daily to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. A solution of white vinegar or a manufacturer-recommended cleaner can be used for a thorough cleaning once a week. If the humidifier has a filter, it should be replaced as per the manufacturer's instructions. Distilled or demineralized water can be used to prevent mineral buildup and reduce the risk of white dust in the air.
The ideal indoor humidity level is between 30% and 50%, and a hygrometer can be used to monitor it. The humidifier should be placed in a well-ventilated room, about 2 to 4 feet off the ground, and at a comfortable distance from where people sit or sleep.
Using a humidifier can be an effective way to ease a pollution cough by adding moisture to the air and providing relief from dryness and irritation.
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Gargle with saltwater
Gargling with saltwater is a simple, safe, and affordable home remedy for a pollution cough. It is also a clinically proven remedy to prevent upper respiratory tract infections. Salt has antibacterial properties and can help draw water out of oral tissues, creating a barrier that locks out harmful pathogens from entering the body.
To make a saltwater gargle, mix about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces (about 237 milliliters) of warm water. You can use any type of salt, such as white salt, rock salt, or even pink salt. Warm water helps the salt dissolve more easily, especially if you are using coarse sea or kosher salt. However, room temperature water can also be used if preferred.
Once you have prepared the saltwater solution, tilt your head back and gargle the mixture at the back of your throat. Swish it around your mouth for a few seconds, then spit it out into a sink. Avoid swallowing the saltwater, as consuming too much salt can lead to health risks such as dehydration, calcium deficiency, and high blood pressure.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you can repeat this process 2-3 times a day. Saltwater gargling can be an effective way to relieve discomfort and reduce inflammation in the throat caused by a pollution cough. It may also help loosen thick mucus, making it easier to expel irritants and allergens from your throat.
While saltwater gargling can provide relief, it is important to note that it may not cure all your symptoms. It should be used alongside other measures such as proper nutrition, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and managing your emotional health. If your symptoms persist or worsen, it is recommended to consult a doctor or seek medical advice.
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Wear a mask
Wearing a mask is an effective way to protect yourself from the harmful effects of air pollution and prevent coughing. When you step out, make sure to put on a face mask, preferably an N95 mask, to reduce the impact of short-term exposure to air pollution.
Face masks act as a protective barrier, filtering out dangerous airborne pollutants and particulate matter, such as irritant gases, environmental tobacco smoke, mixed pollutants, and moulds. These pollutants can irritate your throat and airways, leading to persistent coughing. By wearing a mask, you can physically block these pollutants from entering your respiratory system.
It is important to ensure that your mask is clean and hygienic. N95 masks can be reused, but they must be kept dry and disinfected after each use. Cloth masks are also a good option as they are reusable and can be washed in hot water and dried in the sun before reuse. This helps to eliminate any trapped pollutants and germs, ensuring that you breathe cleaner air.
In addition to wearing a mask, it is advisable to take other precautions as well. For example, if you know you will be in an area with high air pollution levels, try to limit your time outdoors. Check air quality reports and try to stay indoors when pollution levels are particularly high. This can help reduce your overall exposure to pollutants and lower your risk of developing a pollution cough.
Lastly, be mindful of your surroundings and try to avoid areas with visible air pollutants, such as construction sites or places with heavy traffic. By combining the use of masks with these precautionary measures, you can effectively reduce your inhalation of harmful pollutants and decrease your chances of experiencing a pollution cough.
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Seek medical help
While coughing is a natural reflex action that helps to clear the airways of irritants, persistent coughing can be irritating and can keep you up at night. If your cough is not getting better and is increasing, it is advisable to consult your doctor. Monitoring a persistent cough is necessary as it may be a sign of a more serious condition such as asthma, bronchitis, acid reflux, or pneumonia.
If you live in an area with poor air quality, it is important to take precautions to protect your throat health. Stay informed about the air quality in your area and take necessary precautions when air quality is poor. Tools like air quality indexes and indoor air quality monitors can help you stay informed and take appropriate action.
If you experience persistent throat irritation or discomfort, especially in regions with consistently poor air quality, consult a healthcare professional. Prolonged exposure to polluted environments can lead to underlying health concerns. People with pre-existing conditions like asthma, allergies, or respiratory illnesses are more susceptible to the effects of poor air quality.
In addition to monitoring air quality and seeking medical advice when needed, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to alleviate dryness caused by poor air quality. This can help minimize the impact of air pollution on your throat and overall health.
Lastly, it is worth noting that the effects of environmental triggers on chronic cough are still being studied. Long-term residual outcomes are key to understanding the true impact of environmental pollutants and irritants on coughing.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to get rid of a pollution cough. Firstly, drinking ginger and honey tea can help to soothe your irritated throat. You can also try saltwater gargling to reduce mucus buildup. Additionally, using a humidifier can add moisture to the air, preventing the drying of the mucus lining in your throat. Lastly, wearing a face mask when stepping out can reduce the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution.
Honey is a well-known natural remedy for a pollution cough due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Peppermint tea is another effective natural remedy, as it contains menthol, which can numb irritated nerve endings in the throat.
Air pollution contains various irritants and pollutants such as particulate matter, irritant gases, and mixed pollutants, which trigger coughing when inhaled. These pollutants irritate the throat and airways, activating nerves that signal the brain to instruct the muscles in the chest and abdomen to expel air, resulting in a cough.
If your pollution cough persists for an extended period or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, discoloured or bloody mucus, shortness of breath, or distinctive sounds like whooping or wheezing, it is advisable to consult a doctor. A persistent cough may indicate an underlying medical condition such as asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
