| Coughs | | | | on how it is done. A productive cough should result in |
| A cough is an action your body takes to get rid of | | | | the clearing of mucus or secretions from the airways. |
| substances that are irritating to your air passages, | | | | Treatment Of Coughs |
| which carry the air you breathe in from the nose and | | | | If you have an acute cough and have not been to the |
| mouth to the lungs. A cough occurs when special cells | | | | doctor, you may attempt to use over-the-counter cold |
| along the air passages get irritated and trigger a chain | | | | remedies to relieve your symptoms. If a common cold |
| of events | | | | or flu is suspected, these may provide relief until the |
| A cough is a very important mechanism through which | | | | infection gets better on its own. |
| the body disposes off unwanted particles, pathogens | | | | The treatment of an acute cough is directed primarily |
| and the like, by expelling air at high speeds away from | | | | at decreasing the cough in addition to treating the |
| the body, it can be expressed as the forceful | | | | underlying cause. |
| expulsion of air and foreign materials through the | | | | Decongestant nasal sprays. Adults shouldn't use |
| mouth. Even if the sound itself has become associated | | | | decongestant drops or sprays for more than a few |
| with disease, coughing is a defense reaction of the | | | | days because prolonged use can cause chronic |
| body. | | | | inflammation of mucous membranes. |
| Causes Of Coughs | | | | Elderly people, people with very severe bacterial or |
| The bacteria that cause whooping cough are released | | | | viral infections, and people with weakened immune |
| into the air when an infected person coughs or | | | | systems may require admission to the hospital to |
| sneezes. You can get whooping cough if you breathe | | | | manage the underlying problem. |
| in these bacteria. You can also get it if you touch a | | | | Breathing Techniques |
| surface (such as someone's hand) that is coated with | | | | Learning to breathe properly is another very important |
| the bacteria. | | | | lesson for people with COPD. If you have COPD, |
| Coughing can be a side effect of some drugs and | | | | you usually work very hard to breathe. However, |
| medications. | | | | because you are not breathing properly, your hard |
| Coughing can be caused by congestive heart failure. | | | | work does not make you feel better and you become |
| Babies who cough while feeding may be getting milk in | | | | tired easily. |
| their airways. | | | | Cough Home Remedies: |
| Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of | | | | Honey and lemon: Mix 1 part lemon juice to 1 part |
| chronic cough. | | | | honey. Mix well, may mix together better if you heat it |
| Signs And Symptoms | | | | for a few seconds in the microwave. |
| In children, severe coughing that leads to vomiting or | | | | Vitamin C: Ester C is best but it is also the most |
| causes a red or blue face from the effort | | | | expensive. Ester C is good because it absorbs into the |
| Fatigue from the exertion of coughing | | | | body better and is not wasted in the through any of |
| A child's cold is often accompanied by a cough | | | | the bodily functions. |
| because, instead of blowing his or her nose, a child | | | | Another remedy is to take half a cup of hot water, |
| usually sniffs mucus down into the throat | | | | add three teaspoons of fresh lime juice to it, one |
| Coughing is a defense mechanism that is used to clear | | | | teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of ginger juice. |
| the airways of mucus, inhale toxins, or a foreign body. | | | | Mix well and sip this concoction, three times daily, to |
| Coughs can be productive or unproductive depending | | | | find relief from cough. |