Cough, which is classified in two different forms as sputum-free and chronic-acute, makes life unbearable when it becomes stubborn. Cough, which can occur for many reasons, is mostly caused by infectious diseases and allergic elements. A cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks is defined as a chronic cough. Here are the causes and treatment methods of cough!
What is a cough?
Cough is not a disease, it is a defense system that helps to clear the throat and respiratory tract. Cough can be classified in two different forms as sputum-without sputum and chronic-acute. A cough without phlegm is dry and can cause a tickling sensation in the throat. If the liquid called sputum comes with cough, it is called “productive cough”. Coughs lasting 3 weeks or longer are considered chronic cough. Acute cough infections are caused by sinusitis, pharyngitis, colds, foreign body infiltration into the lungs. Chronic coughs can sometimes last for years.
What causes cough?
Cough can have many causes. Diseases such as cold and flu, pharyngitis, asthma, post-nasal drip, reflux, heart failure, tuberculosis, fluid collection in the lungs can cause dry cough. Sinusitis, bronchitis or smoking can cause a cough with phlegm. In addition; Chronic ear problems, long-term use of blood pressure medications and smoking are also among the causes of cough. From time to time, the cause of cough can also be psychological.
Dry cough due to infection or allergies
A dry, phlegmless cough that occurs at night is often due to a viral upper respiratory tract infection or allergy. Nasal discharge, sinusitis, and coughs due to gastroesophageal reflux begin soon after the child falls asleep. A cough that increases with exercise, movement, laughing, and crying indicates asthma. Rough, hoarse, barking cough is seen in croup. A noisy, metallic cough can be an indication of an respiratory tract infection called tracheitis. In whooping cough, the cough is in the form of seizures and screams. In pneumonia (pneumonia) and tuberculosis, the cough is dry. Cough is phlegmatic in lung diseases such as bronchiectasis, lung abscess, cystic fibrosis.
Factors causing exacerbation of cough
Smoking: Due to smoking, the glands that produce mucus enlarge and this can cause more secretion in the airways, causing coughing or increasing the severity of existing cough.
Allergen considerations: Exposure to allergens such as pollens, dust mites (small creatures invisible to the eye) and indoor fungi may exacerbate coughing.
Environmental factors: Dust, perfume smell, detergents, cold air and air pollution can trigger cough in some cases.
Exercise: Exercise can trigger coughing, especially in asthmatic patients.
Medicines: Medicines such as captopril and enalapril, which are called ACE inhibitors, can cause coughing as well as increase the severity of coughing.
What is enough for a cough?
Getting rid of cough is possible by detecting and treating the diseases that cause cough. Some of the suggestions to relieve cough are as follows;
– Eating a systematic and stable diet, getting enough vitamin C especially in winter months
– Staying away from all kinds of dusty and polluted environments,
– Regular sports or walking to maintain body resistance
– Being sluggish or to pay attention to sleep periods and rest the body in order not to get tired,
– Take plenty of fluids
– Inhale steam for a cough that produces mucus or phlegm. It should be ensured that a hot shower or bath is taken and the bathroom is filled with steam. (Note: Do not do this application if the cough is due to asthma. Because steam can make the symptoms worse.
– Licorice root acts as an expectorant
– Ginger tea soothes throat inflammation.
