Treatment and prevention of severe cough in adults

The vast majority of people believe that cough is a characteristic accompaniment of colds. It is for this reason that it is not customary to perceive coughs and colds as separate components, which is a mistaken opinion. Meanwhile, the nature of the appearance of a cough without a cold in an adult can be quite variable, and ARVI is often not even in first place on this list. It often happens that a cough appears involuntarily and is provoked by some irritant acting on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Quite a variety of irritants can serve as provocateurs for this symptom, ranging from foreign objects to serious diseases.

Differences between dry and wet cough

It is not difficult to determine the characteristics of the inflammatory process if you look closely at the symptoms. After the examination, the therapist will easily tell you what type of cough is bothering the patient:

1. Dry – no sputum is produced when coughing. Coughing causes discomfort and burning in the chest. It occurs during colds at the initial stage.
2. Wet cough - accompanied by sputum production. The inflammatory process occurs in a severe form, as evidenced by clots of mucus or pus.

The causes of these two types of cough are different. The same treatment is unacceptable. It is important to first establish the nature of the disease; only after this are medications purchased or procedures performed.

Possible diseases, symptoms and signs

The appearance of a cough informs a person that the body is sick and requires effective therapy. There are a number of different diseases characterized by the presence of such a symptom. Such ailments can rightfully include:

• The initial stage of laryngitis.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Emphysema.
• Smoker's Qatar.
• Entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract.
• Serious lung cancer.
• Aortic aneurysm.
• Tuberculosis at different stages.
• Disorders of the nervous system of the body.
• Allergic reaction to dust and chemicals.

It is almost impossible to diagnose the disease by cough alone, which is why it is necessary to seek help from specialists.

Severe dry cough: treatment

How to treat a severe dry cough? Complex therapy will allow you to quickly get rid of unpleasant sensations and put your body in order. Most often, therapists prescribe antitussive medications and prescribe courses of physical therapy.

A very severe cough is accompanied by aches in muscle tissue, headaches and disruption of night rest. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner, observing the dosage and time of taking medications.

Medicines for dry cough

For a severe dry cough, a healthcare professional will prescribe a number of effective remedies:

• codeine-based medications (Codeine, Libexin, Codelac, etc.) - they have an antitussive effect. Take 1 capsule 3 times a day. The medicine helps in 75% of cases if therapy is started in a timely manner;
• B-adrenergic blockers of the cough center (Stoptussin, Sinekod, etc.) - reduce the intensity of irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs. The patient feels relief after three days of use. You need to take such drugs strictly according to the instructions, this is 7-14 days. Medicines are available in the form of tablets and pleasant-tasting syrups;
• antiviral medications (Amizon, Amiksin, etc.) - they are prescribed if the diagnosis of ARVI or influenza is confirmed. The dosage of the drug is prescribed in the instructions, most often the doctor prescribes 1 tablet 3-4 times a day;
• anti-inflammatory medications (Mukaltin or Ibuprofen) - they are taken only after meals. Necessary to eliminate the source of inflammation. The course of therapy cannot exceed 10 days;
• antipyretic tablets (Paracetamol, Aspirin or Ibuprofen) - they are recommended to be taken if the body temperature is above 38.5 degrees Celsius;
• antibiotics - prescribed for severe cough due to pneumonia or pneumonia. It is not recommended to prescribe such a drug on your own, since illiterate therapy can lead to complications. You should also not consult with a pharmacist at a pharmacy, since a person without a certain amount of knowledge may make a mistake.

On this topic:

How to safely treat cough in adults at home

Any effective remedy is taken in combination with physiotherapy. The procedures can improve immunity and get rid of inflammation.

In what cases are folk remedies powerless?

Sometimes dry cough in adults cannot be cured with mucolytics, expectorants and folk remedies. With the formation of a malignant or benign tumor, the lumen of the airways gradually narrows. The inflammation develops so severely that when trying to take a breath, a person develops a painful cough. It can only be eliminated by timely surgery.

Before treating a cough with folk remedies, you should find out its cause. So, when will therapy at home be successful, and in what cases will you need the help of highly specialized doctors:

• allergy. A distorted immune response of the body to the penetration of foreign proteins or chemicals provokes severe swelling of the airways. A narrowing of the larynx prevents a person from taking a deep breath and causes a barking, dry cough. Typically, people who are predisposed to developing allergic reactions are aware of the characteristics of their body and quickly take an antihistamine. It will not be possible to stop a cough attack of this type at home using folk remedies;
• harmful substances. The laryngeal mucosa becomes irritated when any non-infectious agent comes in contact with it. By coughing, a person tries to get rid of a substance that can provoke an inflammatory process. The most well-known irritants include tobacco smoke. A smoker's hysterical cough in the morning appears from regular poisoning with toxic tars. Working in hazardous industries also often causes an unpleasant symptom. In all these cases, folk remedies help to successfully cope with dry and wet types of cough;
• medicines and diseases. Taking some medications can cause attacks of dry cough. Enalapril, a tablet for stopping a sharp rise in blood pressure, often causes spasms of the respiratory tract. Cardiac cough is a symptom of certain pathologies of the cardiovascular system. In this case, folk remedies will not help - the patient needs to consult a cardiologist.

Viral and bacterial infections can be easily treated at home. The effectiveness of therapy increases and recovery accelerates with the simultaneous use of pharmacological drugs and decoctions of medicinal herbs.

Physiotherapy methods for treating dry cough

By combining these procedures with medications, you can speed up the healing process. Among the acceptable measures for the treatment of dry cough in adults , doctors identify the following:

• inhalations – necessary for warming the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract;
• chest massage – treatment course is 5-7 days. This therapy improves blood circulation in the respiratory organs, reducing the process of inflammation;
• electrophoresis - based on heating the inflammation site with heat rays. The effect is the same as with chest massage.

Electrophoresis is contraindicated for purulent complications and fevers. It also cannot be done if the patient has problems with the dermis.

Treatment of wet cough

Expectorant and sputum thinning medications are prescribed if the patient has a wet cough. Of course, it occurs more easily than dry, but this does not mean that its symptoms should be ignored.

Treatment of severe cough with sputum is most often carried out with a combination of medications and traditional therapy. It is also necessary to regularly ventilate the room in which a sick person lives. Bed linen should be changed daily. Patients are advised to drink a lot, giving preference to berry fruit drinks, or green tea with lemon and honey.

Medicines for the treatment of severe wet cough

The therapist will definitely prescribe therapy if the diagnosis is confirmed. Cough treatment for different diseases is carried out differently. Therefore, medications are prescribed only after diagnosing and examining the patient. Most often, a wet cough is treated with the following drugs from the pharmacy:

• expectorant medications (Gerbion, Lazolvan, Ambrobene, etc.) - medications are available in the form of tablets and syrup. Treatment lasts about 10 days, but the exact course is prescribed by the doctor;
• mucolytics (Ambroxol, ACC, etc.) - these drugs have an astringent property. Reception is carried out for 5-7 days, the drug should be consumed only after meals;
• antihistamines (L-Cet, Loratadine, etc.) – are necessary to relieve the inflammatory process in the respiratory system.

On this topic:

Why does allergic cough occur and how to treat it?

For cough, you need to take only those medications prescribed by your therapist. Self-medication can lead to complications - pneumonia, asthma or chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

How to treat a dry debilitating cough in an adult

So that the patient no longer coughs and feels better and recovers, the doctor chooses the most rational treatment.

We will indicate only some drugs that can be used to treat cough.

