Kay Kay Healthcare Ltd.
COUGH
SYMPTOMS
More important than the cough itself are aspects of it that provides clues to its cause:
• Frequency and duration of the cough.
• Length of the coughing spell.
• Type of the material being cough up.
• Color of the sputum (white, clear, green, yellow, pink, blood specked).
• Consistency of the material coughed up (thick, thin, frothy).
• Presence or absence of accompanying pain.
WHAT IS COUGH
Although it is usually unwelcome and involuntary, a cough is not itself an illness, but rather a protective reflex. Generally, the reflex kicks in when the membranes lining the respiratory tract secrete excessive mucus or phlegm. These secretions help to protect your airways from infections and irritants by trapping and flushing out viruses, bacteria, and foreign particles. Coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of this accumulation. The sudden burst of air in a cough not only helps to keep the breathing passages open, but also may prevent infectious mucus from falling into your lungs and bronchial tubes, where it could lead to such serious infection as pneumonia or bronchitis. Although cough have many different patterns, they may be categorized according to two characteristics duration and productivity. Duration refers to how long the person needs to cough. A cough can come and go quickly, as when you cough up something stuck in your throat; it can last for several days if you have a cold; or it can be persistent and chronic, as when you have chronic bronchitis. A productive cough is one that produces some of the sputum that protects the lungs and other parts of the lower respiratory tract. A nonproductive, or dry, cough is often the result of irritation caused by mucus running from the nasal passages to the throat. Although coughing is usually an involuntary act, it can also be voluntary the result of a conscious decision. In addition, some people cough more often than others because individuals vary in the amount of irritation they can tolerate.
CAUSES
A cough can be cause by anything that irritates the respiratory airways enough to elicit the protective cough reflex. The most common cause is an acute respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold, flu, and sinusitis. In these cases the excessive mucus produce in response to the infection triggers the cough. Coughs can also be triggered when you accidently inhale small objects, such as pieces of food, or breathe in irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke, and noxious fumes. A harsh or forceful cough can itself be an irritant. Coughing causes the airways to contract; repeated contraction lead to irritation of the upper airways, and this prolongs the cough in a sort of vicious cycle. A dry, nonproductive cough can be a side effect of drugs prescribed for other ailments. There are, for example, five types of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart disease that sometimes cause a dry cough. If you are taking one of these drugs and find you are coughing, ask your doctor to prescribe another. A persistent nonproductive cough that interferes with your sleep may indicate a condition called esophageal reflux, in which you involuntarily bring the acidic contents of your stomach back up into the esophagus and then inhale this material. A chronic persistent cough should always be considered abnormal. The cough may be caused by smoking, allergies, asthma, or chronic bronchitis, but it may also be an indication of emphysema, tuberculosis, or lung cancer.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES
Any persistent cough may be symptoms of an underlying illness. Your doctor will make the diagnosis based on the frequency, duration, and severity of the cough; breathing difficulties; the type of material being coughed up; and the presence and location of any accompanying pain, swelling, or rash. The doctor may wish to obtain a chest x-rays and sputum specimen to test for infection. Although some of the chronic obstructive lungs disease in which coughing may be symptoms are incurable, most are treatable. If you have a dry cough along with leg and back aches, fever above 1010 F, headache, and a sore throat, you may be diagnosed with flu. A productive cough in which the color of the sputum changes from white to yellow or green may signal infection, possibly bronchitis or sinusitis. If your cough is accompanied by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest, you may be diagnosed with bronchial asthma. A cough that produce blood, or pink, yellow, or rust colored mucus, accompanied by chest pains, headache, fever, and difficulty in breathing, may be diagnosed as pneumonia. And if you have a hacking cough along with a pink rash, muscle aches, fever, and red eyes, you may be diagnosed with measles or German measles.
