Overview of Cough
A cough occurs when something irritates your throat. It’s just a reflex that keeps our throats clear. A quick discharge of air through the breathing passage helps clear the bacteria. Many people cough regularly to clear their throats as bacteria get involved in their lungs. This cough may only continue for two weeks; if it causes more irritation and extends to more than three weeks, then we should consult a doctor.
What Are the Different Types of Cough?
There are various types of coughs that can cause a viral infection in your throat.
- Dry cough: A dry cough can occur in many people and you can call it "ineffectual." It means there is no specific reason for getting a cough and it doesn’t have any kind of mucus in it. Dry cough may occur due to various reasons, like irritation, dry respiratory issues, inflammation, or any physical strain.
- Wet cough: wet cough, which can be called “chest cough.”. It is very low and heavy. This cough is a productive kind of cough. Here, mucus is expelled from the lungs, which leads to chest pain and a continued cough. We can get allergies from cold, flu, pneumonia, and allergies. The wet cough can be controlled by reducing the mucus.
- Whooping cough: Whooping cough can be found dangerous as it releases a high amount of oxygen from the lungs. It’s a bacterial infection that is commonly found in many people. But it can cause pneumonia, asthma attacks, and tuberculosis. If a person is found to have whooping cough, he should start getting treatment.
- Burning Cough: The name itself signifies that if there is any burning in your throat, then it can be called a burning cough. This disease is a symptom of acid reflux and heartburn. The irritation can be felt as a burning sensation and it leads to coughing. Medicines that help in reducing the acid in our stomach can help in controlling the acid that is created by the stomach.
- Serious Cough: Some serious cough require some medical treatment and more attention from the doctor. The symptoms that are found in the skin become pale due to lack of oxygen, having a high fever for more than three to four days, and coughing that remains for more than two weeks. These symptoms don’t mean that we have any kind of serious illness but if we are feeling some discomfort and have a high level of coughing, a doctor's consultation should be taken.
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What Are the Causes of Cough?
Coughing can occur for many reasons, like:
- Due to running or sober nose
- Regular cleaning of the throat due to the presence of bacteria or infection
- Burning heart or bitter taste in your mouth
- Unable to breathe properly sometimes
A rare cough is normal as it clears the secretion of liquid from the lungs. If the cough remains for more than two weeks, then some preventive measures should be taken. Some of the cough cause can be:
- The nose produces a high rate of mucus, which drips back into the throat and leads to coughing.
- If a person has asthma, then there is a chance of getting a cough. The symptoms of asthma patients are coughing and due to cold air and certain chemicals, there is a high rate of getting a cough.
- Gastric disease is common in every human being and may sometimes cause you to cough. As acid flows back to a tube that has a connection between the stomach and throat, there can be a chance of getting a cough
- If we have a cold, flu, pneumonia, or any other infection, it can cause us to cough.
What are the Treatments for Cough?
There are treatments available for all diseases. Coughs can also be effectively treated with appropriate medication and therapy.
- Herbal syrup can be the best solution for your sore throat. Also, a menthol flavor candy sometimes gives soothness to the throat.
- Drinking hot water and taking hot sips of herbal tea can give relief from cough. We cough when our throat has bacteria or infection in it. To reduce the cough, we drink hot water.
- Home remedies for cough treatment are a great way of getting a cure from cough, like taking a tablespoon of honey with tulsi leaves, which sometimes gives us relief from cough.
- Heating the airways by having some hot food or hot soup can control the release of bacteria.
- If coughing can be controlled through homemade remedies, we can go for medicines. It’s better to cough sometimes because it releases mucus and cleans our lungs. If the cough remains for many days, then consulting a doctor and taking proper medication is a better option for controlling the cough.
- Sometimes a heavy nose can be a reason for coughing, it can be cured by taking nostrils, which will help in clearing the nose.
- Dry throat can be another reason for a heavy cough so try to take steam from hot water. Also, using a vaporizer can sometimes give you relief.
- Few people have an allergy to dust and pollution, they may avoid going frequently or else can use a mask to avoid dust and coughing. Also, they use anti-allergy medicines prescribed by doctors, which will give them relief from dust and cough.
- If a person is having a high cold, he/she may take rest to avoid getting contact from outside germs.
- Gargling with hot and saltwater is by far the best way to get rid of the cold and cough. Gargling several times a day will give you the best result.
- Eating frozen ice cream sometimes will give you relaxation from a sore throat.
- Severe throat pain can be cured by taking some of the painkiller medicines.
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Some of the cough remedies that will naturally give you relief from coughing are:
- A study says that honey works wonders during cough as it works as medication for everyone. Two teaspoons of honey with warm water will show you results.
- Ginger will help you with a dry cough and it also has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Drinking fluids at room temperature or drinking hot water may relieve you from getting a cough.
- Taking bromelain, which has anti-inflammatory properties, can cure cough immediately.
- Having natural yogurt or hot soup will do wonders to cure your cough.
These household cough remedies sometimes give better results in curing your sore throat and help increase metabolism. Staying hydrated and drinking more water will keep you from getting any kind of disease. Still, if the household cough treatment is not giving you relief, you can go consult a doctor.
When to visit a Doctor?
An acute cough caused by an irritant, allergens, or an infection usually clears up within a few weeks. But it's a good idea to follow up with your doctor if it lasts longer than 3 weeks or if it occurs in conjunction with any of the following symptoms:
Seek emergency care for any cough accompanied by:
