咳嗽時值得嘗試的家居護理方法和貼士
從用蜂蜜製作自己的止咳糖漿,到用熱水淋浴,你可以於家中嘗試許多簡單的護理方案,助你解決喉嚨發癢和刺激性咳嗽。
對紓緩咳嗽有用的簡單護理方法

1. 蜜糖
含有蜂蜜的糖漿或飲料可以幫助減輕喉嚨痛並紓緩咳嗽。1,2世界衛生組織亦建議可於茶中加入蜜糖及檸檬來紓緩咳嗽和喉嚨痛。1由於蜜糖帶有令嬰兒感染嬰兒肉毒桿菌的風險,所以1歲以下的嬰兒不宜服用蜂蜜。1

2. 喝飲料
多喝飲料可有助於通鼻塞、滋潤喉嚨、紓緩乾咳及防止脫水。3-7 熱飲可以幫助滋潤和紓緩上呼吸道的症狀,喝熱飲時的舒適感也對心理有好處。8感冒經常會刺激氣管,以鹽水漱口可紓緩症狀。4

3. 加濕空氣
雖然沒有臨床實證支持加濕空氣的好處,但試試亦無妨。9因為乾燥的空氣可能會進一步刺激喉嚨,引起咳嗽,你可以透過冷空氣加濕器及噴霧器以消除乾燥空氣,或選擇於充滿熱蒸氣的浴室中靜坐幾分鐘。3-5

4. 喉糖或口含片
吸吮喉糖或口含片也可以紓緩喉嚨痛或喉嚨刺激。3,5避免將喉糖或口含片給小孩服用,以免引起窒息.3,5 請於給小孩服用任何產品前仔細查閱產品標籤說明。

5. 充分休息
咳嗽會影響你的睡眠,讓你感到疲憊。10只要你感到疲倦就繼續休息,盡可能睡多一點。4

6. 避免吸煙
吸煙或吸入二手煙可能會使你的咳嗽惡化,因此最好避免。3

7. 避開致敏原
如果你有過敏症或哮喘,清除家中的致敏原可能會讓你感覺更舒服。11例如在花粉季節,使用空調來過濾空氣,有助你減少接觸花粉、灰塵和其他刺激物。
參考資料
1. World Health Organization. Cough and Cold Remedies for the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Infections in Young Children. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2001.
2. Paul IM et al. Arch Pedriat Adolesc Med 2007;161(12):1140–6.
3. Mayo Clinic. Cough. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050846. Last accessed: 23 March 2018.
4. Mayo Clinic. Cold remedies: What works, what doesn't, what can't hurt. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403. last accessed: 23 March 2018.
5. Mayo Clinic. Sore throat. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351640. Last accessed: 23 March 2018.
6. Mayo Clinic. Nasal congestion. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nasal-congestion/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050644. Last accessed: 23 March 2018.
7. Guppy MP, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011(2):CD004419.
8. Sanu A, Eccles R. Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271–5.
9. Singh M, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017(8):CD001728.
10. Eccles R. Lancet Infect Dis 2005;5:718–25.
11. Mayo Clinic. Asthma. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653. Last accessed: 16 April 2018.
12. MSD Manual (Consumer version). Cough in Adults. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/lung-and-airway-disorders/symptoms-of-lung-disorders/cough-in-adults#v1142961. Last accessed: 20 March 2018.
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Flu: What to do if you get sick. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm. Last accessed: 23 March 2018.
14. Mayo Clinic. Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/in-depth/fever/art-20050997. Last accessed: 29 March 2018