Coughing is the body's way of
removing foreign material or mucus from the lungs and upper airway passages
camera or of reacting to an irritated airway. A cough is only a symptom, not a
disease, and often the importance of your cough can be determined only when
other symptoms are evaluated.
I. Causes of
Cough
A common cold accompanied by cough
may be caused by a weakened immunity or even an allergic reaction. The body’s
production of mucus may accelerate and cause a blockage in your nasal cavity and
irritate the throat. There are some details about causing a cough as following:
Productive Coughs
A
productive cough produces phlegm or mucus (sputum). The mucus may have drained
down the back of the throat from the nose or sinuses or may have come up from
the lungs. A productive cough generally should not be suppressed-it clears
mucus from the lungs. There are many causes of a productive cough, such as:
- Viral illnesses. It is normal to have a productive cough when you have a common cold. Coughing is often triggered by mucus that drains down the back of the throat.
- Infections. An infection of the lungs or upper airway passages can cause a cough. A productive cough may be a symptom of pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, or tuberculosis.
- Chronic lung disease. A productive cough could be a sign that a disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is getting worse or that you have an infection.
- Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. This type of coughing may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may awaken you from sleep.
- Nasal discharge (postnasal drip) draining down the back of the throat. This can cause a productive cough or the feeling that you constantly need to clear your throat. Experts disagree about whether a postnasal drip or the viral illness that caused it is responsible for the cough.
- Smoking or other tobacco use. Productive cough in a person who smokes or uses other forms of tobacco is often a sign of lung damage or irritation of the throat or esophagus.
Nonproductive Coughs
A
nonproductive cough is dry and does not produce sputum. A dry, hacking cough
may develop toward the end of a cold or after exposure to an irritant, such as
dust or smoke. There are many causes of a nonproductive cough, such as:
- Viral illnesses. After a common cold, a dry cough may last several weeks longer than other symptoms and often gets worse at night.
- Bronchospasm. A nonproductive cough, particularly at night, may mean spasms in the bronchial tubes (bronchospasm) caused by irritation.
- Allergies. Frequent sneezing is also a common symptom of allergic rhinitis.
- Medicines called ACE inhibitors that are used to control high blood pressure. Examples of ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten), enalapril maleate (Vasotec), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, or Zestoretic).
- Exposure to dust, fumes, and chemicals in the work environment.
- Asthma. A chronic dry cough may be a sign of mild asthma. Other symptoms may include wheezing, shortness of breath, or a feeling of tightness in the chest. For more information, see the topic Asthma in Teens and Adults.
- Blockage of the airway by an inhaled object, such as food or a pill. For more information, see the topic Swallowed Objects.
II. Recommended
Food to Cure Cough or Cold
Actually, if you are
serious in catching a cold or a cough; you better go to visit the doctor as soon
as possible. Meantime, there are some recommended foods as well which also help
you to cure it. They have immense therapeutic value for throat
infections as they help to reduce the severity of the symptoms. They are:
- Honey: Honey soothes the throat and provides relief from the soreness that is caused by excessive coughing. Grape juice mixed with honey is also very useful in treatment of this condition. Grapes have expectorant properties that help in expelling mucus from the lungs and throat.
- Ginger: Ginger is a hot spice that is very effective in the treatment of congestion. A glass of hot ginger tea will help to loosen thickened mucus and phlegm within the respiratory system so that it can be easily expelled when the person coughs. Ginger is especially effective in treating a nonproductive cough (where there is no sputum produced during a coughing bout).
- Garlic: Preliminary results from a several studies suggest that garlic can help to prevent as well as treat colds and coughs. Garlic contains allicin and other Organosulfur compounds that help to fortify the immune system and overcome infectious viruses and bacteria. Add a small amount of chopped garlic to a glass of hot water, stir it vigorously, and then allow it to sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. Drink this liquid while it is still warm to soothe your sore throat and get rid of your cough
- Fresh fruits and vegetables: are thus an integral part of your diet and a valuable source of nutrition. Fresh, juicy fruits provide the necessary fluids and vitamins during the duration of a cold. Moreover, in addition to increasing your intake of fruits that help to cure a cold, it is important to balance your diet with whole grains and cereals. Eating fruits or vegetables directly in their raw form when you are suffering from a cold is greatly beneficial.
- Vitamin C and fruits rich in Vitamin C: are greatly beneficial in treating a cold. Lemon is a rich source of Vitamin C and a glass of lemon juice everyday fortifies the immune system. Oranges are another valuable source of Vitamin C. Orange juice mixed with warm water taken at regular intervals helps cure a cough. Strawberries and sweet lime are other valuable sources of Vitamin C. It is highly beneficial to include several fruits in your diet as it increase the fiber content in the body and helps strengthen immunity. Fruits like apple, pears, melons and peaches are beneficial in the treatment of a cold. A salad made of these fruits, including oranges, pineapple and grapes is an effective remedy for cold and cough. Grapes are especially beneficial for those suffering from symptoms of cough. Eating grapes or drinking grape juice eases the lungs and helps relieve a cough. In such a case, eating "hot" fruits or fruits which generate heat in the body are seen to be beneficial. Fruits like papayas, lichee, guava, cherries and apricot are some of the fruits that cure a cold during the summer, by generating sufficient heat in the body. Hence, while a certain fruit may not be good or bad for the cold, it may cause specific problems given the nature of the allergy and that of the cold.
- Water: You should also drink plenty of water and other fluids to keep your body hydrated.
III.
Foods to Avoid during Cough
While we are
recommended to know beneficial food we should eat during the cough; it is also
very essential to aware of the types of food we should avoid as well. Here is
what we suggest to avoid:
- All canned and processed foods: instead of them, select the natural foods.
- All forms of milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir, ice cream, chocolate, carbonated drinks, and sour foods like vinegar and pickles: you will need to avoid foods that may aggravate your condition. These make the mucus feel stickier, thicker, and while it does not increase the amount of mucus produced, but it can make both kids and adults feel highly uncomfortable.
- White sugar and white flour: Processed foods, like shelf-brand cookies, pastries, sweets, candies, even junk foods contain large quantities of white sugar and white flour. According to experts, white flour and white sugars actually delay the healing process of most illnesses, and they suppress your immune system. Furthermore, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum M.D. , says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of the book “Beat Sugar Addiction Now!: The Cutting-Edge Program That Cures Your Type of Sugar Addiction and Puts You on the Road to Feeling Great — and Losing Weight,” has this to say in addition to the facts about white sugars and flour:
- Fried foods: Fast food, French fries, deep fried anything. These will only aggravate the condition and make you feel heavy. This also means avoiding chips and salty junk food.
- Red meat: As far as possible as it places unnecessary stress on your digestive system.
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