Most individuals are experiencing cough complications. The main factors causing cough in people are air pollution which is increasing day by day due to deforestation, changing weather, and other unwanted activities which are done by human beings. Due to air pollution, most people are suffering from various respiratory diseases and its causes vary from person to person. However, in today’s blog, we will discuss cough, its causes, and home remedies for cough to get rid of it.
What is Cough?
Cough is an automatic reflex action against foreign particles such as dust etc. It is the way that the body responds to those irritants to remove from your throat, nose, and lungs. The production of mucus is an act of defense to filter out allergens. Coughing helps to clear your airways from germs so you can breathe from your nose.
Coughing is a sign of bacterial and viral infection, that may affect your respiratory system. It is also called the flu or common cold. Different types of cough depend on their duration and severity, which are as follows:-
Dry Cough:
In dry cough, no phlegm (mucus) is produced. You may feel the sensation of tickling in your throat. It triggers irritation in your respiratory tract which leads to a hacking cough. It is not easy to stop that cough.
Causes of Dry Coughing
Many causes trigger dry cough which are as follows:-
- Allergies- Some people are allergic to certain foods and get affected by changes in weather, which can occur mostly in the cold season.
- Sore throat- Sore throat makes painful itchiness in the throat and that makes it hard to swallow foods and liquids. Do a sore throat overnight treatment to get rid of it.
- Asthma- It is a chronic illness that narrows down airway passages causing difficulty in breathing.
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) – GERD is a disorder that is related to the digestive system. Individuals may experience indigestion and heartburn. This gastric acid flows back from the stomach to the food pipe (esophagus) towards the throat and that triggers a cough.
- Tonsillitis- Tonsils are lymph nodes located backside of your throat which protects you from getting an infection. The swelling of tonsils due to inflammation is known as Tonsillitis which is caused by Streptococcal bacteria. It is common in children.
- Croup- Croup is a viral infection that affects the upper airways then it becomes hard to breathe. This cough sounds like barking. This cough can be experienced during winter and mostly occurs in younger children.
- Irritants- Dust, air pollution, pollen, strong fragrance, smoke, etc., are the some of common factors that can cause dry cough.
Wet Cough:-
Wet cough is also known as Productive cough. There is secretion of excess thick mucus or phlegm in the chest and throat which results in congestion in your chest. Sometimes you may experience a red colour in your mucus during coughing.
Causes of Wet Coughing
There are some reasons which may cause a dry cough that is given below:-
- Common Cold- It is a viral infection that can cause infection in your nose and throat. It is a communicable disease because it may spread by air from individuals to individuals.
- Flu- It is caused by the Influenza virus which may be transmitted by physical contact such as talking, shaking hands, etc.
- Acute Bronchitis- Bronchial tubes are the airways that pass the air from the windpipe to your lungs. These tubes connect the nose and mouth with the lungs. When there is irritation and swelling in these tubes which causes difficulty in breathing is known as Bronchitis. The common types of Bronchitis are acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is caused by respiratory infections such as the common cold which goes away within a few days. However chronic bronchitis is more severe and never completely goes away.
- Pneumonia- It is a lung infection that may affect your single or both lungs. Pneumonia is caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. During Pneumonia alveoli (air sacs of lungs) get inflamed and filled with fluid or pus is known as Pneumonia. This causes chest pain and you may not be able to breathe easily.
Easy Home Remedies For Treating Cough
Coughing is a natural process to filter unwanted foreign particles such as dust and other irritants. Many home remedies are used to get rid of coughs naturally.
Hot Drinks:
Hot soup, tea, coffee, and herbal tea may help you to get relief from runny nose, sneezing, and cough.
Honey:
According to research, it is shown that honey can help to alleviate upper respiratory infections (throat and nose). Two teaspoons of honey can help to reduce mucus production.
Ginger:
Ginger tea is the best way to treat cough. It is a traditional remedy that is used to relax congestion in your airways. It also can eaten raw or you may add to your food.
Steam:-
Taking a hot shower may turn off your cough problem. Another steam method is pouring hot water into a deep bowl and adding peppermint oil. Now cover your head with a towel and lean towards the bowl. Deeply inhale or exhale breathe for 10- 15 minutes.
All these two methods will help to heal your coughing by moisturizing your air passages so you will able to breathe easily.
Cough Drops:-
These are not such medicines but a candy that acts as a suppressant to stop tickling in your throat. It increases saliva in your mouth which moist your throat for a while.
Gargle With Salt Water:-
If you have scratchy and sore throat then gargle with salt water may be helpful. It helps to thinen mucus which also reduces the pain due to pharyngitis (sore throat). Add some salt into a glass of hot water then gargle by keeping your head back and then spit.
Natural Herbs:-
From ancient times natural herbs such as thyme and marshmallow roots have been used to treat respiratory illness.
Marshmallow is used for the treatment of pharyngitis and also act as a suppressant for cough. According to research, it is found that thyme may help to relieve all kinds of cough.
Conclusion
Due to seasonal changes, you may get prone to cough, cold, flu, etc. Sometimes it may be difficult to focus on work or other daily activities. After reading this article you may know about the types of cough, its severity, and how it can be treated at home with natural remedies.
If your cough is curable at home then you can go for the remedies which are mentioned above otherwise you may seek medical guidance before it worsens.
