Tips on Choosing Cough Drops
Having a cough or cold is very intrusive to one’s life, and therefore need to be handled accordingly. For these symptoms, one often will invest in some simple cough drops. That said, coughs can come in a few different forms. As such, there are different kinds of cough drops available on the market as well. Without knowing the specifics of their differences, you might end up buying cough drops that are not going to alleviate the symptoms that you bought them for. In this article, we will go over some different types of cough drops and what they do.
If you are experiencing a sore throat, cough drops with numbing agents are essential. Menthol, eucalyptus, and benzocaine are normally the ingredients you will see that have this purpose. Additionally, these ingredients are expectorants, and will therefore assist you in the expulsion of mucus and help your infection pass more quickly. The downside here is that these types of cough drops will begin to irritate you if you take them for too long. It is generally suggested that you not take them for more than 3 or 4 days. If in a few days your symptoms have not improved or worsened, it is likely time to speak with your doctor.
Some coughs are dry and painful, and do not actually result in being helpful to rid you of your infection. The cough is not helpful and you simply need it to end in this instance. This type of cough is somewhat easier to relieve than others. It will often be menthol acting as the main ingredient to help you with this type of cough. The same thing can be achieved with other antitussives. This type of cough is easier to take on since almost every cough drop will contain menthol as an active ingredient.
There are other ingredients often used such as honey, vitamin C, and zinc that will help you out with other symptoms of a cold that are not coughing. As such, many types of cough drops will also come as honey flavored. Other herbs and essential oils are used to combat your cold symptoms as well, such as ginger and echinacea. Still, since there is no concrete evidence behind the use of such ingredients, it is prudent to note that they may not be effective. Still, these ingredients in such small doses will be of no harm to you.
A cough or cough is almost always met with cough drops in opposition to the given symptoms. It is normal to want the variety of cough drops that will have the most benefit to you. Cough drops with less active numbing agents will be less effective, but also less likely to cause irritation over time. Cough drops should never be your only source of fighting off the infection. Make certain that you are drinking lots of water and also taking other forms of medicine if you can. It is our hope that this article will be helpful to you as you purchase cough drops.
