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Cough

Home | Articles | Cough

By Dr. K. Ravi Teja

Consultant Pulmonologist
Published on: 06 Sep 2020

Article Context:

  1. Overview
  2. What is Cough?
  3. Types
  4. Symptoms
  5. Causes
  6. Treatments
  7. Remedies
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

  • Coughing is a reflex action that clears foreign mucus or irritants from the throat. While everyone coughs to clear their throat from time to time, several conditions can lead to a more frequent whooping. Sharp whooping lasts less than three weeks. It goes away or at least improves significantly within two weeks. If it lasts three to eight weeks and improves by the end of that period, it is considered a subacute cough.

    • What is Cough?

    cough
  • A cough occurs when something irritates your throat. It’s just a reflex that keeps our throat clear. A quick dismissal of air through the breathing passage helps in clearing the bacteria. Many people whoop regularly for clearing their throat as the bacteria get involved in our lungs. It may only continue for two weeks if it causes more irritation and it extends to more than three weeks then we should consult a doctor.

    • Types

  • These can be a cause of viral infection in your throat.

    • Dry Cough

  • Dry coughing can occur in many people and you can call it “ineffectual”. It means there is no specific reason for getting cough and it doesn’t have any kind of mucus in it. It may occur due to various reasons like irritation, dry respiratory issues, inflammation, or any physical strain.

    • Wet Cough

  • Wet coughing can be called “chest cough”. It is very low and heavy. Here, mucus is expelled from the lungs which lead to chest pain. We can get allergies from cold, flu, pneumonia, and allergies. This can be controlled by reducing the mucus.

    • Whooping Cough

  • Whooping cough can be found dangerous as it releases a high amount of oxygen from the lungs. It’s a bacterial infection that is commonly found in many people. But it can cause Pneumonia, asthma attacks, and tuberculosis. If a person is found with Whooping cough he should start getting treatment.

    • Burning Cough

  • The name itself signifies if there is any burning in your throat then it can be called a burning cough. This disease is the symptom of acid reflux and heartburn. The irritation can be felt as a burning sensation and it leads to coughing. Medicines that help in reducing the acid in our stomach can help in controlling the acid that is created by the stomach.

    • Serious Cough

  • Some serious cough that requires some medical treatment and more attention by the Doctor. The symptoms that are found in the skin become pale due to lack of oxygen, having a high fever for more than three to four days, and it remains for more than two weeks. These symptoms don’t mean that we have any kind of serious illness but if we are feeling some discomfort and have a high level of coughing doctor consultation should be taken. Different types of coughing signify a variety of illnesses and can lead to some serious conditions. So learn the difference between types of coughs and cure them with medications.
    • Book an appointment with our best General Physician

    Symptoms

  • It can occur due to many reasons like:
    • Due to running or sober nose
    • Regular cleaning of the throat due to the presence of bacteria or infection
    • Burning heart or bitter taste in your mouth
    • Unable to breathe properly sometimes

    Causes

  • Rare coughing is normal as it clears the secretion of liquid from the lungs. If this remains for more than two weeks then some preventive measures should be taken. Some of the coughings can be caused by: The nose produces a high rate of mucus and drips down back into the throat and it leads to coughing. If a person is having asthma then there is a chance of getting a cough. The symptoms of asthma patients are coughing and due to cold air and certain chemicals, there is a high rate of getting a cough. Gastric is common in every human being and may sometimes cause you to cough. As acid flows back to a tube that has a connection between the stomach and throat there can lead to coughing If you have a cold, flu, pneumonia, or any other infection can also cause it.

    • Treatments

    • There’s a cure for all the diseases. It can also be cured by proper medication and treatment
    • Herbal syrup can be the best solution for your sore throat. Also, menthol flavor candy sometimes gives smoothness to the throat.
    • Drinking hot water and taking hot sips of herbal tea can give relief. We cough when our throat has bacterias or infection in it. To reduce it we should drink hot water.
    • Home remedy treatment is a great way of getting a cure for this. It is like taking a tablespoon of honey with Tulsi leaves sometimes gives us relief.
    • Heating the airways by having some hot food or hot soup can control the release of bacteria.
    • If it can be controlled through the homemade remedy we need not go for medicines. It’s better to cough sometimes because it releases mucus and cleans our lungs. If it remains for many days then consulting a doctor and taking proper medication is a better option for controlling it.
    • Sometimes a heavy nose can be a reason for it, it can be cured by taking nostrils which will help in clearing the nose.
    • A dry throat can be another reason for a heavy cough so try to take steam from hot water. Also, using a vaporizer can sometimes give you relief.
    • Few people have an allergy to dust and pollution, they may avoid going frequently or else can use a mask to avoid dust. Also, they use anti-allergy medicines prescribed by doctors which will give them relief from dust.
    • If a person is having a high cold then he/she may take a rest to avoid getting contact from the outside germs.
    • Gargling with hot and saltwater is by far the best way to get rid of the cold and cough. Gargling several times a day will give you the best result.
    • Eating ice cream sometimes will give you relaxation from a sore throat.
    • Severe throat pain can be cured by taking some of the painkiller medicines.

    Some of the Remedies That Will Naturally Give You Relief From Coughing

    • A study says that honey works wonders during cough as it works as a medication for everyone. Two teaspoons of honey with warm water will show you results.
    • Ginger will help you out with dry coughing and it also has anti-inflammatory properties present in it.
    • Drinking fluids at room temperature or drinking hot water may relieve your coughing.
    • Taking bromelain which has anti-inflammatory properties can cure it immediately.
    • Having natural yogurt or having hot soup will do wonders to cure it.
  • These home remedies sometimes give better results in curing your sore throat and help in increasing metabolism. Staying hydrated and drinking more water will keep you from getting into any kind of disease. Still, if the home remedies are not giving you relief then you can go for consulting a Doctor.

    • Reference link:


    Frequently Asked Questions:

    Coughing is a simple reflection of the high mucus that is secreted from the lungs. It may be due to the extra bacteria present in our airways. It should not last more than two weeks.

    Relax your body.Take 2-3 deep breaths and exhale slowly with your mouth open.

    While it can sometimes be difficult to identify the problem that triggers chronic coughing, the most common causes are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma, and acid reflux.

    It can often last 10-14 days and is usually the last cold symptom to go away. In some cases, the cough can last more than 2 weeks.

    Coughing that starts dry is often the first sign of acute bronchitis. Small amounts of white mucus may be expelled if the bronchitis is viral. If the mucus color changes to green or yellow, it may be a sign that a bacterial infection has also established itself.

    Violent coughing can cause physical harm. It is the rapid expulsion of air from the lungs to clear the throat and airways of mucus, foreign particles, liquids, microbes, and various irritants.

    Tags
    What is Cough? Types Symptoms Dry Cough Wet Cough Whooping Cough Remedies

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