Contents:
- Medical Video: Common Cough or COPD
- What causes you to cough?
- How to relieve a cough like what really works?
Medical Video: Common Cough or COPD
Coughing is one of the main symptoms of COPD. Coughing can be annoying and embarrassing, it can even wake you up in the middle of the night. As a result, your sleep time is disrupted and makes you lack of energy. So, how to relieve cough caused by COPD? Consider the following review.
What causes you to cough?
There are many reasons why you cough. In patients with COPD, their lungs are damaged by inflammation. This inflammation makes the lungs produce more mucus than usual.
The production of excessive phlegm aka mucus in patients with COPD will clog the airways to the lungs. Automatic, breathing becomes more difficult. Coughing is the body's mechanism to try to get rid of phlegm that covers the entrance so that you can breathe better later. Some doctors and scientists even recommend coughing and teaching their patients how to cough.
Coughing will also occur if you are exposed to irritants, such as cigarette smoke or chemical fumes. Sometimes other conditions that occur together with COPD, such as pneumonia or influenza, or problems such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also make you cough.
You can expel phlegm through coughing. However, you need to pay attention to the color of your phlegm, especially if there is a color change. Because normal phlegm is usually colorless alias clear.
Coughing is normal. However, do not consider it trivial. If it is very disturbing because the phlegm released is difficult, you should ask how to relieve coughing with your doctor. Consult a doctor who will make a diagnosis and prescribe the right medication for you as a way to relieve coughing.
How to relieve a cough like what really works?
COPD is a chronic disease that unfortunately has no cure. Yes, this disease cannot be cured. However, with drugs for COPD, you can control symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, or prevent infection. The most common ways to relieve cough due to COPD are as follows:
Drugs
There are many over-the-counter cough medicines that you can try. This method of relieving a cough is one of the most common attempts to relieve coughing. You can see a doctor for prescription drugs because over-the-counter drugs may be able to interact with the drugs you are using.
Some drugs that you can use include:
- Beta-inhalation agonists work slowly, like salmeterol can sometimes relieve coughing. Beta-agonists are another type of bronchodilator. These drugs help open the airways and supply more oxygen to the lungs.
- Use syrup and cough medicine codeine can reduce coughing. Even so, research on the effects of syrup and cough medicinescodein shows a low success rate.
- Decongestants can reduce cough by reducing mucus production. This drug dries mucus in the lungs and opens the airway.
- Cough and expectorant suppressants (such as guaifenesin) also thin the phlegm.
Herbs
Some herbs are considered very effective as one way to relieve coughing. Here are some herbs that you can find in local supermarkets.
- Honey. Honey is a time-consuming drug for sore throat due to coughing.
- Probiotics. Even though it doesn't relieve cough directly, probiotics can help balance digestive flora (bacteria that live in the intestine). It can also help improve the immune system, which is proven to relieve flu symptoms, including coughing.
- Bromelain. This content is usually found in pineapple and other tropical fruits, bromelain can help suppress coughing and thin the phlegm in the throat.
- Peppermint. Inner Menthol peppermint can calm the throat and act as a decongestant. This content helps in thinning mucus.
- Mashmallow (not the soft and sweet type). Herbs or rootsmarshmallow (Althaea officinalis)contains sap that can coat the throat and relieve irritation.
- Thyme. These leaves contain compounds called flavonoids. Its function is to relax the throat muscles that are involved in coughing and also reduce inflammation.
Other methods
In addition to using drugs and herbs, how to relieve coughs that you can do is to change habits. What habits should be changed?
- If you smoke, changing the habit that you have to change is to stop smoking itself. Exposure to cigarette smoke in your lungs will make your COPD symptoms worse.
- Drink lots of water. If you think that drinking is not too bad, you should think again. Drinking can also help keep the mucous membrane moist.
- Hot baths can also be one way to relieve cough by thinning secretions in the nose.
- Alias air moisturizer humidifier can also help. However, be careful not to overdo it because too high humidity can cause fungal and irritant buildup.
- Avoid cough triggers such as perfumes and bathroom fragrance sprays.
Although coughing is the main and common symptom of COPD, it is surprising that not much research has been done on how to relieve coughing. In fact, uncontrolled coughing can reduce the quality of life of people with COPD. Consult your doctor if your cough does not go away or even worsens. Discuss to find the best treatment options.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