TREATMENT
Most coughs are not dangerous, therefore, if you have a nonproductive cough, along with a runny or stuffed up nose, sore throat, and sneezing. You have all the classic symptoms of a common cold, and you should let it run its course. Since coughing is a protective response by the body, suppressing it with cough medicine, particularly if it is a productive cough not only reduces the productive clearing action but may serve to mask a more serious underlying problem. Use conventional or Alternative cough remedies for no longer than 7 to 10 days and preferably only for temporary relief from nighttime coughing.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
An antibiotic might be prescribed for an underlying bacterial infection. Antibiotics would not be prescribed for a viral infection such as the common cold, however. In the case, your doctor would just prescribed bed rest, Aspirin or Acetaminophen, plenty of fluids, and moist air. If your cold or flu produces thick, sticky sputum, an expectorant may help to clear your lungs. A nonproductive cough can be treated by one or more common therapies: throat soothers and cough suppressants, or antihistamines if your cough is caused by allergies. To relieve a cough’s irritation, try cough drops, lozenges, and syrups. Your doctor might recommend a cough suppressant containing the narcotic drug codeine and requiring a physician’s prescription, or nonprescription cough drops containing dextromethorphan. Many over the counter products contain topical anesthetics that will slightly numb your irritated throat and many provide temporary relief. Ultimately, for any cough that persists for more than 7 to 10 days, seek medical advice. Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment the underlying illness or problem.
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
The following alternative therapies may ease the discomfort of acute or chronic respiratory infections. They do not treat the infection itself, but they may complement conventional care.
ACCUPRESSURE
Sometimes a coughing fit can make the muscles in the upper back contract or go into spasm. To relieve the pain this causes, apply pressure to Lung 5.
CHINESE HERBS
Sang Jug Yin, a decoction of Mulberry leaf and Chrysanthemum, is a classic cough treatment. It contains a number of other ingredients as well and is available in prepared form. Drink as directed for two to three days.
HERBAL THERAPIES
A wide variety of herbs act as stimulating or relaxing expectorants that help the body remove excess mucus from the airways. Stimulating expectorants increases the quantity and then liquefy viscous sputum so it can be cleared out by coughing. Relaxing expectorants loosen the sputum and are soothing if you have a dry, irritating cough. Since most herbal traditions have remedies for specific types of coughs, you might want to check the many possibilities with an herbalist. However a basic herbal cough tea that can be taken several times a day for three days consist of 2 parts Coltsfoot, 2 parts Marsh mallow, 2 parts Hyssop, 1 part Aniseed, and 1 part Licorice. Add 1 cup boiling water, steep for 20 minutes, and drink while hot.
HOMEOPATHY
Homeopaths recommend different remedies and dosages schedules for the beginning and later stages of various types of coughs. For relief of early symptoms, take one dose four times a day; for relief of persistent symptoms, take two doses a day for four days. If you are often thirstily and have painful bouts of dry coughs that intensify with the slightest movement, try Bryonies (12c). if your cough is accompanied by hoarseness, difficulty in breathing, and considerable rattling in the chest, take Antimonies terrarium (12c). if your throat tickles and you get violent coughing fits whenever you lie down, try Drosera (12c). if the slightest draft of cool air initiates a tickling cough, take Rumex crisps (12c). if you happen get chilled and develop a fever and a breaking cough, try Aconite (12c).
NUTRITION AND DIET
The best thing to do for a cough is to drink plenty of liquids, four to six large glasses a day. A large intake of fluids will loosen the mucus and make coughing it up easier. Warm liquids, or just plain water, are best for this purpose. Try to avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which are diuretics that because you to lose more liquid than you take in. conventional and alternative practitioner agree that you might speed recovery by drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Some physicians recommend vitamin C supplements; others consider a well balanced diet just as effective.
AT HOME REMEDIES
Most of the treatments referred to above can be used at home. In addition to drinking plenty of liquids, including herbal teas, you may find relief by rubbing your throat and chest with essential oil of eucalyptus or myrrh. A simple rub might help you breathe more easily, cough less, and get a good night’s sleep. Another way to reduce persistent night coughing is to sleep with the head of your bed raised six to eight inches. This prevents the pooling of secretion and the return of the irritating acidic contents from your stomach to your esophagus, which you may be breathing in. try to avoid caffeine and peppermint. You can make an effective expectorant with a large onion and organic honey. Slice the onion into rings, place in a deep bowl, cover with honey, and let stand 10 to 12 hours. Strain and take a table spoon of this mixture four or five times a day.
