Pharmacy Online: Health Encyclopedia

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COUGH

What causes us to cough ?

When something irritates or blocks the air passages (e.g. cigarette smoke, dust, mucus. phlegm, toxic fumes), the body immediately attempts to expel the substance by coughing. This reflex action may also be triggered by the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, usually due to viral infection (e.g. common cold, flu).A cough is either productive(brings up phlegm) or unproductive (dry, with no phlegm).A cough subsides when the irritant is removed, or the illness clears.

SYMPTOMS

Itchy or sore throat.
The sudden unintended expulsion of air from the lungs with an explosive noise, sometimes accompanied by phlegm.
Painful abdominal muscles, when the cough is persistent.

COMMON CAUSES

An irritant (e.g. cigarette smoke, dust, food particle, nasal secretions, phlegm, smoke, toxic fumes, etc) invading the air passages as in allergic rhinitis, cold.
Allergy, which sets off a spasm in the air passages (e.g. asthma).
Excessive phlegm or secretions due to respiratory infection or disease (e.g. flu, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer).

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Nothing, if the cough is triggered off by the sudden entry of a foreign substance. If you smoke, stop, at least until the attack eases off. The cough will clear up soon after the irritant is expelled.
Drink plenty of fluids, particularly hot fluids, to keep the air passages moist. Hot liquids (e.g. chicken soup)also act as decongestants.
Inhale steam (e.g. from a hot bath, a pan of boiling water) to loosen nasal congestion and ease expulsion of mucus.
Blow your nose frequently, blocking only one nostril at a time to keep the nasal secretions from being forced into the sinuses and the middle ear and infecting them.

Suck lozenges to soothe throat.
For productive coughs, take an expectorant.
For dry cough, take a cough suppressant, but only for three days at most. (A young child with a dry cough may actually have a productive one and just not know how to spit out phlegm ).

Consult your doctor or pharmacist if:

* The cough is severe.

* The cough persists for more than a week.

* The cough is accompanied by chest pain, greenish-yellow, or blood-stained phlegm, or breathing difficulty.

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR/PHARMACIST CAN DO FOR YOU

Examine you thoroughly. He may want to take X-rays of your chest and sinuses.
Determine the cause and treat it.
Prescribe cough or other medicines.

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