What is Good for Cough? How to Cure Cough?

Cough, one of the most important defense mechanisms in the human body’s respiratory system, protects the lungs against external influences and occurs as a reflex. There are many causes of cough, mostly caused by viruses. To find the most accurate answer, other symptoms such as fever accompanied by cough should also be taken into account and a doctor’s examination should be sought. In addition to medication, there are also natural methods to relieve cough. The most common and effective of these is a mixture of honey and ginger. At the same time, consuming black pepper and honey mixture, milk with honey, many herbal teas and plenty of water are also effective methods to relieve cough.

What is Cough?

Cough is the most important of the defense mechanisms in the human body’s respiratory system. It protects the lungs against all kinds of effects and occurs reflexively. With cough, unwanted substances coming from outside are prevented from entering the human body’s respiratory tract, and all kinds of secretions in the respiratory tract are expelled. It also helps clear the phlegm in the throat.

How Does Cough Occur?

When all kinds of dirt, dust and allergy-causing factors that cause throat itching enter the airways of the human body, the nerves in the brain are stimulated. With this warning, the brain sends the command to expel this substance that harms the body. With this command, the abdominal muscles tighten and the air in the lungs comes out quickly with cough.

What Causes Cough?

In order to accurately understand the cause of cough, which is often caused by viruses, it is necessary to pay attention to how long the cough continues, whether there are other substances such as blood along with the cough, and whether other symptoms begin in the body.
When a cough is short-term, it is mostly natural and harmless, but a long-term and unabated cough is a sign of a disorder in the body.

Cough Types

Acute Cough

These are coughs that last less than 3-4 weeks. It occurs with periodic disorders. It usually occurs due to respiratory infections. Conditions that affect the respiratory tract and cause cough;

• Flu
• Angina
• Spring allergies
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• whooping cough
• Inhaling substance that can irritate the throat
• Acute Sinusitis

Chronic Cough

These are coughs that persist for 8-9 weeks or more. The symptoms of chronic cough begin when the throat first becomes dry and painful. Chronic coughs mostly occur due to postnasal drip, asthma and reflux. In addition to these diseases, it may also occur due to lung cancer, bronchial dilatation, and lung diseases. That’s why it is very important to get examined and get the correct diagnosis for such long-lasting coughs. Sputum test, methacholine test, lung x-ray and computed tomography scan can be used to diagnose chronic cough. Cough, allergy and asthma medications can be used to treat chronic cough, and surgery can be performed for tumors and blockages that may occur. In addition, increasing water consumption, humidifying the air in the environment and completely eliminating smoking from life also help treat chronic cough. Other things that cause chronic cough:

• Heavy Smoking
• Postnasal drip
• Dryness in the Mucosal Layer Lining the Lower and Upper Respiratory Tracts
• reflux
• Asthma
• Lower and Upper Respiratory Tract Allergy
• COPD
• Tuberculosis (Tuberculosis)
• Lung Fungal Infections

Dry Cough

Coughs that are not accompanied by phlegm are called dry cough. Environments with too much dust and inadequate ventilation, as well as cigarette smoke, cause dry cough. Dry cough also occurs due to infection in the respiratory tract due to viruses. In addition to all these, dry cough may also occur due to some medications. It mostly occurs in winter and when the cold increases.

Allergic Cough

Coughs that occur when the human body reacts to anything it is allergic to are called allergic cough. Getting treatment for the allergy that causes the cough will also stop the cough.

Cough with Phlegm

Phlegmatic cough, also known as wet cough, occurs when a dense liquid in yellow and green colors comes from the throat during coughing. It has a slimy consistency. It occurs mostly in winter and autumn. If the phlegmy cough occurs due to a cold, medication and rest are sufficient to relieve the phlegmy cough. If the sputum has a foul odor, the person may have a lung abscess. Lung abscess occurs when microorganisms in the mouth and throat are inhaled and travel to the lungs.

Cough in Babies and Children

Cough in babies and children greatly affects and disrupts both the child’s sleep and non-sleep life. Cough is one of the main reasons why children are taken to hospital. Sometimes this is a sign of a serious problem, and sometimes it is a simple situation. In order to understand this, the child must be taken to a doctor’s examination.

The most common causes of cough in babies and children are:

• Flu
• Tonsillitis (Inflammation of the tonsils)
• Sinusitis
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Allergic Cough
• Pneumonia
• Entry of a foreign object

Besides these, viruses are the most common cause of cough. A child, especially children who interact a lot with other children, may encounter an average of 12 virus infections per year. Because of viruses, children may cough several times a day for several weeks. If these coughs last for about 4 weeks and have passed, the child should definitely be seen by a doctor.

When Should Coughing Children Be Examined?

