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CoughsA 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. The categories are environmental irritants, conditions within the lungs, conditions along the passages that transmit air from the lungs to the environment, conditions within the chest cavity but outside of the lungs, and digestive causes. Any environmental substance that irritates the air passages or the lungs is capable of producing a chronic cough with continued exposure. Cigarette smoke is the most common cause of chronic cough. Other cough-producing irritants include dusts, pollens, pet dander, particulate matter, industrial chemicals and pollution, cigar and pipe smoke, and low environmental humidity. Within the lungs both common and uncommon conditions cause chronic cough. Common causes include asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Less common causes of lung-induced chronic cough include cancer, sarcoidosis, diseases of the lung tissue, and congestive heart failure with chronic fluid build-up in the lungs. The passages that connect the lungs to the external environment are known as the upper respiratory tract. Chronic sinus infections, chronic postnasal drip, diseases of the external ear, infections of the throat, and use of ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure have all been implicated in chronic cough. In addition to disease processes within the lung and air passages, diseases elsewhere within the chest cavity may also be responsible for chronic cough. Conditions within the chest known to cause chronic cough include cancer, unusual growth of a lymph node, and an abnormal enlargement of the aorta, which is the main blood vessel leaving the heart. An often-overlooked cause of the chronic cough is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). GERD occurs when acid from the stomach travels up the esophagus. This abnormal condition can cause irritation of the esophagus and larynx resulting in the reflex production of a cough. 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 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. But certain circumstances warrant emergency evaluation. If you have a cough that is caused by a chronic condition, discuss what signs and symptoms warrant going to the Emergency Department with your doctor or specialist. If you develop severe shortness of breath with your cough , you could have any number of serious medical problems that require urgent intervention. Elderly people or people with weakened immune systems who develop a cough and high fever should be seen in the Emergency Department if they are unable to contact their doctor. If you have a known lung disease and an acute worsening in your cough that does not respond to home therapy, you should go to the Emergency Department. Self care at Home If you have an acute cough and have not been to the doctor, you may attempt to use over-the-counter cold remedies to relieve your symptoms. If a common cold or flu is suspected, these may provide relief until the infection gets better on its own. Acute coughs that are caused by allergies are often relieved with allergy medication, and coughs due to environmental irritants will respond to elimination of the agent. Home care of the chronic cough with a known cause is directed at treating the underlying cause of the cough. This should be done in close consultation with your doctor or with a specialist. Although not every chronic cough can be eliminated, many people can find relief of their cough by following their doctor's recommendations closely. Aromatherapy treatments 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. |
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