COUGH
SYMPTOMS
More important than the cough itself are aspects of it that provides clues to its cause:
• Frequency and duration of the cough.
• Length of the coughing spell.
• Type of the material being cough up.
• Color of the sputum (white, clear, green, yellow, pink, blood specked).
• Consistency of the material coughed up (thick, thin, frothy).
• Presence or absence of accompanying pain.
WHAT IS COUGH
Although it is usually unwelcome and involuntary, a cough is not itself an illness, but rather a protective reflex. Generally, the reflex kicks in when the membranes lining the respiratory tract secrete excessive mucus or phlegm. These secretions help to protect your airways from infections and irritants by trapping and flushing out viruses, bacteria, and foreign particles. Coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of this accumulation. The sudden burst of air in a cough not only helps to keep the breathing passages open, but also may prevent infectious mucus from falling into your lungs and bronchial tubes, where it could lead to such serious infection as pneumonia or bronchitis. Although cough have many different patterns, they may be categorized according to two characteristics duration and productivity. Duration refers to how long the person needs to cough. A cough can come and go quickly, as when you cough up something stuck in your throat; it can last for several days if you have a cold; or it can be persistent and chronic, as when you have chronic bronchitis. A productive cough is one that produces some of the sputum that protects the lungs and other parts of the lower respiratory tract. A nonproductive, or dry, cough is often the result of irritation caused by mucus running from the nasal passages to the throat. Although coughing is usually an involuntary act, it can also be voluntary the result of a conscious decision. In addition, some people cough more often than others because individuals vary in the amount of irritation they can tolerate.
CAUSES
A cough can be cause by anything that irritates the respiratory airways enough to elicit the protective cough reflex. The most common cause is an acute respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold, flu, and sinusitis. In these cases the excessive mucus produce in response to the infection triggers the cough. Coughs can also be triggered when you accidently inhale small objects, such as pieces of food, or breathe in irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke, and noxious fumes. A harsh or forceful cough can itself be an irritant. Coughing causes the airways to contract; repeated contraction lead to irritation of the upper airways, and this prolongs the cough in a sort of vicious cycle. A dry, nonproductive cough can be a side effect of drugs prescribed for other ailments. There are, for example, five types of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart disease that sometimes cause a dry cough. If you are taking one of these drugs and find you are coughing, ask your doctor to prescribe another. A persistent nonproductive cough that interferes with your sleep may indicate a condition called esophageal reflux, in which you involuntarily bring the acidic contents of your stomach back up into the esophagus and then inhale this material. A chronic persistent cough should always be considered abnormal. The cough may be caused by smoking, allergies, asthma, or chronic bronchitis, but it may also be an indication of emphysema, tuberculosis, or lung cancer.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES
Any persistent cough may be symptoms of an underlying illness. Your doctor will make the diagnosis based on the frequency, duration, and severity of the cough; breathing difficulties; the type of material being coughed up; and the presence and location of any accompanying pain, swelling, or rash. The doctor may wish to obtain a chest x-rays and sputum specimen to test for infection. Although some of the chronic obstructive lungs disease in which coughing may be symptoms are incurable, most are treatable. If you have a dry cough along with leg and back aches, fever above 1010 F, headache, and a sore throat, you may be diagnosed with flu. A productive cough in which the color of the sputum changes from white to yellow or green may signal infection, possibly bronchitis or sinusitis. If your cough is accompanied by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest, you may be diagnosed with bronchial asthma. A cough that produce blood, or pink, yellow, or rust colored mucus, accompanied by chest pains, headache, fever, and difficulty in breathing, may be diagnosed as pneumonia. And if you have a hacking cough along with a pink rash, muscle aches, fever, and red eyes, you may be diagnosed with measles or German measles.
