Dry, barking, wet or wheezing: here's how to know what kind of cough you have and how to treat it

In the cold winter months it often seems like everyone is coughing and sniffing.

The reason coughs are more common during winter is because the cold winter air dries the mucous membranes lining the airways – and these membranes are our first line of defence.

“When the airways dry up, we become more susceptible to viruses and bacteria,” says Australian respiratory physician Dr Simone Barry.