Cough
A sudden, forceful hacking sound to release air and clear an irritation in the throat or airway.
Coughing can be caused by various factors, including respiratory infections (like colds, flu, or pneumonia), allergies, asthma, acid reflux, smoking, air pollution, and sometimes even certain medications or medical conditions. If you have a persistent or severe cough, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.
The treatment for a cough depends on its underlying cause. Here are some general approaches that may help alleviate a cough:
1. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to help thin mucus and keep your throat moist.
2. Cough Syrups or Lozenges: Over-the-counter cough syrups or lozenges may help soothe your throat and suppress the cough reflex.
3. Humidifier: Use a humidifier in your room to add moisture to the air, which can ease coughing caused by dry air.
4. Avoid Irritants: Stay away from smoke, strong odors, and other irritants that can worsen your cough.
5. Elevate Your Head: If your cough is worse at night, try elevating your head with extra pillows to reduce postnasal drip.
6. Medications: If your cough is due to allergies or asthma, your doctor may recommend antihistamines or inhalers.
7. Treat Underlying Infections: If your cough is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics
There are many things that can make you cough. Some of them include:
Irritants or allergens
- Smoke.
- Strong smells (like cleaners and perfumes).
- Mold.
- Dust.
- Pollen.
- Pet dander.
- Mucus.
- Certain medications, like the blood pressure medications known as ACE inhibitors.
Medical conditions
- COLD
- FLU
- Acute BRONCHITIS or bronchiolitis
- PNEUMONIA
- WHOOPING COUGH(also called pertussis).
- Asthma.
- Allergies.
- Acute second- or third-hand smoke exposure.
Cough Causes
These are common causes of acute cough – lasting less than two months:
- Upper respiratory tract infections:Infections of the nose and throat are the most common cause of coughing related to illness. They are usually associated with fevers, sore throat and runny nose. They are almost always caused by viruses, and include the common cold, viral laryngitis and influenza.
- Hay fever (or allergic rhinitis): A common allergic condition that mimics the symptoms of a common cold. It is usually associated with dry cough, sneezing and runny nose.
- Inhalation of irritants: Acute exposure to some fumes and vapors can cause inflammation of the throat and airway and cause cough.
- Lower respiratory tract infections: These are more serious viral and bacterial infections that usually cause a deep, lingering cough and fever. They can affect the airways or go further into the lungs .
- PULMONARY EMBOLISIM: This is a potentially life-threatening condition where a blood clot travels, usually from the legs, to the lungs causing sudden shortness of breath and sometimes a dry cough.
- Lung collapse : This is caused by the deflation of the lung. It can be spontaneous or due to chest trauma. Signs of a collapsed lung include sudden chest pain, dry cough and shortness of breath.
- Heart failure: A weak or diseased heart can cause buildup of fluid in the lung, causing cough and worsening shortness of breath.
- Post-nasal drip: This condition shows up as a dry cough caused by the chronic dripping of mucus from the back of the nose to the throat. Usually this occurs after a recent infection or continuous exposure to an allergy trigger.
- Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD): This digestive disorder occurs when stomach acid frequently backs up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. When the acid rises into the throat it can also cause a dry cough.
What can be done to control or relieve a cough?
Treating a cough will depend on what is causing the cough. If you have an infection, your healthcare provider might prescribe some type of antibiotic or antiviral medication, but most viral coughs do not require antiviral medications. For GERD, they might suggest diet changes or prescribe a proton pump inhibitor or an H2 blocker.
Water can be good for a cough. Drinking it can help ease a cough from throat irritation or dryness. Adding it to the air with a vaporizer or a steamy shower are other ways water relieves a cough.
Quitting smoking and avoiding other irritants are also ways to relieve a cough. Those irritants may include medicines, scents (like perfume or candles), smoke or allergens.
What are the Precautions For Cough?
- On the off chance that your cough has not improved when seven days or on the off chance that you have a high fever, skin rash, proceeding with cerebral pain, or sore throat with the cough, check with your specialist.
- These signs may imply that you have other medical issues. For patients taking a codeine-containing medication or the other narcotic analgesics (e.g., dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and pentazocine):
- Contact your doctor straight off if you expertise extreme drowsiness, confusion, or shallow breathing.
- These symptoms might indicate that you simply square measure associate ""ultra-rapid metabolizer of codeine"".
- Ultra-rapid metabolizers modification opiate to analgesic additional quickly and utterly than people.
- For nursing mothers taking a codeine-containing medication or the other narcotic cough medication (dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, or hydromorphone):
- Call your doctor if you become extraordinarily tired and have issue caring for your baby.
- Your baby ought to typically nurse each 2 to a few hours and will stay awaken quite four hours at a time.
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