1. Mucolytics and expectorants. The first thing to do with a dry cough associated with bronchial diseases is to transform it into a wet state. Therefore, doctors prescribe drugs with exactly this effect. These include Licorice Root, Mukaltin, Sinekod, Stoptussin . A dry cough is sterile and does not help the body recover, but is only a consequence of irritation of the bronchi. The use of these drugs helps to transform the cough into a productive state. Adults can take the drug in both tablets and syrups.
2. Antitussive drugs. They do not treat cough, but act on the autonomic nerve fibers that locally regulate this process. These include Codelac Bronch o.
3. Antibiotic drugs ( Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone ) can only be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the characteristics of a particular inflammation or after microscopy of a smear, during which it became clear which pathogen affected the body.
4. Macrolides ( Azithromycin, Clarithromycin ) and antihistamines can help with allergic reactions. Patients with asthma are prescribed the purchase of special aerosols that they should carry with them.
5. Antifungal drugs are also prescribed by a doctor if a fungal infection is suspected, and there are specific microscopy results confirming it.
6. Homeopathic medicines are also widely used for cough. It may include belladonna, opium and other herbal active substances as components. They are present in minimal doses in the preparations, so homeopathy is used even for children.
7. Anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce swelling and remove fever - Nurofen, Paracetamol .
8. Bronchodilators expand the constricted bronchi, making breathing easier and coughing reduced.
9. Medicines for heartburn and dyspepsia, if the cause lies in the contents of the stomach entering the esophagus.
10. Chemotherapy for oncology.

Good to know - How to properly treat an old cough?

In most cases, only a doctor can determine which drug to prescribe. You can help yourself with commonly available simple drugs, as well as traditional medicine.

You might be interested in the article - Why does a dry cough with bronchitis not go away and how to treat it?

Traditional medicine methods for wet cough

A specialized doctor will always provide assistance with a cough. But even doctors sometimes do not neglect the advice of traditional medicine. In combination with drug therapy, decoctions and tinctures can give positive results. Of course, you don’t need to expect complete recovery from traditional practices without using drugs from the pharmacy.

If a person is tormented by a wet cough, then healers are ready to suggest how to treat such a disease. Here are the main folk methods that modern medicine supports:

1. Honey and hot milk is an ancient method that was used to get rid of cough. This is due to the fact that the cow product contains components that dilute phlegm. To get a positive result, you need to drink 2-3 glasses of warm milk. It is best to purchase honey from a beekeeper rather than in a store. What to do if a patient is allergic to dairy products? Abandon this method of traditional medicine.
2. Badger fat is an effective technique based on a natural product. You need to consume one teaspoon of fat 2-3 per day. It is important to do this on a full stomach. Rubbing the chest with badger fat also has an anti-inflammatory effect. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days.
3. Honey and lemon are a pleasant combination that is used for severe coughs. Citrus juice is mixed with liquid bee product. The mixture is consumed 20-30 minutes before a meal. You need to eat one tablespoon 3 times a day.

It is not difficult to cure a severe cough with phlegm if you follow the advice of doctors. Modern medicines make the disease process easier and act faster than traditional medicine. You should remember this when getting carried away with decoctions and herbal preparations.

Inhalations at home

Inhalations help reduce the viscosity of sputum and facilitate its removal from the respiratory tract. After the procedure, the person sleeps peacefully throughout the night and is not tormented by coughing attacks. But before you start inhalation, you need to consult your doctor. In some cases (for example, with a cough of cardiac origin), the procedures are contraindicated and can cause harm to the person.

Nebulizers, compressor and ultrasonic inhalers are used in the treatment of cough at home.

These devices emit steam during operation, in which medicinal compounds are in the form of a very fine suspension. This allows the active substances to be evenly distributed on the mucous membrane. But an ordinary enamel saucepan and kettle will replace complex inhalation devices. If the patient does not have a fever, but is coughing a lot, then you can begin the procedure, not forgetting to cover yourself with a thick terry towel.