TREATMENT
Most coughs are not dangerous, therefore, if you have a nonproductive cough, along with a runny or stuffed up nose, sore throat, and sneezing. You have all the classic symptoms of a common cold, and you should let it run its course. Since coughing is a protective response by the body, suppressing it with cough medicine, particularly if it is a productive cough not only reduces the productive clearing action but may serve to mask a more serious underlying problem. Use conventional or Alternative cough remedies for no longer than 7 to 10 days and preferably only for temporary relief from nighttime coughing.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
An antibiotic might be prescribed for an underlying bacterial infection. Antibiotics would not be prescribed for a viral infection such as the common cold, however. In the case, your doctor would just prescribed bed rest, Aspirin or Acetaminophen, plenty of fluids, and moist air. If your cold or flu produces thick, sticky sputum, an expectorant may help to clear your lungs. A nonproductive cough can be treated by one or more common therapies: throat soothers and cough suppressants, or antihistamines if your cough is caused by allergies. To relieve a cough’s irritation, try cough drops, lozenges, and syrups. Your doctor might recommend a cough suppressant containing the narcotic drug codeine and requiring a physician’s prescription, or nonprescription cough drops containing dextromethorphan. Many over the counter products contain topical anesthetics that will slightly numb your irritated throat and many provide temporary relief. Ultimately, for any cough that persists for more than 7 to 10 days, seek medical advice. Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment the underlying illness or problem.
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
The following alternative therapies may ease the discomfort of acute or chronic respiratory infections. They do not treat the infection itself, but they may complement conventional care.
ACCUPRESSURE
Sometimes a coughing fit can make the muscles in the upper back contract or go into spasm. To relieve the pain this causes, apply pressure to Lung 5.
CHINESE HERBS
Sang Jug Yin, a decoction of Mulberry leaf and Chrysanthemum, is a classic cough treatment. It contains a number of other ingredients as well and is available in prepared form. Drink as directed for two to three days.
HERBAL THERAPIES
A wide variety of herbs act as stimulating or relaxing expectorants that help the body remove excess mucus from the airways. Stimulating expectorants increases the quantity and then liquefy viscous sputum so it can be cleared out by coughing. Relaxing expectorants loosen the sputum and are soothing if you have a dry, irritating cough. Since most herbal traditions have remedies for specific types of coughs, you might want to check the many possibilities with an herbalist. However a basic herbal cough tea that can be taken several times a day for three days consist of 2 parts Coltsfoot, 2 parts Marsh mallow, 2 parts Hyssop, 1 part Aniseed, and 1 part Licorice. Add 1 cup boiling water, steep for 20 minutes, and drink while hot.
HOMEOPATHY
Homeopaths recommend different remedies and dosages schedules for the beginning and later stages of various types of coughs. For relief of early symptoms, take one dose four times a day; for relief of persistent symptoms, take two doses a day for four days. If you are often thirstily and have painful bouts of dry coughs that intensify with the slightest movement, try Bryonies (12c). if your cough is accompanied by hoarseness, difficulty in breathing, and considerable rattling in the chest, take Antimonies terrarium (12c). if your throat tickles and you get violent coughing fits whenever you lie down, try Drosera (12c). if the slightest draft of cool air initiates a tickling cough, take Rumex crisps (12c). if you happen get chilled and develop a fever and a breaking cough, try Aconite (12c).
NUTRITION AND DIET
The best thing to do for a cough is to drink plenty of liquids, four to six large glasses a day. A large intake of fluids will loosen the mucus and make coughing it up easier. Warm liquids, or just plain water, are best for this purpose. Try to avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which are diuretics that because you to lose more liquid than you take in. conventional and alternative practitioner agree that you might speed recovery by drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Some physicians recommend vitamin C supplements; others consider a well balanced diet just as effective.
AT HOME REMEDIES
Most of the treatments referred to above can be used at home. In addition to drinking plenty of liquids, including herbal teas, you may find relief by rubbing your throat and chest with essential oil of eucalyptus or myrrh. A simple rub might help you breathe more easily, cough less, and get a good night’s sleep. Another way to reduce persistent night coughing is to sleep with the head of your bed raised six to eight inches. This prevents the pooling of secretion and the return of the irritating acidic contents from your stomach to your esophagus, which you may be breathing in. try to avoid caffeine and peppermint. You can make an effective expectorant with a large onion and organic honey. Slice the onion into rings, place in a deep bowl, cover with honey, and let stand 10 to 12 hours. Strain and take a table spoon of this mixture four or five times a day.
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