• If the cough has lasted 4 weeks or longer
• If it always increases more and more
• If it negatively affects the child’s life
• If bloody sputum comes with the cough
• If cough is observed in babies younger than 3 months
• If the child turns blue when coughing
• If the cough is enough to choke the child
• If the child vomits after coughing

What Does Dry Cough Signify?

The most common causes of dry cough are asthma, reflux, lung diseases, sinusitis, allergies, thyroid gland inflammation, laryngeal cancer, hypertension medications, lack of moisture and psychological reasons.

• Asthma: If a dry cough is caused by asthma, symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness in the chest are also present in addition to the cough. It occurs more frequently at night and turns chronic.
• Reflux: When the person lies on his back
• Lung Diseases: Cough may occur due to diseases such as tuberculosis, emphysema, pneumonia, sarcoidosis, nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis. In order to say that dry cough causes these diseases, symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, sweating, constant feeling of fatigue and rapid weight loss must be present in addition to the cough.
• Sinusitis: One of the causes of dry cough is sinusitis and it occurs along with postnasal drip.
• Allergies: May cause sneezing, nasal itching and congestion. By learning the root cause of the allergy through an allergy test, the cough can be stopped with appropriate treatment.
• Thyroid Gland Inflammation: If the cough occurs due to thyroid gland inflammation, it occurs in the form of wheezing.
• Larynx Cancer: If people who smoke excessively have cough and phlegm, this is most likely a symptom of laryngeal cancer.
• Hypertension Medications: The most common side effect of using hypertension medications is dry cough. To prevent this situation, a separate medication that can stop cough can be started under the supervision of a doctor.
• Lack of Humidity: Appliances such as radiators, stoves and electric heaters used in homes and workplaces during the winter months dry the air in the room. The decrease in humidity in the room also causes the throat to dry out and a cough begins to occur. To increase the humidity in the room, a humidifier can be used or half a bowl of water can be placed on the radiator.

Why Does One Cough While Lying Down?

A cough that worsens at night or after eating is usually a sign of reflux. However, night cough can also be a sign of heart failure. In order to cure cough and live a healthy life, a doctor should be examined and the correct diagnosis and correct treatments should be received. Drops and humidifiers are also effective to reduce this cough. At the same time, fluid consumption is also effective in reducing cough.

When Is Cough Dangerous?

• If the cough lasts longer than 2 weeks and does not go away with medical treatments
• If you begin to experience high fever and shortness of breath along with the cough
• If bloody sputum comes with the cough

When these situations occur, the person should definitely go to a doctor’s check-up and the cause of the cough should be determined.

What is Metallic Cough and Emesis Cough?

Metallic Cough: It occurs in diseases related to the trachea and large bronchi. This cough is high-pitched and has a metallic sound.
Emesis Cough: Vomiting occurs when the cough occurs in severe attacks. This cough is usually seen more in children.

What is Reflux Cough?

Cough caused by reflux causes chronic infections in the lower and upper respiratory tract of the human body. If reflux is diagnosed and treated before it is too late, reflux cough will heal along with the disease. If reflux is not diagnosed in time, in addition to cough, hoarseness of voice, polyp and nodule formation in the vocal cords, pharyngitis, feeling of fullness in the throat, non-healing asthma, frequently recurring pneumonia and shortness of breath during sleep are also symptoms of reflux.

What is Psychogenic Cough?

This cough, also known as psychological among the public, is actually similar to a dry cough. Psychogenic cough affects the daily functioning of people’s lives and begins to disappear in moments when the person is happy. In the face of adverse situations, the person is triggered and the psychogenic cough begins or increases. Although it is not usually seen during sleep, there are cases when it occurs during sleep. It is known that psychogenic cough in children is more common when a parent or doctor is present. In addition, it has been observed that psychogenic cough increases when children refuse to go to school or want their parents’ attention on them. People with psychogenic cough need to clear their throat frequently.

If psychogenic cough is not treated, the person will have to deal with this cough almost throughout his life. Medicines that are good for other coughs are ineffective against psychogenic cough. When a person with a psychogenic cough is listened to, a negative event that the person has experienced often comes to light. There are some ways to treat psychogenic cough;

Suggestion Therapy: It is a treatment method that aims to cure people of their health problems with the power of suggestion.
Hypnosis Method: This method, also called hypnotherapy, is a scientific technique that aims to provide treatment using suggestion.

Smoking and Cough

One of the biggest causes of cough is smoking. As smoking increases, phlegm production in the bronchi begins to increase. If this increase continues and becomes a routine, it increases the cough even more and causes chronic cough. People who smoke do not usually take their cough seriously, attributing it to smoking, but even if the cough is caused by smoking, it can be a trigger for lung cancer and COPD. Therefore, people with cough should see a doctor as soon as possible, get a diagnosis, and start treatment under the supervision of a doctor according to the diagnosis.

