Maintaining appropriate hydration levels can have a big impact on how quickly you recover from coughs. Getting enough fluids might help with discomfort management and symptom relief because practically every biological function requires water. As a result, the body must obtain enough water to manage its system during cough-related health issues. Research shows an association between low total fluid consumption and high risk for severe cough, which led to the development of guidelines recommending increased fluid intake during coughing issues. 

Drinking water is the best way to get rehydrated, but you may also drink other low-calorie beverages, such as green tea, to increase your fluid consumption. Healthy beverages like milk or vegetable juice are also great options for you to keep yourself hydrated to manage cough.

What is a Cough?

Your body uses a cough as a natural reaction to clear irritants from the upper throat and airways, and coughing aids in your body's self-defense and healing. Coughs have a variety of types depending on how long they stay, how they feel or sound, or whether they are caused by certain medical issues. 

An acute cough lasts for two to three weeks and starts abruptly, while a subacute cough can linger for three to eight weeks following an illness. A persistent cough stays for more than eight weeks, and it is also called a prolonged cough. Sometimes, a persistent cough can be unresponsive to medication, and that type is known as a resistant cough. A cough that produces mucus or phlegm is referred to as a productive cough or wet cough, but a dry cough does not produce mucus or phlegm. 

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an illness that produces a cough that sounds like a whoop. If you gasp for air during coughing, that kind of cough is frequently caused by obstructed airways and may be linked to long-term illnesses like asthma, infections, or the common cold. 

Why is Hydration Important for Managing Coughs? 

Self-care is essential for people with coughs in order to manage their symptoms, and hydration is one important yet sometimes ignored aspect of this care. Patients with chronic coughs can benefit greatly from adequate hydration, which can lessen symptoms and enhance general health. Let us see why water and other fluids are necessary for managing coughs.  

1. Hydrating Fluids are Natural Expectorants 

An expectorant works by loosening the irritant mucus so that it can easily be removed from your body during coughing. Expectorants won't cure the problem causing your cough symptoms, however, they can provide some temporary relief while you take other measures to cure the medical issue. 

Over-the-counter expectorants are used by many but natural expectorants such as water can also work well by keeping yourself hydrated. That is why you must aim to drink more fluids when you're sick with a cough, and apart from drinking water, one of the best ways to increase fluid intake is to drink herbal tea. Fluids also prevent drying out and irritation/inflammation of your throat, so make sure you consume eight glasses of water or more each day.

You need to remember that it is best to abstain from alcohol and caffeine when you have a cough, instead drink juice or flavored water if you don’t like plain water. When you're feeling somewhat better, you may consume modest amounts of caffeine as long as you're drinking enough water.

2. A Hydrated Body Keeps Your Lungs Healthy 

Your lungs are responsible for handling the more than sixteen thousand breaths you take each day, and the thin, wet mucus covering your lungs keeps everything functioning properly. They also shield you from infection, and this lining's moisture content is preserved by drinking water. 

This mucous lining thickens and becomes sticky due to dehydration in the body, which affects lung function and makes breathing challenging. Dehydration can increase your vulnerability to allergies, diseases, and other respiratory conditions such as COPD and asthma over time. If you already have a coughing problem, dehydration will cause difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath, which are direct symptoms of dehydrated lungs.  

3. Hydration can Reduce Your Cough-related Throat Pain   

Your body has the ability to repair itself, but only if you give it enough hydration and create a healing atmosphere. Hydration is the first and most fundamental component of natural healing because it is necessary for every single body function. 

Maintaining adequate hydration supports the health of your muscles, including the throat muscles, which become sore if you have prolonged cough issues. When you are hydrated, your muscles receive enough oxygen that helps with cell repair and pain management. What’s more, your body draws fluid out of your tissues and muscles when you don't drink enough fluid, which can make your throat pain worse. 

4. Hydration Keeps Your Heart Rate Steady during Coughing Fits 

Your hardest-working body part is your heart because it expands and contracts non-stop, and the heart pumps blood more easily when it is well hydrated. When you have cough problems, your heart muscles get more fatigued because they have problems receiving enough oxygen regularly, and your body becomes exhausted. Additionally, a dehydrated heart pumps less blood, but blood flow is necessary for your body to operate, repair itself, and reduce pain. When you drink enough fluid, the heart receives oxygen from the fluid and keeps healthy even during coughing fits.  

How Much Water Should You Drink to Keep Yourself Hydrated?  

Water is the best way to avoid dehydration during cough problems even though other fluids can also do the job. However, water is the main component of our body, comprising around 60% of our overall weight, and different body compositions need different amounts of water. In babies and children, water makes up a greater percentage of body weight than it does in adults, and some adults need more water than others due to their physiology. Check the recommended daily water intake list to learn how much water is necessary for you to keep yourself healthy. 

• Children aged 1-3 should drink 0.9 liters daily, and children aged 4–8 should drink 1.2 liters daily. 
• The daily water requirement for male teens, ages 9 to 13, is 1.8 liters, and for ages 14 to 18, 2.6 liters.
• Teenage girls between the ages of 9 and 13 need 1.6 liters daily, and teens between the ages of 14 and 18, need 1.8 liters daily.
• Adult males require a minimum of 3.0 liters of water daily, and adult women need a minimum of 2.5 liters daily.

If you have a cough, it is necessary that you drink more water than usual because your body needs the extra boost to keep healthy.  

Final Remarks

Dehydration can make your cough problems worse, and increase the soreness of your throat that is often caused by coughing. Drinking enough water and other fluids to maintain hydration is necessary if you want to control your coughing and maintain your health. Staying properly hydrated also strengthens your immune system, assisting your body in warding off infections that might worsen your cough, and helping speed up your healing process. 

Usually, coughing problems go away after a few days, however, if your symptoms don't get better or if your cough gets worse or persists for more than a week, you need to visit a doctor.