The inhalation time is about 10 minutes. If a feeling of discomfort appears, the procedure should be canceled and another method of treating cough at home should be chosen. What traditional medicine recipes should you use:

• dilute 5 tbsp in a liter of water. honey and heat in a water bath;
• boil 3-4 potato tubers in their skins, mash and sprinkle with a tablespoon of baking soda;
• boiled hot unpeeled potatoes (4-5 pieces), lightly crush and pour 30 ml of 95% ethyl alcohol on top;
• 5 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of sage, leave for 30 minutes, filter. Heat and add 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil;
• 5 tbsp. spoons of pine buds and eucalyptus leaves pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for an hour, strain. Heat and add a drop of fir essential oil.

After the procedure, you should lie down, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and try to fall asleep. Upon contact with hot healing steam, a dry, strong cough turns into a productive form and becomes moist. A person begins to breathe easier, soreness and dryness in the throat disappear.

Black radish and honey can help cure a cough at home

Drinking when you cough is a necessity, not a whim.

Doctors recommend that patients suffering from the disease drink more fluids. Drinking plenty of water cannot be called a complete treatment; it is used as part of general therapy. The liquid stops coughing attacks, removes phlegm and relieves a sore throat.

Syrups and tinctures have an expectorant effect. Patients need to drink about three liters per day. Dissolved toxins also leave the body if a person regularly drinks health drinks. Toxic substances are formed due to the death of immune cells and pathogenic bacteria. If they are not removed, the patient will complain of attacks of aches and headaches, and sometimes attacks of nausea appear.

Here are the most popular warm drinks to drink during signs of cough in an adult:

1. Warm milk with melted butter and soda. Helpful drink, facilitates the discharge of sputum. It is important not to bring the milk to a boil; you just need to heat it to 80 degrees Celsius. You need a pinch of soda per glass of cow product, and a teaspoon of butter.
2. Milk with carrot juice. The root vegetable is valued for its beta-carotene content, from which the human body receives the necessary vitamin A. It is this that is needed for the restoration process of cells and tissues. Carrot juice relieves pain and produces a healing effect. In combination with milk, the drink is better absorbed. This mixture should be consumed 2-4 times a day.
3. Licorice root decoction. This is an ancient drink that was used in Rus' during a severe coughing attack. Licorice root can be ground independently or purchased ready-made. A teaspoon of the product is poured into a glass of boiling water. Next, the broth is placed in a steam bath. The drink simmers for 25 minutes. During this, you need to melt half a glass of sugar until it turns brown. Next, licorice tincture is poured in to create a syrup. It can be consumed in its pure form or used as an additive to tea or milk.

On this topic:

What to do during a coughing attack and how to help at home

Strong medications combined with plenty of fluids will give positive results in a short period of time. Of course, you cannot hope for a miracle by choosing only traditional therapy. Decoctions and tinctures are not able to relieve severe inflammation.

Optimal conditions for a quick recovery

No wonder they say that houses and walls heal. Not only syrups, tablets and folk remedies, but also the correct regimen will help eliminate a wet or dry cough. This is an important part of the treatment of all respiratory diseases, the provoking factors of which are pathogenic microorganisms or non-infectious agents.

Air humidity

Bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis and other respiratory diseases most often occur in humans in spring, winter or autumn. At this time of year, the heating season begins, the indoor air becomes dry. The inflamed mucous membrane reacts negatively to this additional irritant and recovery slows down significantly.

You can increase the concentration of water vapor in the surrounding space using a household humidifier. Such devices are sold in pharmacies and specialty stores. Their use helps not only in the treatment of cough, but also for the prevention of bronchopulmonary diseases.

If it is not possible to purchase such a device, then you can increase the air humidity in the room using other methods:

• place napkins and fabrics soaked in water on heating radiators;
• Place open containers of water in the corners of the room.

An excellent solution to the problem is daily wet cleaning. When a few drops of thyme or lemon essential oil are added to water, the room is filled with aroma, and the patient becomes able to breathe easier, and the frequency of coughing attacks is significantly reduced.

