Honey is not a good replacement for cough syrup

BENGALURU: I am 26 years old and am suffering from persistent cough this summer. Why is it that my cough worsens when temperature rises? I constantly wrap a muffler around my neck despite of the heat.

One of the reasons why a person suffers from cough in summers and rising temperature is because of either dryness in the throat or seasonal allergy which coincides with the season. While regular medications are prescribed to patients, there are cases where a person cannot be comfortable using the same. In such cases patients must visit their physician and get their throat checked.

I have heard honey is good for throat and cough. Is it advisable to have honey instead of a cough syrup?

Honey may not be a good replacement for cough syrup always. It makes a person feel comfortable only in case of dry throat. But honey cannot replace medication as the syrup is a scientific solution to heal dry cough. In case the patient is diabetic, consuming honey could be dangerous for his health. For such cases, they can opt for sugar free versions of the cough syrup available in market.

Every time I clean my ears, I get a pungent smell of water leaking. I experienced a piercing pain also. What can it be and how can I stop it? I am 55-year-old female.

First of all, you must remember that cleaning your ear on regular basis is not mandatory. It is essentially done for self-cleansing. However, if you get a pungent smelling discharge or piercing pain, it is an indication of an ear infection. It is advisable to visit an ENT doctor who could examine your ear and prescribe proper medication.

I have a constant throat itch, I attempt to clear it frequently. I was ok until I spotted blood in my recent attempt to clear it. What could it be ?

In the process of constantly clearing the throat to get rid of itching, you would have damaged your tissues in your throat. This could be a reason for spotting blood in mucous. One should refrain from this practice to avoid the damage to the throat.

The expert is Consultant ENT Surgeon from Fortis Hospital,Bannerghatta Road.
For health related queries write to health.cityexpress@gmail.com

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