The doctor named common causes of coughing

Often, when a cough begins, the suspicion first falls on a cold. But it can also occur for other reasons. Olga Ulankina, a doctor and expert at Gemotest Laboratory, told Izvestia on January 25 why a cough may appear.

She explained that it is a reflex reaction of the body to an obstacle to breathing, when the nerve endings of the respiratory tract are irritated. If something unnecessary appears in the respiratory system - a foreign object, liquid - it is the cough that helps to get rid of the irritant. Most often it develops at the acute stage of respiratory diseases, when the airways are inflamed, swollen or there is sputum in them, but can be a consequence of other problems.

"Coughing can appear in a number of diseases. Among them is gastroesophageal reflux - the throwing of gastric secretion into the esophagus. The mucous membrane of the esophagus because of this is constantly irritated, which causes heartburn and reflex cough. Another cough can be "cardiac", that is, arise in heart disease. In this case, sputum is not separated, cough accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness. In a lying position, it intensifies", - said the expert.

According to the doctor, also prolonged cough can be a symptom of diseases of the endocrine system, in which the thyroid gland is enlarged. This organ is closely adjacent to the trachea and when enlarged irritates its receptors.

It is also a major symptom of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In it, the airways narrow, which restricts air supply, causing a person to not only cough but also suffocate, Ulankina added.

"Coughing is a constant companion of pulmonary tuberculosis. At first it is dry, and as the disease progresses, it becomes moist with sputum or hemoptysis. It can be accompanied by subfebrile temperature (37-38 ° C) and weakness", - said the expert.

It can also be allergic: arise from contact with an irritant that is in the air. Usually it is dust, pollen, animal hair, bird down and so on. In addition, dry cough can torment with parasitic infection. This happens, for example, with ascaridosis, when the larvae of parasites penetrate the bloodstream and with the bloodstream move to the lungs, the doctor explained.

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"Another type of cough, not associated with respiratory diseases - neurotic, or psychogenic. As a rule, it torments people who are subject to anxiety, arises due to emotional or physical overstrain, after a fright, against the background of a sudden change of environment. Such a cough is usually manifested either as coughing to clear a spasmed throat, or as short attacks," - said the doctor.

However, it indicates not only health problems, but can also be a side effect of taking medications, especially if a person is self-medicating or taking a large number of different supplements and vitamins without a doctor's prescription. The body may react in this way to the incompatibility of drugs. Coughing can also occur in people who inhale tobacco or vape smoke - it is not necessary to smoke yourself, it is enough to be in a smoking company - as well as those who live in places with polluted or too dry air, the doctor added.

If such a reflex reaction of the body does not pass in one or two days, prevents sleep, causes headache, accompanied by other symptoms (shortness of breath, fever, pain in the chest or under the shoulder blade), as well as if the expectoration of sputum, you need to see a doctor. He will conduct a diagnosis to find out the cause. As a rule, diagnosis includes blood and urine tests, as well as some types of instrumental examination, such as X-ray or CT scan of the chest, spirometry - measuring the volume and speed of breathing. If allergies are suspected, the doctor may prescribe allergy tests. If there is a suspicion of heart disease, an ECG and cardiac ultrasound are prescribed. If there is heartburn, the specialist may suspect reflux and refer for endoscopic examination, clarified Ulankina.

"There are many anti-cough remedies: mucolytics, bronchodilators, inhalation. However, taking any medication without a doctor's prescription is not recommended. When the doctor completes the examination and makes a diagnosis, he will prescribe a medicine depending on the cause of the cough," warned the medic.

While the diagnosis is underway, you can ease the cough with non-drug methods. First of all, the doctor advised to take care of respiratory hygiene: moisturize the air - you can use special humidifiers, put a damp cloth on the radiators or spray water from a sprayer, - ventilate the room, regularly get rid of dust with wet cleaning, often walk in nature - preferably in the forest. Dusty, dry air increases coughing, as it irritates the mucous membranes. Also, according to the expert, it is important to drink enough water, suck candy or lozenges without sugar. The latter stimulates saliva production, which also helps moisturize the mucous membranes.

Earlier, on December 24, 2024, the founder of the DNAOM laboratory Andrei Isaev told "Izvestia" about what vitamins the body needs in winter, and examples of products where they are contained. The expert singled out vitamin A (retinol). According to him, it is found in carrots, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, liver and eggs. It improves vision, supports healthy skin and strengthens the immune system. Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, can be found in foods such as bananas, avocados, walnuts, fish, chicken, potatoes and legumes. This vitamin is involved in the metabolism of amino acids, is necessary for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and is important for the nervous system.