Uppermill pharmacist IAN STRACHAN looks at coughs and their treatments
A COUGH is our natural way to clear the airways of objectionable mucus and irritants, like dust and smoke. A cough may be dry or chesty but it’s true most coughs will clear without treatment in three weeks.
Dry or chesty?
A dry cough is usually felt in the throat as a tickle that triggers the coughing reflex. This usually happens when the throat and upper airways become inflamed. No phlegm or mucus is produced.
The common cold or flu will often result in a dry cough as our brain thinks the inflammation in your throat is a foreign body and tries to expel by coughing.
Chesty coughs usually produce phlegm. These coughs are beneficial because they encourage the removal of phlegm from the lung passages.
When to see your doctor
I would recommend seeing your GP if your cough lasts for more than three weeks after a viral infection or when your cough appears to be getting progressively worse.
Anyone experiencing breathing difficulties, chest pain, or coughing blood should speak to their GP immediately.
The causes of coughs
Most people suffering from a cough will have a respiratory tract infection caused by a virus. Other possible causes may be:
- Allergic rhinitis such as hayfever
- A flare up of asthma, chronic bronchitis, or a condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Stomach acid and its reflux or even smoking
TREATMENT
Coughs caused by viral infections unfortunately have no quick remedy. It will usually clear after the immune system has fought off the virus.
The simplest and possibly the cheapest way to treat a short-term cough may be by home-made remedy containing honey and lemon. The honey is a demulcent to coat the throat and relieve the irritation that causes coughing.
Many over the counter remedies are available from your local chemist who can advice on their suitability.
Cough medicines should not be taken for more than two weeks while some ingredients may help with a blocked nose or high temperature.
Diabetics should note that most of these preparations are sugar based. For young children the best advice I can give is to try a warm drink of lemon and honey or a simple cough remedy that contains glycerol or honey. Honey however should not be given to babies under the age of one.
Cough suppressants such as pholcodine dextromethorphan and antihistamines act on the brain to hold back the cough reflex. As always I recommend you check with your pharmacist as to their suitability.
Finally, expectorants help to expel phlegm so coughing is made easier and unwanted phlegm is removed. They include ingredients like guaifenesin, ammonium chloride and ipecacuanha. Such ingredients are found in small quantities in cough medicines but do check as to suitability.
Next month: as Christmas approaches let’s take a look at indigestion.
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