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Cough

Coughing is a natural reflex where the body tries to remove foreign particles or mucus from the airways. Colds are the most common cause of coughing.

What is a cough?

A cough occurs when small nerve fibers under the mucous membrane are irritated. This triggers the cough reflex. The cough reflex is usually useful for the body and should not always be suppressed with cough suppressants.

Phlegm cough or dry cough?

Phlegm cough is a productive cough, which means that the cough has an important useful function. The mucus has to come out, and it is therefore important not to stifle the cough. Mucus that remains in the respiratory tract can worsen infections by creating a breeding ground for bacteria.

Dry cough is an irritating cough and has little useful function. With this type of cough, there is no mucus that needs to be expelled.

Causes of cough

There are many causes of a cough, but the common cold is the most common. Other common causes are:

• Smoking

• Medicines that cause coughing as a side effect. This applies in particular to a type of blood pressure medicine (ACE inhibitors)

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

• Asthma

• Whooping cough

• Respiratory tract infections; e.g. pneumonia, sinusitis, acute bronchitis

Good advice against coughing

• Drink a lot and often. With a phlegm cough, the mucus becomes thinner and easier to bring up if you drink a lot of water. In the case of a dry cough, water can be soothing.

• Warm drinks can be soothing. Curamed cough and throat can be used to relieve the cough.

• Lie with your head elevated at night.

• Avoid physical exertion that may aggravate the cough.

• Avoid smoke.

• Lozenges can reduce any tingling in the throat.

• If you have a phlegm cough, you can try expectorant medicines. This makes the mucus thinner, making it easier to cough it up.

• With a dry cough, you can try antitussive drugs that work by inhibiting the cough reflex. Please note that if you use the blood-thinning drug Marevan (warfarin) then you should not use the antitussive drug noscapine without consulting a doctor. Pregnant women should also not use noscapine.

"Pain reliever" for the throat

Colds, coughs and other respiratory infections can also lead to sores and sore throats. A lot of coughing can also cause discomfort in the throat. At LenaPharm you will find several soothing options for sore throats:

• Tantum Verde lozenges that are mild local anesthetics and relieve irritation in the mouth and throat.

• PROSPAN COUGH SYRUP is an over-the-counter medicine for the treatment of sore throats and inflammatory conditions in the oral cavity and pharynx.

When should you see a doctor for a cough?

• In case of prolonged cough (over 2 weeks)

• In the event of concurrent high fever for more than 3-5 days

• In case of chest pain or breathing problems

• If you cough up bloody mucus

• If whooping cough is suspected in children

• For bothersome coughs in children under 2 years of age