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Cough is often a symptom of many different health conditions. Uncontrolled or persistent coughs can greatly affect a person's quality of life. Getting a cough under control early can help prevent potential health problems.
1. Common types of cough
Coughs can be caused by many different health conditions. To determine the specific cause, we first need to find out how many types of cough are most common.
According to the American Lung Association, healthcare professionals classify coughs as follows:
Acute cough: A cough that tends to come on suddenly and lasts about 3 weeks. Subacute cough: A cough that comes on suddenly, similar to an acute cough, but usually lasts from 3 to 8 weeks. Chronic cough: A cough that lasts more than 8 weeks. Dry cough: A cough without phlegm. Cough with phlegm: A cough that is usually accompanied by mucus from the lungs. Coughing up blood: Cough with blood or blood mixed with mucus from the lungs. Nocturnal cough: A cough that occurs mainly at night.
2. What is the cause of the cough?
Normally mucus helps to clear the lungs and trachea, however in certain cases they can inflame the cells lining the upper airways and trigger a cough. However, you can also develop an uncontrollable cough due to some of the following reasons:
2.1 Due to COVID-19 According to medical experts, a dry cough can be a typical symptom of a pandemic COVID-19 . This is a disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Some of the main symptoms of COVID-19 include a dry cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
Most patients infected with SARS-CoV2 develop mild symptoms, but many develop serious, even life-threatening complications if they do not receive urgent medical treatment. grant. Therefore, if you have a dry cough and are accompanied by other suspicious signs such as chest pain, confusion or purple lips, immediately go to a medical facility for diagnosis and treatment.
2.2 Allergic Rhinitis Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which the body's immune system overreacts to a certain agent or substance from the external environment. Several factors can trigger allergies, including pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust mites, or cockroaches.
People with allergic rhinitis often have a dry cough, or even an excessive cough due to inhaling allergens. In addition, the patient also has some other potential symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose, swollen eyelids, itching in the eyes, nose, throat or mouth.
2.3 Inhalation of irritants Another cause of uncontrollable cough is inhaling environmental irritants, including cigarette smoke, perfume or diesel fumes. In general, the symptoms of inhaled irritants are similar to those of allergic rhinitis.
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2.4 Asthma Asthma is a chronic lung problem that can lead to inflammation and narrowing of the airways. This will cause air to move in and out of the lungs, thereby triggering a cough with wheezing, shortness of breath, or a feeling of tightness in the chest.
If you have an excessive cough due to asthma, it is important to find a control and remedy for this disease as directed by your doctor. Good asthma management will help keep your cough from breaking out.
2.5 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually refers to a group of chronic lung conditions that interfere with the flow of air to the lungs. When the airways in the lungs become swollen and inflamed, the lung tissue that plays a role in gas exchange may not work as efficiently as before. The condition COPD often causes chronic coughs with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, cyanosis of the lips, upper respiratory tract infection, or fatigue.
2.6 Taking Certain Medicines Sometimes an uncontrollable or excessive cough can be a side effect of certain medications. Patients with high blood pressure who regularly take angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to manage their blood pressure are more likely to experience coughing fits. In addition, people who regularly use the anti-epileptic drug topiramate may also experience a dry cough.
3. Measures to help control cough effectively
Ways to control a cough can include natural home remedies or medication to get rid of the cough. Specifically:
3.1 Simple ways to control cough at home Here are some simple and effective ways to repel cough at home that you should refer to, including:
Using a humidifier Help humidify the air or take a warm bath before bed. When lying down, raise your head slightly with a supportive pillow. Use saline nasal spray or physiological saline. Suck on a teaspoon of honey (however, this method should be avoided on infants under 1 year). Drink warm tea or soup, which helps soothe the throat area. Suck on honey or menthol lozenges before bed to relieve nighttime coughs. 3.2 How to control a cough with medicine If you want to relieve your cough quickly, some over-the-counter cough and cold medicines may help. These medicines usually consist of a combination of many different ingredients in one capsule, for example:
Cough suppressants: Work by blocking the cough reflex, the most common being Dextromethorphan. Antihistamines: These include brompheniramine, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, or doxylamine, which help stop coughing, sneezing, and runny noses. Decongestants: These include pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, which help clear a blocked nose or sinuses, thereby soothing your cough. An expectorant: Helps to thin the mucus that causes a cough to flare up. However, when treating cough with medicine can cause unwanted side effects such as restlessness or drowsiness. In addition, some of them may also pose health risks to people with health problems, such as high blood pressure. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before using any medicine to control a cough.
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4. What kind of cough should you see a doctor?
You need to see a doctor if the cough gets worse, persists or gets worse over time. These characteristics often alert you to the need for immediate medical treatment to avoid other potential health risks.
In addition, you should also see a doctor as soon as possible if an uncontrolled cough is accompanied by the following noticeable symptoms:
Fever above 102°F (38.9°C) and persists 3 days without cure. Chills at night. Coughing up phlegm or mucus with blood. Purple lips. Shortness of breath, wheezing. Excessive sleepiness, loss of appetite, or frequent thirst. Unusually irritable. The cough persists for more than 3 weeks and does not go away. Vinmec International General Hospital is a quality medical care address with a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors, modern equipment system. Therefore, when there are any health problems, customers can register for an examination at Vinmec to be checked and have appropriate indications.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
