HEALING FOR COUGH

WHAT IS COUGH?

Coughing is a voluntary or involuntary mechanism that clears your throat and airways of mucus or foreign irritants. While everyone coughs to clear their throat from time to time, some conditions can cause a more frequent cough.

There are different types as acute, subacute or chronic. Coughs lasting less than 3 weeks are classified as acute, coughs lasting 3 to 8 weeks and recovering at the end of this period are subacute, and persistent coughs lasting longer than 8 weeks are classified as chronic. Most coughing episodes resolve within two weeks, or at least significantly improve.

Phlegm cough is generally a type of cough that produces phlegm. If there is blood in the sputum that comes during coughing, it can be called bloody cough, or hemoptysis. Dry cough, on the other hand, is a very irritating type without phlegm. It is especially seen in viral diseases. An allergic cough is a type of cough that results from the immune system's response to an allergen rather than an infection such as the flu or cold. Night cough is a type of cough that occurs especially close to sleep and can affect a person's sleep pattern.

Continuing cough for a long time can cause negative consequences such as causing sore throat and hoarseness, causing insomnia, causing chest pain, making it difficult to eat and drink, creating psychological discomfort, and can reduce your energy for daily activities.

WHY DOES COUGH OCCUR?

A variety of conditions can cause coughing, both temporary and permanent. In order to be able to distinguish between them correctly, it is important to correctly note the duration, type and characteristics of the cough, as well as any other symptoms that go with it.

It is usually caused by viruses and will heal on its own without treatment. Different reasons play a role in the formation of acute or chronic cough.

Acute cough is usually caused by upper or lower respiratory tract infections such as flu, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, whooping cough, acute sinusitis, spring allergy. Apart from these, situations such as inhaling irritants and exposure to irritants such as certain vapors, fumes and gases can also cause an acute cough.

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of chronic cough. Some other reasons are:

• Postnasal drip
• Asthma
• Respiratory allergies
• Damage to vocal cords
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Heart failure
• Cystic fibrosis
• COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases)
• Chronic lung infections such as tuberculosis
• Lung cancer
• Hypertension drugs called ACE inhibitors

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COUGH

• Cough
• Pain in the chest
• Burning in the chest
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Mild hoarseness

COUGH PREVENTION

Here's what you can do to prevent coughing before it happens:

• Quit smoking.
• If there is any irritant such as perfume, smoke… that can cause coughing, avoid it.
• Avoid foods that will trigger reflux.
• If it is caused by a specific allergy, identify and avoid exposure to allergens that affect you.
• Avoid contact with other people who are sick. (If you know you are sick, avoid going to work or school to avoid making others sick.)

HOW TO HEAL COUGH?

Cough can be treated in a number of ways, depending on the cause. Your doctor may apply the following types of treatment:

• Expectorant drugs: It eases the cough by facilitating the discharge of sputum.
• Medicines to relieve nasal congestion: This group of medicines helps to relieve nasal congestion by reducing mucus production and to get rid of phlegm in the lungs. Thus, they are effective in breathing relief and cough control.
• Cough suppressants: They can be recommended in case of coughing severe enough to cause chest pain. They help suppress the cough reflex.
• Antihistamine drugs: They are recommended for allergic cough.
• Asthma medications: If the cough is caused by asthma, this type of medication is recommended.

What you can do at home:

• In cough caused by post-nasal drip, drinking plenty of fluids helps to reduce the discharge and moisten the mucosa.
• Taking a hot shower can be effective in coughs with phlegm caused by both colds and allergies.
• Steam container can also be used in coughs with phlegm.
• Humidifying the air of the room.
• Gargle made by adding half a teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of warm water reduces the phlegm and mucus at the back of the throat and helps to reduce the cough caused by this.
• Consuming warm herbal teas can relieve cough, runny nose and sneezing.
• Consuming honey helps to relax the throat and reduce the frequency of coughing.
• Using throat lozenges.
• Consuming foods strong in terms of probiotics, especially yogurt, can help relieve cough.
• Intense coughing at night can be solved by methods that raise the head, such as using double pillows.

A Natural Supplement: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants’ Oils

There is increasing interest in the pharmacological properties of essential oils as an alternative method of support for respiratory ailments and infections. Because research has shown that the excessive use of some drugs causes side effects such as liver damage, ulcers, kidney problems and high blood pressure. Many people now use essential oils as a more natural supplement, before reaching for prescription or over-the-counter medications as the first response to coughing.

If you are considering using essential oils to relieve your cough, you should pay attention that the oil has the following characteristics:

• Analgesic (pain reliever): Helps to relieve sore throat and pain. Some essential oils with this characteristic: eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, bergamot oil, clove oil, peppermint oil

• Antibacterial: Helps prevent bacterial infections such as respiratory tract infection. Some essential oils with this characteristic: tea tree oil, cinnamon leaf oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, geranium oil, oregano oil, lemon peel oil

• Anti-inflammatory: Helps to soothe inflammation in the throat or respiratory system. Some essential oils with this characteristic: cinnamon leaf oil, rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, tea tree oil, oregano oil, lemon peel oil

• Antitussive: Helps suppress the cough reflex. Some essential oils with this characteristic: peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil

• Decongestant: Helps to reduce congestion / mucus in the upper respiratory tract. Some essential oils with this characteristic: eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil, oregano oil, lemon peel oil

• Expectorant: Helps soften the mucus and get rid of it easily with coughing. Some essential oils with this characteristic: rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, oregano oil

Inhalation: You can use these essential oils individually or in combination for relief of cough symptoms. Inhaling the vapor of the oils allows it to reach the nasal passages and respiratory tract.

Fill a large bowl (500 ml) with hot water (not boiling water). Add 2-3 drops to hot water. Cover your head and the bowl with a cheesecloth so that the steam does not disperse. Close your eyes to avoid irritation and breathe deeply for 5-10 minutes. You can apply it many times a day.

By dripping 6-10 drops into the water in your censer or electric diffuser, you can spread the scent. The diffuser should be open for 30-60 minutes, then the environment should be ventilated for 30-60 minutes.

Massage: You can use these essential oils individually or as a mixture to relieve cough symptoms by diluting them with carrier oils at the appropriate rate. You can drip 2 - 3 drops into 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of carrier oil and mix them, and apply enough oil to your neck, chest and back area by massaging. You can use oils such as jojoba, black cumin, nioli as a carrier oil.

We recommended that you consult your doctor before using these herbal oils.

Consulting Your Doctor

Most coughs resolve within two weeks, or at least improve significantly. If you have a cough that does not improve during this time, we recommend seeing a doctor as it could be a sign of a more serious problem.

In most cases, no serious underlying disease is detected in cough. However, in rare cases, a prolonged cough may be a sign of a more serious illness that requires immediate treatment, such as heart failure. In the following cases, it is useful to have further examinations:

• Increasing aggravation of cough
• Bleeding from the mouth when coughing
• Fire
• Difficulty in breathing
• Chest pain
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Swelling in the neck area
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Blurring of consciousness, confusion