Are all cough alike? Find out which one is right for you.

There are different kinds of cough. There are dry coughs and there are productive coughs. But whatever the cough is, it just only means one thing—that the throat is irritated by something and that irritation goes away with coughing.

Sometimes, cough can be a real nuisance, and there comes a time when enough is enough. Choosing the right cough medicine could be confusing if you are not familiar with the different cough preparations available in the market.

Many cough medicines are classified as expectorants and suppressants. They may be sold separately or in combination. They can also be found in cold formulas that include pain relievers (analgesics), decongestants, and antihistamines.

It's generally best to pick a cough medicine that is appropriate for your symptoms. Hence, you spare yourself unnecessary side effects, and you get only the medicine that your body requires.

Expectorants thin and loosen up phlegm in the lungs so that you can cough it up. Expectorant are taken with a full glass of water. Water, in fact, is also an excellent expectorant, thus patients with productive cough are also advised to drink plenty of fluids, especially if congested. Hot liquids--chicken soup, tea and honey--work especially well. Humidifying the air also moistens and soothes irritated airways, and thereby loosens up mucous.

Suppressants, on the other hand, help calm down the cough reflex. Suppressants should not be used in coughs that produce phlegm as this will keep the irritating phlegm to build up inside. These medications are normally used to relieve a dry, hacking cough that's not productive. On certain occasions, they help when you're exhausted from coughing and need to rest.

Expectorants and suppressants combine in certain formulas. The suppressants act by reducing the coughing frequency, while the expectorants may help bring up phlegm. They are formulated in such a way that they don’t negate each other’s effect but rather simply minimize the number of times that a person coughs, so coughing would not be very burdensome.

Chest rubs are also available in many drug stores and department stores. They act by giving off vapors that can numb the throat and relieve a cough. They're for external use only.

Throat lozenges, cough drops, hard candies, and even simple sugar syrups can also provide a soothing relief in cases of coughs by coating the lining of the throat. Some lozenges also contain cough suppressant medications. These preparations should not be given to children under age 6 because they can be a choking hazard.

Cough medications are everywhere. It is really just a question of knowing which cough medication to take. Definitely, these medicines will provide relief when needed.

However, if cough persists for more than a week or two, be sure to talk to your health care provider. This may be due to something else other than your usual cough. Again, it pays to always be on the safe side.

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