We all have coughs, right? Sometimes they start as a minor cough and grow into a problem. Some coughs are so severe that they can even break a rib. In fact, a cough is the number one reason people visit a doctor. So why do we cough like this? What do we do when we have a cough? Let's talk about this in a little more detail.
What exactly is a cough?
Simply put, a cough is a defense mechanism of our body. It is the body's attempt to expel something that does not belong to our lungs or respiratory tract, for example, dust particles that we inhale, food that gets stuck in our mouth, or mucus. It is like expelling an intruder from our house.
But coughs don't always come for that reason. Coughs can also be caused by other medical conditions. Knowing exactly what type of cough you have and what is causing it will help you choose the best treatment for it.
What are the types of cough?
Coughs can be divided into several main types. Identifying which type of cough you have is very important when seeking treatment.
| Type of cough | Description |
|---|---|
| Productive/Wet cough | This cough brings up mucus. This cough is caused to clear the mucus from the lungs. |
| Nonproductive/Dry Cough | This does not produce mucus. It may be a painful cough with a tickle in the throat. |
| Acute Cough | It starts suddenly and lasts for a short period of time, about two or three weeks. It usually comes on with something like a cold. |
| Chronic Cough | If a cough persists for more than 8 weeks in adults and 4 weeks in children, it is considered a persistent cough. This definitely requires medical advice . |
| Refractory cough | This is also a persistent cough. But the special thing is that this cough does not heal with normal treatments. |
What are the main causes of coughing?
Let's now look at the main causes of these types of coughs.
Causes of Wet Cough
- Viral infections : Viral infections like colds and flu are the most common causes of a cough with mucus. The infection causes the airways to produce more mucus. We cough to get rid of this mucus.
- Postnasal Drip: Do you wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose and a sore throat all day? That's what we call it. Nasal congestion, sinus infections, and allergies can cause mucus to drip down your nose and into your throat. When this mucus gets stuck in your throat, it causes you to cough.
- COPD: COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease . It includes conditions like Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. This causes damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, narrowing the airways . The main cause of this is smoking .
- Heart disease: Some heart conditions, especially heart failure, can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs. The body tries to get rid of this fluid by coughing.
Causes of Dry Cough
- Irritants: Even if you don't have allergies, things like cigarette smoke, strong perfumes, and dust can irritate your airways and cause a dry cough.
- Allergies and Asthma:If you have asthma or allergies, when you're exposed to things like dust, pollen, and mold, your airways become sensitive and try to get them out. That's what comes out as a cough.
- Acid reflux: People with gastritis can experience acid reflux, especially at night when lying down. When this acid hits the throat and vocal cords, it can cause a sore throat.
Why does coughing get worse at night?
Nighttime can be a real pain for someone with a cough. There are several reasons why a cough can get worse at night when you go to bed.
Imagine, when you stand up during the day, the mucus that runs down your throat (postnasal drip) easily goes down due to gravity. But when you lie down in bed at night, that mucus collects in the back of your throat. This causes your throat to become irritated and you start coughing.
The same thing happens in acid reflux and heart disease. When we are standing, the stomach acids are at the bottom. But when we lie down, those acids can easily come up to the throat. In heart disease, when we stand up, there is less fluid in the lungs, but when we lie down, that fluid spreads throughout the lungs and causes coughing.
Treatments you can do at home
Before seeing a doctor, there are some simple things you can do at home to help relieve your cough.
- Drink warm liquids (like tea, soup). This will help soothe your throat.
- Don't let your body become dehydrated. Drink plenty of water.
- If your throat hurts, gargle with lukewarm salt water.
- When sleeping, keep two or three pillows so that your head and chest are slightly elevated.
- Cough drops can be inhaled for a sore throat.
- Keep the air in your room humidified. You can use a vaporizer/humidifier for this. Or, close the bathroom door, run a hot shower, and breathe in the steam.
- Important: Although honey is a good cough remedy, never give honey to babies under one year of age . Honey can contain a bacteria called Clostridium, which can cause serious illness in young babies.
When to see a doctor
Sometimes a cough isn't just a "cough" but a symptom of something more serious. If you have any of the symptoms below, you should definitely be concerned.
| Emergency! Go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. | |
|---|---|
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| See a doctor immediately. | |
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Remember, it's safest to consider your other medical conditions and talk to your doctor for advice before taking over-the-counter cough medicine. Some cough medicines can interact with other medications you may be taking.
Take-Home Message
- If you have a cough with mucus, don't take suppressants because that mucus needs to come out of the lungs.
- If it's a dry cough, find out what's causing it. If it's caused by smoke, odors, or allergies, stay away from those things.
- A normal cough should subside within a few days to two weeks. However, if the cough persists, gets worse, or you have any of the warning signs mentioned above, you should definitely see a doctor.
- Never give honey to babies under one year old.
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