Have you ever wondered why you cough? The answer to this question is that it is your body’s way of reacting to irritation in your throat or airway. Furthermore, this occurs mainly because the irritant stimulates nerves that send messages to your brain, triggering your chest and abdomen to push air out of the lungs along with the substance, causing a nuisance. So long as the cough is occasional, it is normal and healthy. However, if it persists for some time and consists of mucus, you may need immediate medical attention. Therefore, here is presenting this article to help you know more about this medical condition.
Types of Cough: Do you know what they are?
Like a few medical conditions, Cough is available in various forms. It possesses many different names, some of which represent the duration of time it exists, a few reflect how they feel or sound, and others refer to actual medical disorders. They are as follows:
Cough that lasts long, very long:
This type of cough in its acute form generally lasts about two to three weeks. Moreover, its stay gradually increases from three to eight weeks to longer than eight weeks as it goes from subacute to the chronic stage. In addition, there is also refractory cough which is persistent that usually does not respond well to treatment.
Mucus Cough:
‘A Wet Cough’ is what brings out this type of coughing. It also should be noted that a non-productive or dry cough never does expel mucus or phlegm.
Whooping Cough:
It is a cough that sounds the same as a ‘Whoop.’ At times, it may also seem like a dog bark. Finally, there is a distinct possibility that a cough could feel like wheezing, mainly due to blockage in airways caused by an infection such as asthma.
Specific period cough:
It includes the daytime/nighttime or nocturnal cough and even cough, which follows vomiting seen mainly in children.
Are you aware of the type of people likely to experience a Cough?
It is a fact that coughs can happen to everyone. Besides, the most frequent medical symptom reported at doctors’ offices is a cough.
However, they are more frequently seen in certain people than most others, though. These consist of those:
- Who possess allergies
- Use Vape
- Of whom are children frequently attending daycare or school?
- Have ongoing conditions, particularly respiratory or neurological system diseases.
- Are frequently consuming substances like tobacco or marijuana.
Likely causes of Cough, do you know what they are?
Numerous factors can contribute to your cough. Some of them consist of:
- Allergens or Irritants:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mucus
- Pet Dander
- Smoke
- Strong fragrance
- Mold
- Medicines like those for blood pressure are also known as ACE inhibitors.
- Medical Conditions:
Also, several medical issues that trigger acute, subacute, and chronic coughs are closely associated with your health. They are:
- Sinusitis
- Pneumonia
- Acute second or third-hand smoke exposure
- Cold
- Flu
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD
- Heart Failure
- Postnasal Drip
- Throat disorders
What do you do to control or treat your Cough?
Treating your cough will depend on what is causing the cough. Therefore, it is very likely that doctor may recommend an antibiotic or antiviral medication if you have an infection. However, most viral coughs do not require antiviral medication. In addition, your physician could also advise dietary modifications for GERD or prescribe a proton pump inhibitor or an H2 blocker.
Furthermore, water can help in relieving your cough. Its consumption can effectively lessen your cough brought on by dryness or irritation of the throat. It also helps soothe a cough when added to the air via a vaporizer or when taken in a steamy shower.
Another strategy you can use to get rid of a cough is to stop smoking and stay away from other irritants. These substances causing nuisance could be drugs, fragrances (like candles or perfume), smoke, or allergies.
Do you know how to prevent Coughing?
Firstly, you need to avoid irritants that you know make you cough. Secondly, you can avoid infection-related coughs by doing the following:
- Avoid coming into contact with sick individuals.
- Do not touch your lips, nose, or eyes.
- Ensure that you get COVID-19, pneumonia, and influenza vaccinations.
- Finally, please use hand sanitizers or frequently wash your hands with soap and water.
Are there any effective over-the-medications you can use for Cough?
In the case of adults, there are many over-the-counter cough syrups and treatments available. Moreover, they have not been proven more effective than a spoonful of honey. There is a possibility that your sore throat can get better with cough medicines and hard butterscotch candies. Hot drinks like tea, especially if you add honey to them, may also provide relief.
If your child is 6 years old, you should not give them cough medicines without a doctor’s prescription.
How do you know when your Cough is severe?
To understand the seriousness of your cough, your doctor will ask you about your medical history, perform a physical examination, and perhaps prescribe some tests to determine the cause of this medical condition. Furthermore, your physician will check your vital signs, such as your temperature and breathing rate, during the examination. If your cough has persisted for a long time, you may have to check your oxygen levels via a spirometry test.
In addition, your doctor can ask you a few questions to diagnose your cough effectively. They are:
- What work do you do?
- What medicines do you take?
- For how long have you been coughing
- Does your cough prevent you from sleeping
What facts about COVID-19 and Cough do you need to know?
COVID-19 symptoms include coughing. It might also connect to a post-COVID syndrome (or long COVID).
A cough that is a symptom of prolonged COVID infection may persist for weeks or months after the initial infection. Furthermore, you may also experience other symptoms like extreme fatigue, trouble focusing or remembering, and breathing difficulties.
If you have not yet been given a COVID-19 diagnosis, ensure that you talk to your doctor about getting tested. If you have, take your doctor’s advice on handling persistent symptoms.
Conclusion:
More importantly, it would help if you remembered that suffering from a cough frequently indicates nothing serious. In some circumstances, coughing is acceptable because it proves to be beneficial. Because you can get rid of substances in your throat and airways irritating or making breathing difficult by coughing, call your doctor for guidance if you experience any other symptoms, such as coughing up blood or colored sputum or difficulty breathing, eating, sleeping, or feeling feverish. It is also a good idea to call your child’s healthcare practitioner if they have a cough and fever or a cough that sounds unsettling or alarming, mainly since small children cannot communicate their feelings to us.
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