How to Stop a Wheezing Cough

Published: Jun 5, 2009
Updated: May 12, 2023
2 minute read

Wheezing can be an indication of simple medical problems or more serious medical complications. If you have no idea why you or a family member has developed wheezing, contact a doctor immediately. However, taking care of wheezing can often be taken care of at home. There are many remedies, ranging from from natural to medication that can help to ease the wheezing of a cough.

Jump into a warm shower. If that is not possible, close your shower curtain, and turn the water on hot. Sit near the shower and breath in normally. The steam from the shower should soothe you. Often times, this will ease the wheezing until medications take effect or until you can contact a doctor.

Use an old-fashioned vaporizer. The new vaporizers are more user friendly. Some merely work on water and steam, but others have a compartment to place medication such as Vick's Vapor Rub.

Use Vick's Vapor rub on the chest, with a warm towel placed over it. You do not want to use a hot towel as it will burn the skin, and it will cause the vapor rub to burn also. Make sure that the vapor rub and towel are on the upper part of the chest. Fumes should be able to enter the breathing passages.

Drink herbal teas. Licorice tea is the best option. Place a teaspoon full of licorice tea brew in a hot cup of water. Within five to ten minutes of drinking the tea, wheezing should decrease. If wheezing is due to asthma or bronchitis, drinking coffee can also help. The caffeine opens up the bronchial passages, making it easier to breathe. That can certainly reduce wheezing.

Use your inhalers or nebulizer immediately. If you have medications for wheezing due to asthma, emphysema or bronchitis, use them before trying any other remedies. The medications alone should ease the wheezing. If not, contact your doctor immediately.

Dahloan Hembree

Dahloan Hembree has been a writer for more than 10 years and has been published on Ground Report and various other websites. Her areas of expertise in the writing field are alternative medicine, family issues, education, animals and social…

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