Cough Etiquette and Respiratory Hygiene

Australians with chesty coughs are being urged to show consideration for others and to cover their mouths when they cough.

Germs generated by coughing can travel at speeds greater than 1000km per hour, almost as fast as the speed of sound.

“So not only will poor etiquette offend the people around you, but you’re also increasing the risk of spreading the germs that are causing that cough in the first place,” Gerald Quigley said at the launch of ‘I hate people coughing on my head’ video, CLICK HERE to view, by the manufacturers of Bisolvon*.

This Australian winter campaign is designed to help reduce the spread of germs and minimise the social offence that can be caused from impolite behaviour.

We have modified part of the advisory to suit our Malaysian "culture", hopefully a dying one, of spitting:

Cough Etiquette and Respiratory Hygiene

Cover your cough: Turn your head and cough into a disposable tissue. If you need to spit out your phlegm do so into the tissue. Likewise sneeze or blow your nose into a disposable tissue. Discard the tissue appropriately.

Wear a surgical mask, if possible.

If you cough on your hand, you are simply putting the germs on your hand, which will make it likely that you will spread those germs as you touch things, such as a door knob, book, or other person's hand. And someone else can get sick if they touch one of these contaminated surfaces.

Clean your hands: After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, wash your hands with soap and water. Use alcohol-based liquids, gels or wipes if you do not have access to soap and water

* Bisolvon contains bromhexine as the active ingredient.

Bromhexine is secretolytic: that is, it increases the production of serous mucus in the respiratory tract and makes the phlegm thinner and less sticky. This contributes to a secretomotoric effect: it helps the cilia - tiny hairs that line the respiratory tract - to transport the phlegm out of the lungs.

This mucus-clearing effect of Bromhexine makes it easier for the respiratory tract to eliminate phlegm naturally. It eases productive cough and helps in overcoming infections.

Talk to us if you need further information about bromhexine, other secretolytics or any health concerns.

Picture credit