Coughing is a reflex action that the body uses to eliminate substances from the airways. Coughing is usually used to clear a buildup in the trachea by forcing the body to expel air at high speed. Either you choose to cough (a voluntary action), or your body may decide to cough automatically (an involuntary act).
Types
There are two types of cough: acute and chronic. Acute cough is a sudden, short-term condition that lasts for more than three weeks. They can be contagious (common colds, sinusitis, pneumonia) or non-infectious like asthma, bronchitis, and may even be caused by a virus.
Chronic coughs last for longer than three weeks. The source of the cough is often what determines its cause.
Causes
- Exposures to environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke, pollen, and industrial chemicals.
- Second hand smoke and smoking.
- Fluid buildup in the lungs.
- Inhaled food or other substances can cause obstruction of the airway.
- A common cause of cough is gastroesophageal reflux. This happens when acid from the stomach travels up into the esophageal causing a reflex cough. This is often accompanied by a feeling of heartburn. It can also worsen during the day and when one lies down on the back. It can be difficult to identify the symptoms of a chronic, persistent cough because there are many causes.
Symptoms
A cough can be a frustrating symptom with many causes.
- A cough that produces yellowish or greenish mucus could be due to chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, or both. Asthma may be the cause of wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or wheezing.
- One may cough up blood if there is lung cancer or cancer of the airways. Other signs that could indicate cancer include increased fatigue, loss in appetite, weight loss, and decreased ability to swallow solid and liquid foods. You can treat a cough with medication.
Good to know
Cough suppressants are used to treat dry coughs. Expectorants are used to loosen mucus in the respiratory tract for productive coughs. For coughs that are caused by post-nasal drip, decongestants and antihistamines are good options. The treatment of the underlying cause of the cough should be first. A recent study has shown that a bar of dark chocolate can be effective in treating persistent coughs due to the presence of theobromine.
Gargling with warm water and salt is also a good way to reduce inflammation and cut phlegm. Gargle with 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 1/2 cup warmwater, every three to four hours. Symptoms of a cough usually disappear within 7-10 days.
More Remedies
There are many home remedies that can provide relief from the symptoms of cough. Take three peppercorns and add a pinch black cumin seeds and rock salt to it. For cough relief, drink hot milk with honey at night.
- Boil 50g of fresh ginger in 5 tablespoons sugar in 2 glasses of water for 30 minutes. This is a very effective home remedy for cough. It can be consumed hot, twice daily, in one day.
- Combine powdered cinnamon, lemon-juice and honey. Two teaspoons twice daily.
- Add a pinch of turmeric powder (Haldi), to one cup of warm milk. Drink twice daily.
- Combine half a teaspoon each of tulsi and ginger juice. 1 teaspoon honey is also recommended. The above mixture should be taken 2-3 times per day.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice together. Take it every 12 hours. Honey helps relieve itching by moistening your throat passage.
- Mix 8-10 tablespoons of coconut milk with 1 teaspoon poppy seed (powdered), and 1 tablespoon pure honey. This should be taken every night before you go to bed.
- Garlic-onion chicken soup is a great remedy for cough. It can be steam heated to relieve irritation in the throat.
