Is it necessary to fight?
We most often use the phrase "to fight with a cough," but in fact it is, in fact, wrong. These words only it very well reflect our attitude to coughing - we all think that it is something harmful, that over this "evil" for health we must definitely win. The truth is that cough is a saving reflex, by means of which the body restores the patency of the airways filled with viscous and viscous sputum.
Sputum is constantly formed even in healthy people in the trachea and bronchi and serves to purify the respiratory tract. Together with this sticky substance, viruses, microbes, various minute foreign particles that constantly enter the body during inspiration are removed. But as soon as the inflammation develops under the influence of viruses, the amount of sputum increases dramatically. Her amount from a hundred milliliters (in a healthy adult) reaches a liter and more! In addition, it becomes very viscous, so that the body can not cope with its removal.
About the problem with the withdrawal of phlegm says a dry cough. Especially often they suffer from children. These are the characteristics of the children's respiratory system, that respiratory diseases develop much faster in them than in adults. And since the cough reflex in young children is not developed enough, it is difficult for them to cough up viscous viscous sputum. In this situation, the body needs help.
How correctly to be treated?
All medicines for cough are divided into three large groups: drugs that suppress the cough reflex, mucolytics and expectorants. Medications that suppress the cough reflex can affect either the cough center inside the brain, or special receptors in the lungs. They can be used only on the written recommendation of a doctor, it is not recommended to combine them with expectorants. Such drugs are able to quickly get rid of a cough, however, the very reason for it - inflammation in the airways - they do not work.
Expectorants dramatically increase the production of sputum. As a result, it liquefies and is much easier to excrete from the body. Among them, most of the natural preparations created on extracts of medicinal plants (mukaltin, pectusin, different pork collections). It is very important to remember that any medicinal plants are not harmless at all. They often cause a severe allergy, which is now even more common in children and adults.
Mucolytic drugs are able to change the very structure of sputum - they make it less viscous, so that it is easily and quickly evacuated from the respiratory tract. Cough does not disappear, but it becomes productive and, having performed its "work", quickly subsides. A person recovers faster, his condition improves noticeably. Mucolytics affect sputum by targeted, which is why they are so widely used today for treating cough in both children and adults.
Such preparations are produced in different forms, which greatly facilitates their use. There are, for example, ACS in the form of tablets that are taken only once a day (it is intended only for adults), and there are granules from which it is easy to prepare syrup this is for children). It is important to remember that you take this medication yourself and especially give the little baby 2-3 hours before bedtime. So you will have enough time to cough up phlegm.
Folk remedies and all sorts of vegetable broths when coughing sometimes really help, but treat them with caution. It is very difficult to keep the dosage when preparing independently, besides, the effect from the action of many of them is under big question. Also remember - the herbs are very allergens! We can not discount the risk of an allergic reaction (especially in children).
Antibiotics are also useful for coughing, but only if the cold has given bacterial complications. With a viral infection, any antibiotics are useless! In any case, only a doctor can prescribe such medicines. This is more serious than it seems - self-medication is inappropriate here.
For the speedy cessation of cough, it is important not only to be treated with the right drugs, but also to drink more. It is also necessary to moisten the air in the apartment. In the cold because of central heating, humidity in our apartments is only about 5% - it is detrimental to the mucosa. You can spoil it for yourself forever - then colds will be overtaken several times a year. In addition, dry air irritates the airways, preventing them from cleaning.
And if it's not a cold?
Did you know that coughing occurs not only with colds. He can be under stress or in a situation where a person feels anxious. There are already needed not expectorant medicines, but auto-training and soothing. The main feature of this cough is the absence of attacks in the evening and at night.
Cough can also signal heart failure. With problems with the heart, cough usually begins in a recumbent position, when the heart can not cope with its work - then the body begins to suffer from lack of air. Cough that coincided with the appearance of a pet in the house (especially birds) should immediately alert you. Canaries and parrots, for example, are able to withstand severe pulmonary infections. Treat in this case will have you, and a feathered friend.
The purchase of new furniture, clothing, household items can also lead to the development of an allergic cough. To check up simply - remove for a while the prospective allergen, and cough at once will pass. Usually allergies are accompanied, in addition to cough, and other symptoms. Most often it's a runny nose and watery eyes. If they are mixed with heavy breathing with wheezing, then this is already an asthmatic manifestation. Immediate medical attention is required.
Cough, in any case, can not be ignored. To find out its cause and start treatment is already at the first symptoms. Then it will be much easier to cope with the ailment, and soon it will be possible to completely forget about the cough.