Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of Cough

It is a natural reflex of the body to clear irritants or excess mucus from the respiratory tract. However, questions such as what relieves a dry cough are frequently asked. Persistent or severe coughing, especially chronic or productive cough, may be a sign of an underlying health issue. At A Life Healthcare Group, we are here to identify the causes of coughing, provide appropriate treatment, and help relieve your symptoms.

What Is Cough?

It is a sudden expulsion of air performed to clear foreign substances from the airways. This action is carried out forcefully to expel irritants and excess mucus. It is a self-protection mechanism of the body and is generally harmless.

However, in some cases, a dry cough or persistent cough may be a symptom of an underlying illness. These conditions require treatment. It most often occurs as a result of a respiratory tract infection. However, it is also a symptom that appears in allergic reactions or other chronic respiratory diseases.

Types of Cough

Acute Cough: This is the type of cough that lasts less than 3 weeks. It usually results from temporary infections such as upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, flu).
Chronic Cough: Coughing that lasts more than 8 weeks may occur in patients experiencing chronic cough. This condition may be due to serious causes such as asthma, reflux, or lung diseases.
Dry Cough: A type of cough that occurs without phlegm and often irritates the throat. The question of what is good for dry cough is frequently asked. With this type of cough, a burning or itching sensation is often felt in the throat.
Productive Cough: Coughing accompanied by phlegm or mucus. This type is mostly seen in infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

What Causes Cough?

There are many different causes of coughing:

Respiratory Infections: Infections such as the common cold, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia are the most common causes.
Allergies: This is referred to as allergic coughing. Pollen, dust mites, and other allergens irritate the respiratory tract.
Asthma and COPD: These result from chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
Gastroesophageal Reflux: Stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus can lead to coughing.
Smoking: Cigarette smoke irritates the throat and causes chronic coughing.
Medications: Some blood pressure medications and others can cause coughing as a side effect.
Other Factors: Dry air, air pollution, foreign body aspiration, and some tumors may also cause coughing.

Irritation or infections in the respiratory tract can cause coughing. How to get rid of a cough depends on the underlying cause. This reflex can result from many causes such as viral infections, allergic reactions, and chronic lung diseases.

Reflux and environmental factors are also among these causes. Therefore, the treatment approach should be personalized and cause-oriented.

How to Get Rid of Cough Caused by Viral Infections?

Coughs seen in viral upper respiratory tract infections such as colds and flu usually resolve on their own. However, the following methods can be applied to relieve symptoms and support the healing process:

Drinking plenty of fluids: Thins mucus in the body, facilitating the removal of phlegm.
Resting: Helps the immune system fight the infection.
Taking a warm shower or steam bath: Moisturizes the respiratory tract, reduces irritation.
Gargling with salty water: Relieves throat irritation.
Consuming herbal teas (linden, ginger, sage): Soothes the throat, provides relief.
Humidifying the home environment: Especially in dry air, throat dryness and dry cough may worsen.
Warm water mixed with honey and lemon: A natural throat soother and may reduce mild throat discomfort.

How to Get Rid of Dry Cough?

Dry cough is a cough reflex without phlegm and usually irritates the throat. When it lasts long, it can seriously affect quality of life. Main answers to the question “What stops dry cough?” are:

Over-the-counter cough suppressants: Should be used with doctor’s advice. These drugs suppress the coughing reflex.
Throat lozenges or soothing sprays: Reduce irritation, moisturize the throat.
Using a humidifier in the bedroom: Especially answers the question of what is good for nighttime coughing fits.
Avoiding triggers such as dust, cigarette smoke, and perfume: Should be avoided as they may increase irritation.
Antihistamine drugs if allergy exists: Especially if allergic cough is present, allergy-focused treatment is needed.

How to Get Rid of Cough with Phlegm?

Persistent cough with phlegm is generally seen in lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia. In this case, phlegm can be expelled more easily with mucolytic treatment:

Mucolytic drugs (expectorants): Thin mucus to make it easier to expel.
Drinking plenty of warm water: Increases mucus fluidity.
Applying warm compress to the chest: Can relax the chest area.
Antibiotics prescribed by a doctor: Required if bacterial infection is present.
Steam inhalation: Moisturizes respiratory tracts, softens phlegm.

How to Get Rid of Allergic Cough?

Allergic cough usually accompanies symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. It is especially common in spring and autumn months. The answer to what is good for allergic cough is generally to avoid allergens and treat with appropriate medications:

Antihistamine drugs: Suppress the respiratory reaction caused by allergy.
Nasal sprays: Can relieve symptoms by clearing nasal congestion.
Avoiding allergens: Such as pollen, house dust, animal hair.
HEPA filter air purifiers: Beneficial at home especially for allergy-sensitive individuals.

How to Get Rid of Reflux-Related Cough?

Reflux caused by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus may present especially as nighttime cough. In this case, healing cannot be achieved without controlling stomach acid:

Following reflux diet: Avoid spicy, acidic, and fatty foods.
Keeping the head elevated while sleeping: Prevents stomach acid from rising.
Antacid medications: Neutralize stomach acid, provide relief.
Avoiding smoking and alcohol: They may trigger reflux.

What to Do for Long-Lasting (Chronic) Cough?

Persistent respiratory problems lasting longer than a week require a doctor’s examination. Such cases may indicate a serious illness:

Consulting a Chest Diseases specialist,
Having necessary tests and examinations (chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, blood tests),
Excluding serious diseases (COPD, asthma, lung tumor) is necessary.

What Stops a Cough?

Although it may not always be possible to completely eliminate this symptom, it can be alleviated by the following methods:

Natural methods: Drinking warm water mixed with lemon and honey, consuming herbal teas.
Pharmacy products: Cough syrups, throat lozenges, inhalers.
Avoiding triggering factors: Allergens, cigarette smoke, dry air can adversely affect respiratory tracts.
Medication: Antitussives for dry cough, mucolytics for cough with phlegm are preferred.
Cough medicines used by doctor’s recommendation: Varies according to age and cause. Special formulas are required for cough in babies.