woman in bed coughing
It starts as an innocuous tickle in the back of your throat, but before long, you're straining your throat, hacking unearthly sounds, and breaking into a sweat. No, we aren't talking about demon possession -- we're talking about a cough. An when it comes down to it, there are few things more annoying and uncomfortable than a cough.

Nausea can give it a run for its money, and a sniffly nose is nothing to scoff at, but in the end, coughing definitely wins. Especially when you're trying to sleep at night. You're exhausted and run down, and all you want to do is sleep, but you can't.

Because you're coughing. And coughing. And coughing.

Occasionally coughing is totally normal, but a persistent cough can indicate medical problems. Specifically, there are two types of coughs to be aware of. One is known as "acute" which means it is persistent but lasts less than three weeks. "Chronic" coughs last longer than eight weeks (four in children) and are caused by everything from allergies to bronchitis.

But there is hope. Aside from seeking medical treatment, there are plenty of natural remedies worth giving a shot. Here are 15 ways to stop coughing now.

Images via ©iStock.com/samotrebizan & ©iStock.com/sebarnes

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