What are the Diagnostic Methods of Cough?

• Sputum Test: It is performed by examining the microbes found in the sputum.
• Nose/Throat Swab:
• Respiratory Function Tests (Spirometry): These are tests that can calculate the number of breaths a person takes and the time between breaths. It is used in the suspicion and treatment of asthma.
• Peak Flow Meter: It is a device that measures the way air exits a person’s lungs.
• Methacholine Test: It is a test performed to measure the sensitivity of a person’s respiratory tract.
• Lung X-ray: Lung diseases are diagnosed with this X-ray, which is performed by taking the lungs from the front and side.
• Computed Tomography Scan: Tomography, meaning cutting in Greek, is an imaging technique that uses a special beam to create detailed pictures of certain areas inside the human body.
• Bronchoscopy: It is a device that examines a person’s trachea and bronchi.

What is Good for Wheezing?

• Steam Therapy: It cleans the sinuses and helps open the airways by reaching the lungs as a result of breathing with hot air with high humidity levels. In the application of steam therapy, peppermint oil can be added to warm water. In this way, peppermint oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties, has a pain-relieving effect for pain in the respiratory area.
• Hot Drinks: It is possible to soften the respiratory tract by consuming drinks with a healthy temperature. However, congestion in the respiratory tract can be reduced by consuming hot drinks.
• Breathing Exercises: Wheezing due to COPD, bronchitis, allergies and other possible factors can be eliminated by breathing exercises that are recommended to be performed at certain intervals. However, as a result of the studies, it has been determined that yoga-inspired breathing techniques can help eliminate wheezing, bronchitis, asthma and externally caused breathing difficulties.
• Use of Humidifying Devices: As it is known, breathing moist and warm air facilitates the elimination of breathing difficulties, especially wheezing. An air humidification device that can be positioned in the bedroom, which is the sleeping area, can be useful in eliminating wheezing. Thanks to the use of the relevant device, the severity of wheezing can be reduced to a minimum. It is possible to increase the effect of the device by adding oils that help open the respiratory tract, such as peppermint oil, which can be added to the water tank of the humidifier device in accordance with the usage instructions.
• Use of Air Filter: As a result of breathing bad air caused by air pollution, the contact of this air with the lungs and respiratory tract causes an increase in the level of wheezing in many cases, especially wheezing that occurs as a result of allergic reactions. For this reason, wheezing and other problems in the respiratory tract can be reduced by choosing an air filter suitable for home use.
• Identifying Triggers and Solution Methods: Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies, which are among the factors that cause wheezing, may increase due to certain triggers such as stress and allergens. Reducing or keeping triggers under control helps reduce the symptoms of related diseases.
• Allergy Medications: Thanks to decongestants, corticosteroids, antihistamines and nasal sprays, which are allergy medications used by individuals with allergic disorders, the symptoms of various respiratory disorders, especially wheezing, can be reduced. However, the drugs required for serious allergies are prescription drugs and can only be used under the supervision and recommendation of a doctor.
• Immunotherapy: It is a type of treatment performed to prevent the body from reacting to allergens that cause respiratory diseases by retraining the immune system. Although the body may need other treatments, immunotherapy greatly reduces wheezing. Immunotherapy is also very useful for people with COPD and other chronic conditions and allergies.
• Bronchodilators: Broncondilators are drugs that can be used to prevent the symptoms of diseases and disorders in the lungs and respiratory tract, and these drugs provide relief from wheezing caused by COPD and asthma.
• Other Medications: Different medications used under the supervision and recommendation of a doctor treat the cause of wheezing and respiratory problems, thus eliminating the related factors.

What is Good for Cough?

• Honey and ginger mixture: It is obtained by mixing 1 glass of honey and 1.5 tablespoons of powdered ginger.
• Black pepper and honey mixture: Mix 4 tablespoons of honey with 2 teaspoons of fresh black pepper, pour boiling water and let it brew. If this tea is freshly brewed and drunk while hot, it will have a quicker effect on cough.
• Consuming plenty of water minimizes the irritating nature of the discharge and prevents dryness in the mucosal layer located in the lower and upper respiratory tract.
• Lozenges activate the salivary glands with the antibacterial substances they contain and make the person feel comfortable when swallowing. Lozenges, which look hard in appearance, are easily consumed by being absorbed in the mouth.
• Taking a warm and hot shower thins the secretions in the nose and helps reduce cough.
• milk with honey
• Quince Leaf
• Grape molasses
• Herbal teas calm and soothe the throat and help reduce irritation. Some herbal teas that are good for cough;

-Linden
-Ginger
-Sage
-Jasmine tea
-Echinacea tea
-Green tea