2023-09-20 23:18:00
Home remedies, although they can be useful, should not be replacements for medical treatment (Getty)
Cough is a natural reaction of the body that occurs when there is irritation in the throat or airways. This irritation causes a series of stimuli in certain nerves that, in turn, activate the muscles of the chest and abdomen to release air from the lungs. The main purpose of this action is to remove any element that may be causing discomfort.
Regardless, it is essential to understand when is the right time to seek medical help, as a cough can persist for several days and, in some cases, may be accompanied by mucus, phlegm, or other symptoms.
For example, if the cough is caused by smoking cigarettes, it must be taken into account that tobacco can dry out the throat, cause inflammation and lead to diseases.
After ruling out certain clinical conditions and following consulting with a health professional, there are several practices that can be done at home to calm a cough. First of all, it is essential to remember that these home approaches should be considered complementary and not substitutes for adequate medical treatment.
The thing is, this painting is not something that should be taken lightly. Although in many cases it may simply be a response to a temporary irritation, in others it may be indicative of a more serious condition. That is why it is always advisable to be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention when necessary.
It is vital to recognize when to seek medical help, as a cough can persist for several days and present additional symptoms (Getty)
“Cough is a very common symptom, in fact it is one of the most common signs of medical consultation. To begin with, I want to tell you that coughing is a normal mechanism. Because secretions are formed throughout our respiratory system and the respiratory system has to be clean. Sometimes secretions accumulate and, reflexively, you cough a little to mobilize and remove those secretions. It is a normal mechanism,” Dr. Daniel López Rosetti previously told Infobae.
Home remedies, such as drinking hot tea or inhaling steam, can be effective in some cases to temporarily relieve cough. However, if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, it is essential to seek medical attention.
Ultimately, coughing is a protective function of the body. Although it may be annoying, it is a sign that the body is working to stay healthy. However, as with any symptom, you have to listen to what the body is trying to say.
It is worth mentioning, in this case, what was previously reported to Infobae by Dr. Alberto Cormillot. “At one time I had a cough. I went to see one of the best specialists in respiratory diseases. He gave me all the medication, I had not improved, he continued studying me and told me, ‘look, that cough is due to reflux, so you have to take this medication and raise the head of the bed.’ When I went to Geneva, I met one of my colleagues who was the director of the most important Pulmonological Hospital in Geneva. He told me ‘change this medication and raise the head of the bed’ and he explained to me how to do it. According to him, the liquid that went down my throat and then got into my lungs during the night was not going to irritate me more.”
“I came back, raised the head of the bed, more or less 15 centimeters, and from that day on I never had a cough once more,” explained Cormillot, providing a suggestion to calm the cough.
Cough should not be underestimated, as it can be indicative of serious conditions and requires appropriate medical attention (Getty)
Meanwhile, according to the Mayo Clinic, “determining the cause of chronic cough is crucial for effective treatment. In many cases, there is more than one underlying condition that may be causing chronic cough, which occurs when it lasts 8 weeks or more in adults, or 4 weeks in children. Medications used to treat chronic cough may include antihistamines, corticosteroids, and decongestants; inhaled asthma medications; antibiotics; acid blockers, and cough suppressants.”
In any case, “over-the-counter medications to relieve coughs and colds are intended to treat the symptoms of coughs and colds, not the underlying disease,” they clarified from the Mayo Clinic.
For his part, López Rosetti contributed: “Why can a cough candy work? Because they have an anesthetic, then, when you eat that candy, it anesthetizes the throat, where the pharynx, the larynx, is located, it reduces irritation and may reduce coughing. Or over-the-counter antitussives, which are composed of substances that, when taken, have a thinning effect on the mucus of the respiratory system, they are called mucolytics, so they make the cough less irritating, the dry cough begins to be a little productive, it begins to evolve gradually and the patient improves.”
Dry cough can be the result of allergies or even a reaction to medications. Additionally, dry air, both in cold climates and in heated indoors, can irritate the airways and cause this condition. According to López Rosetti, “the cough can be dry or productive. Dry is when you feel that you don’t have any mucus, ‘dog cough’ is popularly called. That already guides the doctor to a certain pathology. Or, on the contrary, a cough with a lot of mucus secretion is called a productive cough.”
Determining the cause of chronic cough is vital for effective treatment, and may require various medications (Getty)
“In general,” López Rosetti continued, “a cough that lasts less than two or three weeks is an acute cough, but when we receive patients with a cough lasting more than eight weeks, we can already suspect a chronic condition. Sometimes it happens due to irritation. Due to some substance in the air or temperature changes, in very hot or very cold environments, they can cause irritation and awaken the cough or cough reflex. Of course it can also occur due to pathological issues such as infections, viruses and bacteria, with fever.
Mayo Clinic researchers, for their part, maintained: “When something irritates the throat or airways, an irritant stimulates the nerves that send a message to the brain. “The brain then tells the muscles in the chest and abdomen to release air from the lungs to expel the irritant.”
“Of course, if there is a specific infection, whether bacterial or viral, or some other more important issue, it will require an adequate diagnosis and medical treatment,” López Rosetti warned.
While Mayo Clinic experts postulated: “Sometimes, the cough can be very strong. A prolonged, vigorous cough can irritate the lungs and cause even more coughing. It produces fatigue and can cause problems sleeping, dizziness or fainting, headaches, urinary incontinence, vomiting and even broken ribs. A cough that persists for several weeks or is accompanied by coughing up discolored or bloody mucus may indicate an illness that requires medical attention.”
1695254952
#calm #cough #consult #doctor
