Cough: What is it, Causes and Remedies

airways are irritated. Cough is therefore a defense mechanism that our body adopts to neutralize and remove an irritant present in the airways.

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This symptom is so widespread that it represents the most frequent disorder for which one should consult a doctor.

The stimulation of the reflex zones located in the ducts that carry air to the lungs can occur due to the presence of:

Infections of viral or bacterial origin (typical consequence of colds or pneumonia, tracheitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and the like);
Allergies;
Irritants (smoke, dust, steam, pollution);
Sudden climatic variations;
Foreign bodies (a crumb of bread gone sideways).

Cough can also arise as a secondary cause of specific diseases or derive from the use of certain drugs.

Normally coughing is an involuntary mechanism stimulated by the excitation of specific receptors present along the walls of the respiratory tract. In the presence of excessive mucus or other causative agents, a signal is sent to the brain that leads to their expulsion together with the air contained in the lungs. and in the airways.

This defense mechanism combines the occlusion of the glottis with a simultaneous contraction of the expiratory muscles, considerably increasing the pressure inside the respiratory tract. As soon as the glottis is opened there is a rapid, violent and noisy escape of air that normally carries with it everything that disturbs the breath.

However, it should be noted that coughing is not always a spontaneous act; the subject may in fact hold back or intentionally provoke a cough as occurs in a nervous cough.

. It can be divided into:

Oily or productive cough;
Dry cough.

A fat cough is accompanied by sputum which can be of a different nature and which is commonly called phlegm.

The emission of mucus accumulations outside represents an important protection for the respiratory tract. In fact, there are bacterial accumulations in the phlegm which, if retained, could aggravate or favor the infection. The retention of secretions would have a deleterious effect also because it would contribute to obstructing the respiratory tract, hindering normal breathing.

It is therefore necessary not to take drugs that slow down the natural process of eliminating excess mucus. Eventually, if the consistency of the sputum is very thick, it may be useful to take fluidifying or mucolytic drugs. This category of medicines is available in various forms of administration (syrups, capsules, suppositories, etc.), but it seems to give the best results if inhaled through aerosol therapy. The inhalation of other balsamic substances and the intake of hot drinks such as tea, milk and broth can also reduce the irritation of the respiratory mucous membranes and thin the secretions.

Dry cough is not accompanied by sputum and in most cases arises as a result of external stimuli. At the first symptoms it is good to avoid drugs that calm you, as their use could delay a diagnosis.

The continuous repetition of coughing can cause bronchial or pulmonary lesions, proving to be particularly harmful even for those suffering from hypertension or heart disease. Therefore, if the dry cough persists, it is good to resort, after consulting a doctor, to specific medicines.

As we have seen, cough can be a symptom of various diseases and the diagnosis must be made by qualified personnel able to recognize the various shades and interpret it. The treatment of chronic cough must therefore be preceded by the "identification and elimination of the cause and the predisposing factor.

, points out the presence of an "infection.

If the diagnosis and the choice of the most suitable medicines rests exclusively with the doctor, the subject, for his part, should observe some important rules to prevent coughing or not to worsen it. Here are some tips:

Search for the optimal environmental conditions in your home; for example in winter it is useful to use the water trays in contact with the radiators in order to keep the humidity around 40-60%. Humidity values below 40% weaken the ability of the mucous membranes to purify the inhaled air by drying it out.
Never smoke inside the car.
Do not smoke indoors, such as your own home.
If it is suspected that the cough is associated with a pathology affecting the respiratory tract, it is good to avoid situations of possible contagion.