Will ibuprofen help with cough?

We’ve all been there before – we wake up with a tickling sensation in our throat, followed by an annoying cough that just won’t go away. In these situations, many people turn to their trusty bottle of ibuprofen for some relief. But can this common pain reliever actually help with a cough? Let’s take a look at the science behind it and find out!

What Is Ibuprofen And How Does It Work?

Before we dive into how ibuprofen may or may not alleviate your coughing fits, let’s discuss what exactly ibuprofen is and how it works within the body.

Ibuprofen is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used to treat pain and inflammation in the body. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of certain chemicals in the body called prostaglandins, which are responsible for causing pain and inflammation.

So essentially, when you take ibuprofen, it reduces swelling and mutes any uncomfortable sensations you may be feeling throughout your system.

Can Ibuprofen Actually Help With A Cough?

The short answer: not really! While over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can certainly help ease symptoms associated with other conditions such as headaches or muscle soreness (which honestly kind of seem worse than being stuck on “cough island” indefinitely), they’re generally ineffective when it comes to treating a pesky cough that keeps you up at night.

According to experts from Harvard Health Publishing [1], Sunita Puri M.D., Associate Director of Palliative Medicine Attending Physician at Cedars-Sinai Hospital says,

“A viral infection produces white blood cells designed to attack germs while inflaming air passages; ultimately making us want to expel phlegm.”

Since inflammation signals healthy immune function–not necessarily an illness–, taking an medication like ibuprofen that stops normal bodily inflammation can actually stifle ‘helpful’ coughing and slow the healing process.

What Can You Do To Treat Coughs?

While it’s true that ibuprofen might not do much to stop a cough in its tracks, there are plenty of other ways you can try to naturally suppress this symptom while you wait for your body to heal.

Stay Hydrated

First and foremost, it’s essential to remain well hydrated when dealing with a stubborn cough. Drink water or tea throughout the day (avoiding caffeine before bed) –this helps help moisten mucus membranes so they don’t become inflamed due to lack of moisture.

Try A Humidifier

Another effective tool is utilizing humidifiers during seasonal changes or regular dry weather, which add moisture back into the air that we breath . (Think ‘fog machine’ meets daily wellness habits) These devices release misty droplets of water vapour keeping lungs lubricated while alleviating irritated sinuses–both symptoms prevalent when suffering from pesky colds or flu-like viruses!

Sip Some Honey Tea

I always opt calling my sick days “Cuppatea-therapy”—there’s something about holding warm ceramic mug filled with steamy aromatics between your palms! But if you don’t have many herbs lying around at home, honey tea may be just as good an option.

Honey has been used for thousands years as a natural remedy—for treating everything from bacterial infections (such MRSA), reducing inflammation AND yes, helping soothe sore throats [2].

When mixed together with hot water and additional spices/herbs like ginger/mint leaves/chamomile etc., this drink could make all difference in taming any obnoxious chest tickle making rest easier time!#

Here are some creative recipe ideas:

Table 1:

Ingredients For My Favorite ‘CuppateaTherapy’ Ingredients For A Spicy Drink
Green tea bags (or loose leaf) Lemon juice
Fresh Ginger root, peeled and grated or thinly sliced Cinnamon stick/fresh ground cinnamon /cayenne pepper powder…spice to taste!
Honey Organic Bee Pollen – optional

Keep The Air Clean

Smoking or even just breathing in secondhand smoke is extremely harmful—especially if your immune system is already feeling frail. So do yourself a favor during moments of weakness like stubborn coughs by making sure that the air around you remains fresh & clean for easier breathing.

Conclusion

While ibuprofen can be an effective tool when dealing with other types of pain and inflammation within the body–it’s not much help when trying find ways to stop those pesky coughing fits from keeping you up at night. Instead try enhancing hydration rituals like drinking a warm cup-of-tea daily; using humidifiers alongside essential oils, allowing these anti-inflammatory agents work together helping soothe inflamed nostrils without resorting to adding additional toxins via medication.

So next time you get hit with cold take some of these natural steps to treat it right away—you’ll surely have better luck than popping handfuls of ineffective over-the-counter drugs!!

[1] Harvard Health Publishing: How good are cough medicines?
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-good-are-cough-medicines \
[2] Medical News Today: Does honey help a sore throat?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323903#risks-and-precautions

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