We usually think that coughing, sneezing, and sore throat are the symptoms of the common cold.
But the fact is the majority of people suffer due to dry air and winter allergies.
Other than going to a doctor, there is an easy and natural relief available for relieving your issues.
Installing a device like an air humidifier in your home can improve your health significantly.
Especially people who are prone to dry coughing and sore throat problems can find this device highly beneficial as it disperses the healing moisture into the dry air, which is causing you the trouble.
Causes of Cough and Sore Throat
In general, infections due to the common cold and seasonal changes are the main cause of coughing and dry throat.
However, it can be a symptom of other medical disorders too.
Few of these other causes can include:
- Bacterial infections
- Virus infections, such as flu
- Chronic sinusitis and allergy
- Infection on the adenoids or tonsils
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
In addition to the above, heavy breathing or smoking can also lead to throat soreness and dry mouth.
If you experience chronic sore throat and coughing for more than a week or two, you should immediately consult your doctor to get the best remedy and treatment plan.
Based on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend the best treatment to ease your issues.
Besides the medical treatment, physicians also recommend using a humidifier as the best home remedy for relieving dry cough and sore throat problems.
Why Use Humidifier for Coughing Sore Throat?
Although installing heaters in winter provides us with a warm, comfortable environment in the room, relying much on them can lead to various problems that cannot be left ignored.
In addition to maintaining the environment warm, it also extracts all the humidity in the air leading to dry air problems like dry coughing, dry mouth, dry nose, itchy skin, sore throat, and much more.
A humidifier is, therefore, the essential device to get during the winters for controlling and maintaining proper humidity levels in the air around you and your loved ones.
Cool Or Warm Mist Humidifier for Dry Cough & Throat
When shopping for the best cough humidifier, people often get confused regarding which one to buy – A Cool Humidifier or A Warm Mist Humidifier.
Well, there are just a few differences to consider between the warm mist and a cool humidifier. You essentially need to check them before you decide to buy one.
– Cool Mist Humidifier: How It Helps?
The cool mist humidifier units pass the water over the wick and expel the vapor that cools your room temperatures making it easier to breathe.
These units vary in designs, shapes, and sizes. While some of them are larger and are meant for the whole house, there are also a few very compact that can be carried wherever you go.
Physicians recommend cool mist humidification systems as it helps alleviate inflammation in the airway and makes it easier to breathe for coughing patients.
Problems like dry nose, nasal congestion, sore throats, and coughing need extra moisture to decrease swollen nasal passages and moisturize dry throats.
Cool mist may help feel better on nasal membranes and inflamed throats and hence helps relieve cold symptoms quickly.
– Warm Mist Humidifier: How It Helps?
Warm mist humidifiers come with a heating element that is used to heat the water in the humidifier.
The water is heated to 100 degrees Celsius until it comes to boiling to create fresh warm steam. This steam is then served to the room to increase the moisture level.
As the water is pre-heated in the reservoir water tank (to the boiling point) of these humidifiers, there is no risk of bacteria or viruses spreading into the room.
Warm mist humidifiers can produce soothing and warm mist for coughing people, which can be easily felt and seen.
Hence, this moisturizing machine is the best option to use in places with incredibly cool climates.
The warm mist makes breathing more accessible in a cool room and is thus preferred by allergic patients suffering from problems such as asthma, bronchitis, sinuses, etc.
These types of humidifiers are also used to steam medications.
A warm humidifier is quieter than a cool mist and is designed in small portable models.
Which Is The Best Humidifier for Dry Throat and Cough?
Warm mist, as well as cool mist humidifiers, can prove much helpful for coughing and sore throat problems.
However, as both of them have different working patterns and provide different benefits, you should choose the one carefully.
✅ Cool misting devices are considered the safest humidifier for the baby room as there is no possibility of getting your little one burnt or hurt, which is often the case when you use a warm air humidifier.
✅ You can choose to get a warm mist if you do not have kids at home or want to enjoy the warm mist in winter.
No matter whether it’s a cold air humidifier or a warm mist vaporizer, they all require regular checkups and cleanings to avoid the risk of growing bacteria.
Some of these models require changing filters at regular intervals, and a few of them come filter-free to make you free from the hassles of changing the filters.
You must get all the information about the product and the steps needed for its care and maintenance before choosing one among the best.
Not only it’s highly affordable but also it comes with a proper customer satisfaction warranty to make your purchase risk free.
However, if you are in need of a more advanced unit with exceptional features (such as customized humidity, timer, remote control, aromatherapy, etc) you can consider getting a LEVOIT unit.
Of course, the price you will be paying for it will be a bit extra.
Furthermore, people who want to get a much better option and can afford to pay even more can also opt for units that come with a built-in air purifier.
Can I Use a Humidifier for Croup Cough?
Mostly seen in young children, croup is an infection of the upper airways.
In this condition, normal breathing gets obstructed, which causes a characteristic barking cough.
Children who suffer from croup usually develop a harsh, barking cough that can make a high-pitched noise when coughing.
Using good quality and brand of cool mist humidifier (NOT a vaporizer or warm mist humidifier) is generally recommended to help the airways by moistening the dry air around.
In case you do not have a humidifier and your kid is suffering from severe croup cough you can try other natural humidifying ways like a bathroom shower to provide relief.
How Long Does Cough and Sore Throat Last?
Using a humidifier for dry cough does not mean that you get instant relief.
It only helps in relieving the symptoms and in avoiding the condition from getting worse.
After you get the cold virus infection, the symptoms of cough and sore throat start between 1 and 3 days which may last for about 3-7 days.
The worst part gets over by that time, but you may still feel stuffed for about a week.
Also care that viral and bacterial infections that cause cough and sore throat can be contagious, which means they can be transmitted from one person to another.
Hence you must take proper care and take medicines to get things better, in addition to using a good humidifier in your room.
Few Home Remedies You Can Try for Cough and Sore Throat
If you are frightened at the very sight of the doctor’s chamber and long prescriptions, you can find some simple solutions for yourself.
Some of the home remedies that are mostly preferred to clear dry throat and coughing include:
Inhaling Steam:
The warm, moist air through the lungs can cause wonderful therapeutic effects, and it shrinks the swollen tissues and relieves the pain fast.
You need to take a bowl of boiling water and breathe in the steam by holding a towel over your head.
Throat Soothers:
Throat soothers like cough lozenges and menthol help in soothing your sore throat along with ear and neck pain by providing the numbness in the sore throat.
These also help in avoiding the dryness of the mouth and throat by increasing saliva secretion.
In addition to throat soothers, anesthetic throat sprays can help relieve the delicate dry throat tissues.
Gargling with Warm Salt Water:
Gargling is suggested if you strictly want to stick to a home remedy.
Gargling a day thrice can help you to get rid of your sore throat in no time at all.
You need to dissolve a half teaspoon of salt in a glass full of warm water and gargle it for a few seconds before you spit the solution out.
Meen Smith is a nurse by profession who loves writing online, spending time with her family and caring for the elderly. She has already worked as an associate editor on various moms, babies, home appliances, kitchen, and healthy living blogs. In her spare time, she also enjoys drawing, reading/writing kindle eBooks and improving her skills a bit.