A cough is a body reflex reaction to irritation of the receptors of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. It can occur suddenly or repeat constantly. Sometimes a cough torments a person with seizures. They prevent sleep at night and interfere with the day. This can happen for a variety of reasons. And before looking for a way to relieve a coughing fit , you need to understand why it appeared. After all, any means will be ineffective if the cause of the attack is not eliminated.
Why does cough appear
This symptom of many diseases interferes with the physical activity of a person, exhausts the body, attracts the attention of others. A cough may appear for the following reasons:
- due to colds, flu, SARS;
- inflammatory diseases of the bronchi and lungs - pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis;
- with whooping cough, bronchial asthma;
- due to heart failure, heart defects, pathologies of large vessels;
- with diseases of ENT organs: sinusitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis;
- due to an allergic reaction;
- smokers;
- due to the penetration into the respiratory tract of various irritants: dust, smoke, small objects, chemicals.
Attack of dry cough
Most of the above diseases start with a dry cough. It most often occurs in the form of seizures. In this case, pain behind the sternum or throat, shortness of breath, and vomiting may appear. This is a cough without sputum discharge, therefore it is also called unproductive. It often occurs due to an allergic reaction or a foreign body entering the respiratory tract. Attacks of dry cough in adults and children need to be removed with medicines or folk remedies. The main thing is to moisten the mucous membrane and relieve irritation.
Is it possible to block a wet cough
When sputum is expectorated during coughing, it is considered productive because it clears the airways of mucus. Such a wet cough cannot be removed. On the contrary, he needs help with expectorants and sputum thinners. But in some cases, a wet cough can also cause seizures. They are facilitated by inhalation, a warm drink or special medicines.
Why seizures often happen at night
Cough can occur at different times, it depends on the causes that caused it, and the characteristics of the disease. But most often, a coughing fit occurs at night. Especially with rhinitis, laryngitis, or heart failure. The occurrence of seizures is affected by the horizontal position of the body. In this case, mucus flows down the trachea and irritates the respiratory tract. In addition, relaxed muscles and slowed blood circulation contribute to the occurrence of sputum congestion in the lungs.
First aid for an attack
It is not always necessary to get rid of a cough. Often it is a protective reaction of the body. Therefore, assistance to a person suffering from cough should be to alleviate his condition:
- you need to sit, leaning on a pillow, or stand up, leaning forward slightly;
- relax and calm down;
- humidify the air, for example, put a wet towel on the battery, turn on the humidifier or put a pot of hot water next to it;
- dilute in 100 g of water 20 drops of tincture of valerian and drink;
- chamomile tea helps;
- you can dissolve a candy with menthol or honey.
And how to relieve a fit of coughing that caught a person not at home, for example, on the street or at work? You need to stand upright, raise your right hand up and pull it as high as possible until the cough stops.
Do I need to see a doctor
Usually episodic dry coughing in adults should not be a concern. If they do not repeat and do not bring serious discomfort, you can cope with them yourself. Many patients with chronic illnesses, such as allergies or asthma, know how to relieve a coughing fit. But there are cases when it is better to consult a doctor:
- heat;
- cough lasts longer than a week;
- it is accompanied by chest pain, vomiting, suffocation;
- sputum contains blood impurities; it is very thick, yellow or green.
How to relieve a coughing fit in a child
Particular attention should be paid to such symptoms in children. If the cough is accompanied by fever, runny nose, lacrimation, and weakness, then it is caused by a cold or a virus. To get rid of such a cough, you need to treat the underlying disease. It is necessary to consult a doctor for this; you should not give your child medication yourself.
If coughing is the only symptom, it may be the result of an allergic reaction or a foreign body entering the respiratory tract. This often happens in babies who are left unattended: they can inhale the details of toys, food crumbs, or other small items. It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor if a child's cough is accompanied by fever, weakness, shortness of breath. And if the baby began to choke, his face turned pale or blue, you need to call an ambulance.
And how to remove a coughing fit in a child yourself?
- give him a drink of warm milk with soda and honey;
- humidify indoor air;
- if the cough causes mucus draining from the nose, drip vasoconstrictor drops;
- in case of allergy - remove the allergen and give an antihistamine prescribed by a doctor;
- if the child choked, you need to put him on his knees on his stomach or tilt his head down and hit several times between the shoulder blades towards the head.
Cough Medications for Adults
All drugs can be taken only after examination by a doctor and determining the cause of cough. Basically, they affect the body in a complex way. How to relieve a coughing fit with medication?
- There are drugs that suppress the cough reflex. Basically, they are sold by prescription, as they contain codeine. But you can relieve the attack of dry cough with the help of such drugs: Libexin, Sinecode, Stoptussin, Broncholitin.
- With a cold cough, you can take plant-based syrups: Gedelix, Herbion, Doctor Mom, marshmallow syrup or licorice root.
- For the treatment of wet cough, preparations with an expectorant effect are used. They improve sputum discharge and clear mucus from the airways. This is Lazolvan, Ambrobene, Halixol.
- A sudden attack of dry cough may be caused by an allergic reaction. Then antihistamines will help: Tavegil, Suprastin.
Cough recipes
Such funds help to relieve coughing attacks in an adult. But not all of them are suitable for relief from an attack. Most folk recipes need to be prepared in advance, this is done if a person coughs frequently. Other medicines are taken for a long time, which is also more suitable for the treatment of chronic cough. But there are also such cough remedies for adults that will help relieve seizures or make them less common.
- Pour dry nettle grass with vodka and insist 10 days in a dark place. Drink a tablespoon during seizures.
- To sleep peacefully at night, you need to burn a tablespoon of sugar in a dry frying pan. Dilute this woman in a quarter cup of water and add a few drops of aloe juice.
- Prevents the appearance of coughing attacks at night decoction of sage in milk. Such a preparation is prepared in advance: boil a tablespoon of grass in a glass of milk and insist 30-40 minutes.
- Tea with ginger, honey and lemon helps a lot.
- If you are not allergic to beekeeping products, you can mix honey with butter and eat a spoonful of this product, washed down with warm milk.
- In some cases, warming the chest helps. You can make an iodine grid, a compress of boiled potatoes or rub with ointment for colds.
Be healthy!