Coughing is a natural reflex of the body to eliminate any lung irritation. The type of cough, amount and color of the discharge as well as the time the person is coughing determine whether the cough is of infectious origin as a virus, or allergic as in the case of rhinitis.
Coughing is the result of the contraction of the chest muscles, increasing the pressure of the air on the lung. The characteristic sound is produced due to the passage of air through the vocal cords. The air that comes out through the reflex of the cough, which is expelled on average at 160 km / h can bring secretion or not.
The main causes of dry cough, with catarrh or with blood are:
Dry cough
1. Heart problems
One of the symptoms of heart disease is dry and persistent cough without any secretion being involved. Coughing can occur at any time and can worsen at night, when the person is lying down, for example.
There is a suspected cardiac impairment when no medication can stop coughing, even those used in case of asthma or bronchitis. In these cases, the doctor may request an electrocardiogram to check the health of the heart and thus indicate the best treatment.
2. Allergy
Respiratory allergies often cause a lot of cough, which manifests itself especially in dirty, dusty places and during the spring or fall. In this case the cough is dry and irritative, being able to be present during the day and bother to sleep. Know other symptoms of respiratory allergy.
Treatment for allergic crises is usually done with antihistamine medicines that help relieve allergy symptoms within a few days. In addition, it is important to identify the cause of the allergy to avoid contacting again. If the allergy is persistent, it is important to go to the general practitioner or allergist so that a more specific treatment can be established.
3. Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux can cause dry cough, especially after eating spicy or acidic foods and in this case just control the reflux to stop coughing.
It is important to go to the gastroenterologist for the best treatment option recommended, and use of gastric shields is usually indicated to help control the symptoms of reflux and, consequently, reduce cough attacks. Here's how feeding can help treat reflux.
4. Cigarette and environmental pollution
Cigarette smoke as well as environmental pollution can cause dry, irritative, and persistent cough. Just be close to a smoker as cigarette smoke can irritate the airways, bringing discomfort to the throat. Drinking small sips of water several times a day can help as well as avoid the dry and polluted environments.
For those who live in large urban centers it may be useful to have plants that renew the air inside the work and also in the house, to improve the quality of the air, and thus decrease the frequency of coughing.
Check out this article some natural options for ending dry cough.
Cough with catarrh
1. Flu or cold
Flu and cold are the most common causes of catarrh cough and nasal congestion. Other symptoms that are usually present include discomfort, tiredness, sneezing and tearing of the eyes that usually cease in less than 10 days. Remedies such as Benegrip and Bisolvon help relieve symptoms by reducing the frequency of coughing and sneezing. To avoid these diseases one should take the flu vaccine every year before winter arrives.
2. Bronchitis
Bronchitis can be characterized by the presence of strong cough and thick phlegm in a small amount and it can take more than 3 months to pass. Usually bronchitis is diagnosed in childhood, but it can occur at any stage of life.
Treatment for bronchitis should be indicated by the pulmonologist or general practitioner, and bronchodilator medications are usually indicated. However, the inhalation of eucalyptus can also help relieve the symptoms and make the phlegm more fluid, facilitating its release from the body.
3. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is characterized by the presence of cough with phlegm and high fever, which usually appear after the flu. Other symptoms that may be present are chest pain and difficulty breathing. One may feel that no matter how much it inhales, the air does not seem to reach the lungs. Treatment should be doctor-directed and may include the use of antibiotics. Learn to identify the symptoms of pneumonia.
Coughing up blood
1. Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis has as its main sign the cough with phlegm and small amounts of blood, as well as intense night sweats and weight loss with no apparent cause. This cough lasts for more than 3 weeks and does not even go away with the ingestion of cold or flu remedies.
Treatment for tuberculosis is done with the use of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, such as Isoniazid, Rifampicin and Rifapentine, which should be used for approximately 6 months or according to medical advice.
2. Sinusitis
In case of sinusitis, the blood usually goes out through the nose, but if it slips down the throat and the person coughs, it may appear that the cough is with blood and that it is coming from the lung. In this case the amount of blood is not very large, just small droplets of red that can mix in the phlegm, for example.
3. People who use probe
People who are bedridden or hospitalized may have to use a catheter to breathe or feed themselves, and as they pass through the airway, the catheter may injure the throat, for example, and small drops of blood may come out when the person coughs. The blood is bright red and no specific treatment is necessary because the injured tissue usually heals quickly.
How To Cure Cough
Acute cough lasts up to 3 weeks and usually passes with ingestion of honey, syrups or antitussive medications, such as Bisolvon.
Some good home remedies for coughing are honey syrup with lemon, ginger and consumption of foods rich in vitamin C, such as orange, pineapple and acerola, for example. But it is important that the individual knows that if the cough is productive with phlegm or blood and accompanied by fever and sore throat, one should go to the doctor for a correct diagnosis and a more targeted therapy. See the best cough syrups here.
Check out how to prepare homemade syrups, juices and cough drops in the following video:
When to go to the doctor
If it is present for more than 7 days and does not end with the use of home remedies and natural strategies, it is recommended to seek medical help. It is also important to see a doctor if symptoms such as:
- Fever;
- Coughing up blood;
- General malaise;
- Lack of appetite;
- Difficulty breathing.
Initially, the general practitioner may try to identify the cause of the cough and to request tests such as chest x-rays, electrocardiograms, blood tests, or any other tests he may deem necessary.
