Productive cough: what is it? Causes and features of treatment

Coughing is a reflex action that clears the airways of mucus, dust, or smoke. With its help, the body tries to get rid of the irritant that causes it. Coughing is usually a symptom of a wide range of diseases. In which it can be dry or wet. If such moments are understandable to practically everyone, then for many it remains a mystery when they hear such a thing as a “productive cough”. What it is and how it can be caused will be considered in the article.

Description

So what is a productive cough? In search of an answer to this question, one should turn to the medical classification.

A productive cough is a cough with mucus or sputum. It can be caused by various pulmonary pathologies and diseases, the treatment of which requires an individual character.

Now, knowing what it is - a productive cough, you can consider the causes of its occurrence. Such knowledge will certainly help the patient in consultation with his doctor and discussing further therapy.

How to understand a productive cough or unproductive? Nuances

In order to find out what cough torments a person, you should listen to the symptoms. Unproductive cough, as a rule, comes from the upper part of the respiratory tract (throat), and productive from the lower (trachea and bronchi).

It is worth remembering that the approach to the treatment of these types of cough is significantly different. Therefore, therapy is selected solely on the basis of a medical examination and taking into account his recommendations. Do not resort to self-administration of drugs without consulting a specialist.

Causes

A wet cough most often occurs as a result of exposure to the body of infections, bacteria or viruses. It should be understood that the entire respiratory system is covered with a mucous membrane. Mucus performs many useful functions, of which the main ones are maintaining the airways in a moist state and protecting them from various irritants. When the body fights infection, it produces more mucus than usual. Thus, the main reason for a productive cough is the presence of pathologically dangerous irritants in the body. From which the body is trying to get rid.

As a rule, a wet cough may indicate such diseases:

1. Bronchitis. This is inflammation in the bronchi, which is usually caused by various viruses. The disease can become chronic (often caused by smoking).
2. Pneumonia. It is an infection in the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This condition varies in severity from mild to life-threatening.
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A disease is a group of conditions that damage both the lungs and the tubes that deliver air. According to doctors, the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is smoking.
4. Cystic fibrosis or cystic fibrosis. This is a genetic condition of the respiratory system that is usually diagnosed in early childhood. It causes the production of thick, clammy mucus in the lungs and other organs.
5. Asthma. Although people with asthma often suffer from dry coughs, the organisms of a small group of patients produce persistent excess mucus. Which makes one feel chronic wet too.

Having considered what a productive cough means, what is its nature, and what diseases can cause it, it is worth understanding what treatment methods exist.

Causes of Children

In children, a productive cough is usually caused by a viral infection. Another common cause may be asthma.

In addition, a productive cough can be caused by pneumonia or whooping cough. However, these reasons are extremely rare.

Diagnostics

To diagnose the cause of a cough, the doctor must first know how long it lasts and how strong it is. As a rule, in most cases a simple physical examination is sufficient.

If the cough lasts very long, other symptoms intensify or are present, such as fever, weight loss, headaches, fatigue, etc., the doctor may prescribe additional tests.

Additional testing may include chest x-ray, laboratory testing of a blood sample, sputum, urine, etc.

Drug therapy

If a person has been diagnosed with a productive cough, treatment should begin immediately. As a rule, based on the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes medications that can alleviate the condition and remove this unpleasant symptom.

Preparations for a productive cough can be divided into two groups:

• expectorant;
• mucolytics.

Expectorant drugs increase secretion of the respiratory tract, which facilitates the process of discharge of sputum. Mucolytics belong to the group of drugs, which, like expectorants, thin the mucus, make it less thick and viscous, which provides easier coughing.

List of drugs for wet cough

Having discovered a productive cough in a patient, the doctor tries to choose the most suitable medicine in a particular case. There are a number of expectorants and mucolytics, which are recommended for taking out sputum, information about which is presented below in the table.

The attending physician can prescribe any other drug, guided by the results of the analysis and the general condition of the patient.

It is important to remember that you should not prescribe treatment with any drugs on your own, as this can have serious consequences. Only a qualified doctor can determine the degree of necessity to choose a particular medicine.

Auxiliary therapy and folk remedies

In addition to taking medications, very affordable and simple procedures can help, as soon as possible to cure a productive cough, namely:

1. Warm shower and bath. A simple and completely natural way to relieve stagnation of mucus in the chest is to take a warm shower or bath. However, it is worth remembering that this procedure can only be done with a productive cough without fever.
2. Drink plenty. The use of purified drinking water, broths or herbal tea is an excellent option for maintaining water balance in the body during an illness.
3. Peppermint. If you have mint on hand, you can add it to tea, which will favorably affect the general well-being. This plant contains a compound known as menthol, which can help thin the mucus and remove sputum from the lungs. Alternatively, peppermint essential oil can be used. It can be applied in small amounts to the temples or between the lips and nose. In addition, you can use oil in an aroma lamp. Such actions will help saturate the body with useful substances by inhaling them.
4. Honey. The benefits of honey have been known since ancient times. This natural product is perfect as a means of alleviating the symptoms of respiratory, viral diseases, including a productive cough. It can be added to warm milk, tea or consumed just like that, washed down with a small amount of purified water.
5. Althea root. This herb has proven itself in treating cough. Many doctors note that the marshmallow root is one of the most effective active ingredients that is used in the manufacture of medicines. At home, from this herb, you can brew teas and consume them in the morning or before bedtime.

What is not worth doing?

Having understood what a “productive cough” is, it’s important to understand what you don’t need to do when it comes to treating this unpleasant symptom. About it further.

It is worth remembering that with a productive cough, you can not take drugs that suppress cough (which, as a rule, are prescribed for unproductive coughs). This can lead to stagnation of mucus and the development of complex inflammatory processes.

It is important to consider that the use of the following products can adversely affect the treatment process:

• alcohol;
• caffeine;
• chocolate;
• citrus;
• fried and fatty foods;
• spices and spicy foods;
• Tomatoes and tomato-based products.

Therefore, it is recommended to exclude them for a short period, until a productive cough disappears.

Conclusion

Having examined in detail what it is - a productive cough, it will be easy to understand what methods of dealing with it need to be applied. If the doctor makes such a diagnosis, he should prescribe medications that would help sputum get out of the lungs as soon as possible. Expectorants and mucolytics, as well as combined drugs that combine the properties of the two previous ones, are best suited for these purposes.

It is worth remembering that during treatment not only medications, but also folk remedies can come to the rescue. Honey, herbs, well-moistened air and plenty of drinking are all things that will speed up the process of sputum discharge and restoration of normal functioning of the airway mucosa.