As part of simple self-care for your cough, take an over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine. These medicines work to make your cough more productive or to quiet a disruptive cough. Types include:
* Expectorants cough medicine— The name expectorant comes from the verb "expectorate," meaning "to spit." These cough medicines contain guaifenesin, an ingredient that works to loosen mucus in your airways. As a result, expectorants can help clear your airways of irritants. Taking a cough medicine, drinking plenty of water and breathing moist air offers maximum loosening of mucus.
* Suppressants cough medicine— To temporarily reduce the frequency of your cough, take a cough suppressant. These medications, also called antitussives (from the Latin word for cough), act directly on the cough center in your brain. Some antitussives contain a narcotic such as codeine. Nonnarcotic antitussives, such as dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine, are available in nonprescription cough medicines. These ingredients help relieve coughing without the risk of side effects associated with narcotics. If your cough brings up mucus, it's best not to suppress it. But if your cough is frequent and produces small amounts of mucus, consider using a combination medicine containing both an expectorant and a suppressant.
* Expectorants plus suppressants cough medicine — Some cough medicines contain an expectorant plus a cough suppressant. The expectorant helps loosen mucus while the cough suppressant reduces the frequency of your cough. In combination, these ingredients can make your cough more productive while making you more comfortable.
coughing etiketine sahip kayıtlar gösteriliyor. Tüm kayıtları göster
coughing etiketine sahip kayıtlar gösteriliyor. Tüm kayıtları göster
29 Ağustos 2009 Cumartesi
how can you control coughs? - treating coughs
# Drink extra liquids — Sometimes secretions in your lungs become thick and sticky, making them difficult to remove by coughing. A cough that doesn't bring up mucus is nonproductive (dry). Drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, helps thin and loosen mucus to make your cough more productive. By bringing up mucus, a productive cough helps clear your airways of irritants. Beverages such as juices and hot tea can also soothe and lubricate your throat.
# Breathe moist air — Taking a shower or using a humidifier or vaporizer also helps loosen mucus.
# Soothe your throat — Sucking on hard candy or cough drops, or drinking tea sweetened with honey may help prevent coughing if your throat is dry or sore.
# Try not to cough — Frequent dry coughing can worsen irritated airways. Try to cough as seldom and gently as possible. Taking frequent sips of liquids may help stifle the cough cycle.
# Breathe moist air — Taking a shower or using a humidifier or vaporizer also helps loosen mucus.
# Soothe your throat — Sucking on hard candy or cough drops, or drinking tea sweetened with honey may help prevent coughing if your throat is dry or sore.
# Try not to cough — Frequent dry coughing can worsen irritated airways. Try to cough as seldom and gently as possible. Taking frequent sips of liquids may help stifle the cough cycle.
Causes of cough - treating coughs
Here are typical reasons for a cough:
* Infection — Cold and flu (influenza) viruses are the most common causes of cough. Coughs from colds typically develop when excessive amounts of mucus irritate your airways.
* Asthma — Various forms of asthma and asthma-like conditions affect up to one in 10 people. Coughing is a common symptom during the night, after exercise or when exposed to irritants.
* Post-nasal drip — An overproduction of mucus can occur with some allergies and sinusitis (inflamed mucous membranes within sinuses). The slow trickling of mucus from the back of your nose down into your throat causes irritation.
* Environment — Irritants include smog, dust, home aerosol sprays, cigarette smoke and cold or dry air. Cigarette smoke irritates the airways of both smokers and nonsmokers. If you smoke, nicotine paralyzes the movement of tiny hairlike projections lining your airways called cilia. When cilia can't help clear excess mucus, the sticky secretions build up and cause coughing.
* Medications — Coughing can be a side effect of inhaled medications, such as corticosteroids. Coughing can also occur with use of some beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prescribed for high blood pressure or heart disease.
* Unexplained cough — Sometimes there's no medical explanation for a cough. Some people have a persistent cough after an infection resolves. Others may cough to release tension, gain attention or express anger. Whatever the reason, continual coughing can irritate your throat and set up an exhausting cycle.
* Infection — Cold and flu (influenza) viruses are the most common causes of cough. Coughs from colds typically develop when excessive amounts of mucus irritate your airways.
* Asthma — Various forms of asthma and asthma-like conditions affect up to one in 10 people. Coughing is a common symptom during the night, after exercise or when exposed to irritants.
* Post-nasal drip — An overproduction of mucus can occur with some allergies and sinusitis (inflamed mucous membranes within sinuses). The slow trickling of mucus from the back of your nose down into your throat causes irritation.
* Environment — Irritants include smog, dust, home aerosol sprays, cigarette smoke and cold or dry air. Cigarette smoke irritates the airways of both smokers and nonsmokers. If you smoke, nicotine paralyzes the movement of tiny hairlike projections lining your airways called cilia. When cilia can't help clear excess mucus, the sticky secretions build up and cause coughing.
* Medications — Coughing can be a side effect of inhaled medications, such as corticosteroids. Coughing can also occur with use of some beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prescribed for high blood pressure or heart disease.
* Unexplained cough — Sometimes there's no medical explanation for a cough. Some people have a persistent cough after an infection resolves. Others may cough to release tension, gain attention or express anger. Whatever the reason, continual coughing can irritate your throat and set up an exhausting cycle.
coughing as a protective reflex
To cough is normal. If you're like many people, you cough once or twice an hour while awake and may not even realize it. But when a nagging cough disrupts your sleep, embarrasses you or bothers others, getting rid of that cough becomes a priority. Although some coughs need your doctor's attention, many respond to simple self-care and the right medicine.
Coughing: A line of defense
Your respiratory system works nonstop to defend against irritations and infections. Layers of mucus (phlegm) lining your nose and airways trap particles such as pollen or dust, chemicals and infectious organisms that may enter your body from the environment. In response to the irritation or infection, your body steps up production of mucus.
Coughing is a protective reflex that occurs when an irritant stimulates one of several cough receptors in your airways. The receptor sends a message to your brain, signaling your body to cough. Coughing helps clear your airways of mucus, taking with it irritants trapped in the sticky secretions.
Coughing: A line of defense
Your respiratory system works nonstop to defend against irritations and infections. Layers of mucus (phlegm) lining your nose and airways trap particles such as pollen or dust, chemicals and infectious organisms that may enter your body from the environment. In response to the irritation or infection, your body steps up production of mucus.
Coughing is a protective reflex that occurs when an irritant stimulates one of several cough receptors in your airways. The receptor sends a message to your brain, signaling your body to cough. Coughing helps clear your airways of mucus, taking with it irritants trapped in the sticky secretions.
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