FAMILY HEALTH Hacked off by that cough?

DURING this time, Abbas recommends you drink plenty of water. “It’s important to keep yourself hydrated, especially if your body is fighting off an infection,” he says. “Water can also help to loosen mucus, so that it can be expelled easily.”

Hot water, lemon and honey is a handy go-to if you’re struggling to croak out your words first thing in the morning.

“Honey helps to soothe the chest, while both lemon and honey contain natural antibacterial properties,” says Abbas. “Lemon also contains vitamin C, which helps to boost the immune system.” ABBAS also recommends using a facial steam bath to help break up thick mucus in the airways.

Boil a pan of water, remove from heat and add a few drops of eucalyptus.

Then all you need do is throw a towel over your head and start inhaling the sinus-clearing vapours from the mixture. IF ALL else fails, then medication can provide some relief. “Cough medicines known as ‘expectorants’ can help to ease a chesty cough by thinning and loosening mucus,” says Abbas. “Your local pharmacy can give you advice on whether they’re suitable for you.”

Peppermint is a natural source of menthol, which is an expectorant, so swap that mid-morning coffee for a cup of peppermint tea to add to the hydration, too. ONCE the mucus begins to break up in the chest, there’s only one way for it to get out – and that’s through the mouth. We know it sounds disgusting, but the best way to expel the small gunge pit that’s forming in your chest is to spit it out.

If you swallow instead, you’re sending the phlegm back down the throat to fester where it came from.

It goes without saying that spitting on the ground is as unsanitary as it is impolite, so make sure you’re being mindful of others by discreetly depositing any unsightly mucus into a tissue and then flushing it down the toilet. “MOST people have had a chesty cough on a number of occasions, and it usually isn’t anything to worry about,” says Abbas. “However, you should make an appointment to see your GP if you spot any potentially worrying signs.”

For example, if your mucus is green, or a colour different to yellow, it can mean you’ve got a chest infection and may need antibiotics. A cough that lasts for more than three weeks may also be a sign of an underlying medical issue that needs investigating.

“Most people know their bodies and you should be able to identify a cough that is not typical of a seasonal chesty cough – this could be a hacking or uncontrollable cough,” says Abbas.

“A cough that is worse than usual could be cause for concern.”