Understanding Cough: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Cough is the body’s natural way of clearing the airways. When coughing up mucus, dust particles are removed from the trachea and lungs.

Cough

Complaints and symptoms
Cough is divided into two types: productive and non-productive cough. Productive coughs produce mucus. Especially in combination with fever, this is often an indication of a respiratory infection. The cough is an effective response to clear mucus and ease breathing. With a non-productive cough (also called tickling, tickling or dry cough), no mucus is coughed up. Frequent coughing can cause irritation of the throat and airways. This causes the cough to persist.

Causes
The inside of the airways is lined with mucous membrane. Cough often occurs when the mucous membrane of the airways is irritated. Smoke, dust and chemicals can be a stimulus. A viral infection also causes irritation, for example a cold. Furthermore, severe tension or hypersensitivity to a certain substance (allergy) can cause a cough. Finally, certain medicines can also cause tickly cough.

When to consult a doctor?
If you have the following complaints, it is better to consult a doctor.

If the cough lasts longer than three weeks, even though you do not have a cold. If the cough is accompanied by shortness of breath or wheezing (especially in people with asthma). If you not only cough, but also have a fever for more than three days. When the cough is accompanied by severe, stabbing pain or when you cough up bloody mucus. If you suspect that a medicine is the cause of the cough. In babies younger than six months who have difficulty drinking due to coughing.

How do you prevent coughing?
Good fitness ensures that you are less susceptible to infection with bacteria or a virus. If the cough is caused by an allergy, the allergy-inducing substance should be avoided.

What can you do yourself?
The cough will stop on its own as soon as the mucus has disappeared. If you cough up the mucus easily, you don’t need to do anything. A spoonful of honey, a licorice or a piece of candy can have a soothing effect.

Productive cough is useful. Therefore, do not suppress this with medicines. If coughing up mucus is more difficult, you can thin the mucus by drinking plenty of fluids. Drink at least two liters of fluid per day and preferably warm drinks. Steaming with hot water (without additives) can also loosen stuck mucus.

With tickly cough it is important to ensure that the air is not too dry. Furthermore, it is best to avoid smoke, cold and drafts. Make sure there is sufficient ventilation. It is also better not to talk too much. A spoonful of honey, licorice or a piece of candy may be nice.

More information
Do you have any questions about the above, or are you looking for other information? Then visit Alphega pharmacy Nederweert without obligation. We are happy to assist you with appropriate advice. Of course you are also very welcome to ask any other questions.

Jack JF Naus, pharmacist Alphega pharmacy Nederweert
Kerkstraat 42, 6031 CH Nederweert
T. 0495-632696,
E. [email protected],
W. www.apotheeknederweert.nl

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2023-10-17 13:03:48
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