It starts as an innocuous tickle in the back of the throat, but before long, there's throat strain, hacking unearthly sounds, and breaking into a sweat. No, we aren't talking about demon possession -- we're talking about a cough. A terrible, awful, no good 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 no day at the amusement park, but in the end, coughing definitely wins in the unfun department. Especially when it comes to trying to sleep. We've all been there -- exhausted and run down, and all we want to do is sleep ... and can't.

Because, um, coughing. And coughing. And coughing.

More from CafeMom: 9 Natural Ways to Stop Coughing in Kids

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.

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