Coughs

A cough is an action your body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating to your air passages, which carry the air you breathe in from the nose and mouth to the lungs. A cough occurs when special cells along the air passages get irritated and trigger a chain of events.

The result? Air in your lungs is forced out under high pressure. You can choose to cough  (a voluntary process), or your body may cough  on its own (an involuntary process). Causes of Coughs: The list of possible causes of cough  is long and highly varied. Doctors classify coughs into 2 categories, acute and chronic. Many doctors define an acute cough  as one that been present for less than 3 weeks. Chronic coughs are those present for more than 3 weeks. Acute coughs can be divided into infectious (caused by an infection) and noninfectious causes.

Infectious causes of acute cough  include viral upper respiratory infections (the common cold), sinus infections, pneumonia, and whooping cough . Noninfectious causes of cough  include flare-ups of the following chronic conditions: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and environmental allergies. The easiest way to simplify the causes of chronic cough  is to divide them into their locations with respect to the lungs.

Cough Symptoms: Although the signs of a cough  are self-explanatory, what differentiates the cause of a cough  are the associated signs and symptoms. Another important factor in determining the cause of the cough  is whether it is acute or chronic. Acute coughs have been divided into infectious and non-infectious causes. Signs and symptoms that point to an infection include fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache, sinus pressure, runny nose, night sweats, and postnasal drip. Sputum, or phlegm, sometimes indicates an infection is present, but it is also seen in non-infectious causes. Signs and symptoms that point to a non-infectious cause include coughs that occur when you are exposed to certain chemicals or irritants in the environment, coughs with wheezing, coughs that routinely worsen when you go to certain locations or do certain activities, or coughs that improve with inhalers or allergy medications. The signs and symptoms of the chronic cough  can be hard for doctors to assess, because many causes of the chronic cough  have overlapping signs and symptoms. If your cough  is related to environmental irritants, it will worsen when exposed to the offending agent.

If you have an environmental allergy, your cough  may improve when using allergy medications. If you have a smoker's cough , it may improve if you stop smoking and worsen with increased smoking. If you have a chronic lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis, you may have a persistent cough  or a cough  that worsens with certain locations or activities. You may or may not have sputum with your cough  and often have improvement in your cough  with the use of inhaled or oral steroids, or other inhaled medications. If your cough  is caused by chronic sinus infections, chronic runny nose, or chronic postnasal drip, you will often have the signs and symptoms associated with these conditions. You may also notice that your cough  worsens when your problem worsens, and often your cough  will improve when the underlying problem is treated. If your cough  is associated with medications, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, the cough  will begin after starting the medication in question. The cough  is often dry and improves when the medication is stopped.

A cough  associated with GERD is often associated with a sensation of heartburn. This type of cough  worsens during the day or when you lie flat on your back. Furthermore, a sizable minority of people with a cough  caused by GERD will note no symptoms of reflux, but most people will report improvement in their cough  when GERD is treated properly. If your cough  is a warning sign of an underlying cancer, you may have a group of symptoms. If lung cancer or a cancer of the air passages is present, you may cough  up blood. Other signs and symptoms that may warn of a cancer include worsening fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained loss of weight, or decreased ability to swallow solid or liquid foods.

When to seek medical attention: Whether to call the doctor about a cough  can be a difficult decision. In general, contact the doctor if you experience the following:

Cough is associated with a fever and sputum production
Cough fails to get better after other symptoms go away or lessen Cough changes in character
Trial therapy shows no signs of reducing the cough
You begin coughing up blood
Cough interferes with the activities of daily living or sleep cycles

Call your doctor immediately if you have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Most coughs do not require evaluation in the Emergency Department, and efforts should be made to discuss the situation with your doctor.

Aromatherapy Treatments

These can be very beneficial for coughs . Essential oils are valuable for soothing the throat and bronchi.

Aromatherapy essential oils such as Benzoin, Chamomile Roman, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Tea Tree and Thyme are all valuable for coughs .

These essential oils have a combination of different uses which include fighting infection, expelling mucus, relieving bronchial spasm and inducing relaxation. For coughs  there are a variety of ways to treat the cough  which include massaging the chest, throat and upper back using a blend of essential oils in carrier oil. Steam inhalation is an excellent way of soothing the throat and bronchi whilst helping to expel mucus. When the chest feels tight and its hard to cough  then steam inhalations can relieve this feeling.

Recipe 1: Mix 1 drop Lavender, 1 drop Tea Tree, 1 drop Benzoin with 10ml carrier oil and massage into the chest, throat and upper back.

Recipe 2: Mix 1 drop Frankincense, 1 drop Chamomile Roman and 1 drop Lavender with 10ml carrier oil and massage into the chest, throat and upper back.

Recipe 3: Place 3 drops Eucalyptus and 2 drops Thyme in a bowl of hot water and inhale. Alternatively place these oils in a diffuser.

Sandalwood Essential Oil- Amyris Balsamifera (10ml)

Sandalwood is one of the best essential oils to use in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. It is a good oil to use for oily skins and acne and is often liked by teenage boys as it has a masculine scent as well as helping to sooth itches and rashes.

£5.60

Chamomile Roman 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Chamaemelum Nobile

A wonderful oil which has so many valuable properties Chamomile would be a great one to always keep in and can be used in skin care, musuclar aches and pains and digestive problems.

£5.00

Chamomile Roman Pure Essential Oil - Chamaemelum Nobile (10ml)

Chamomile is a great oil to use for nervous disorders. It is soothing and calming and can help where a person is irritable or nervous. It can also help with insomnia.

£14.50

Eucalyptus Essential Oil - Eucalyptus Globulus (10ml)

Eucalyptus is best loved for its ability to help with chest infections and blocked up noses. However it is also great for muscular aches, colds sores, herpes or burns and makes a useful and natural painkiller.

£4.50

Frankincense 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Boswellia Carteri (10ml)

Offered here as a diluted oil Frankincense is wonderful for mature skin complexions to help with scars, wrinkles and wounds. It can help with coughs and bronchitis and is a generally calming oil for people suffering from stress.

£5.00

Frankincense Pure Essential Oil - Boswellia Carteri (10ml)

This is a non-diluted version of the oil. Frankincense is wonderful for mature skin complexions to help with scars, wrinkles and wounds. It can help with coughs and bronchitis and is a generally calming oil for people suffering from stress.

£9.50

Lavender Essential Oil - Lavandula Abrialis (10ml)

Lavender has been used continuously for thousands of years and its popularity has only ever increased. If you could have no other essential oil in your house, then Lavender would be the prime choice: It has a wide range of uses and is a natural antibiotic, anti-depressant, sedative and de-toxifier.

£3.30

Marjoram Essential Oil - Origanum Marjorana (10ml)

Marjoram as we might expect can help with the digestion. It is useful for bruises and chilblains. Marjoram can also have a warming effect on the mental and emotional level and can help people suffereing from grief.

£7.50

Rosemary Essential Oil - Rosemarinus Officinalis (10ml)

Rosemary is believed to have a refreshing, invigorating affect on the skin and can be used for a variety of skin and hair problems. It is good for stiff and overworked muscles, Steam inhalations with Rosemary can be good for catarrh and sinusitus. Rosemary also has a strong connection with the central nervous system and can help with memory and mental clarity.

£3.50

Tea Tree Essential Oil - Melaleuca Alternifolia (10ml)

Tea Tree - the ultimate antiseptic which is a truly wonderful oil to keep in. Use it for veruccaes, thrush and warts, acne, rashes and dandruff. Try it for resipratory problems such as coughs and catarrh and use it to help with viral infections and increase the boxes immune system.

£4.00