Decoctions of medicinal plants can be used to treat coughs at home

Drink plenty of fluids

Without proper drinking regimen, recovery will slow down significantly. There are several reasons for this:

• firstly, additional fluid is necessary to dilute the mucus accumulated on the mucous membranes. It is so thick and sticky that it adheres tightly to the bronchi and trachea. Even a strong hacking cough cannot bring it out. Warm and hot drinks help thin mucus and reduce its viscosity. It will be easily released from the body when coughing;
• secondly, drinking plenty of fluids helps reduce overall intoxication of the body. Pathogenic pathogens release harmful substances during their life processes. Under the influence of toxins, a person’s immunity weakens, and a deficiency of vitamins and microelements occurs. The more fluid a person drinks, the more often urination occurs. Together with urine, accumulated waste, toxins, and metabolic products are also eliminated.

Folk remedies based on medicinal herbs are ideally suited as a medicinal drink. Flowers, berries, herbs and roots have antimicrobial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Regular intake of warm decoctions and infusions soothes the irritated mucous membrane of the larynx and makes breathing easier.

How to cure a cough with folk remedies:

Also read:

How to treat cough in pregnant women?

• Pour 5 dry rose hips, hawthorn, viburnum and rowan berries into a thermos. Pour in a liter of boiling water. Leave for 5 hours, strain. Take 0.5 cups of vitamin drink 4-5 times a day with meals;
• Place 3 tbsp in an enamel container. coltsfoot spoons, 5 tbsp. spoons of sage, marigold, plantain. Pour 2 liters of boiling water. Leave for 4 hours, strain. Take 7 tbsp. spoons before meals 5-6 times a day;
• pour 8 tbsp into a thermos. spoons of licorice root, pour 3 cups of boiling water. Leave for 5 hours, strain. Take 50 ml of infusion every 2-3 hours;
• pour 4 tbsp into a thermos. spoons of sweet dill, rosemary and bear ears, pour 3 cups of boiling water. Leave for 5 hours, strain. Take 3 tbsp. spoons every 3-4 hours.

Recovery will come faster if adults or children drink hot tea made from dried raspberries, black currants and cranberries several times a day. The healing effect will be enhanced by adding mint leaves, a couple of teaspoons of linden honey and lemon slices.

Lightly carbonated mineral waters are great for drinking: Essentuki No. 2, Slavyanovskaya, Borjomi or Narzan. They contain microelements that normalize the elimination of waste and toxins from the body and soothe an irritated throat. Just do not forget that these mineral waters have medicinal properties, so their intake should be dosed. Preference should be given to drinks with an alkaline environment - they can quickly eliminate inflammatory processes.

General recommendations for cough treatment and prevention

Walking in the fresh air during severe attacks is contraindicated, but we must not forget to ventilate the room where the sick person spends most of the time. Fruit drinks and drinks made from natural products will ease the progression of the disease. You can also steam your feet by adding chamomile decoction, mustard powder or sea salt to a bowl of water. This procedure can be done if the patient does not have a fever.

Therapy will be incomplete if nutrition is not adjusted. The patient's menu should include the following dishes: carrot puree, oatmeal porridge with milk, radish with sour cream and steamed vegetables. During the treatment period, you should avoid fried and sweet foods. Fasting during a cough is contraindicated. You can resort to any diet only after complete recovery.

Treatment of a severe cough should be left to an experienced doctor. Self-medication in 80% of cases leads to a serious complication. The best thing to do is to prevent the disease. To do this, you need to regularly walk outside, harden yourself and enrich your diet with fruits and vegetables. In the winter season, it is important to further strengthen the immune system by preparing homemade fruit drinks and eating more carrots. The use of vitamin complexes is possible.

Any medical procedures should be agreed with a doctor. Only then will the therapy give a positive result. Even minor deviations require contacting a clinic. If the therapist recommends an x-ray of the lungs, then there is no need to refuse. Such diagnostics allows us to identify deviations, complications and, conversely, confirm that there is no serious illness.