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Coughing in adults and the most common causes of deviation

There can be quite a few reasons for coughing in an adult. Smoking, colds, poor environment, etc.

All these factors have a detrimental effect on a person’s lungs, which is where constant coughing occurs.

This may also indicate the presence of cancer, so you should immediately contact a specialist so that he can determine the nature of the cough and prescribe appropriate treatment.

The appearance of coughing can be either normal or a sign of various diseases.

What is a cough like?

In adults it happens very often, especially in winter. As soon as you freeze or, conversely, undress a little and sweat, viruses immediately penetrate the body, provoking unpleasant sensations. Cough is usually divided into several types.

To understand what species is stalking a person, it is important to follow it. A dry cough in an adult occurs, for example, due to debris getting into the respiratory tract.

In this case, there is no need to sound the alarm, you just need to cough well and drink water. Wet is always a sign of illness.

Physiological

Physiological cough is normal for all people. A healthy person can cough up to 10 times a day. This is how the lungs are cleansed of unnecessary mucus. It does not require the use of expectorants, otherwise the situation will only worsen.

Infectious diseases cause cough

Pathological

Pathological is caused by the presence of infection in the body. During illness, it is frequent and is accompanied by a runny nose, fever, and drowsiness.

There are several varieties of it:

  • hoarse;
  • whistling;
  • deaf;
  • suffocating;
  • dry;
  • wet.

Chronic

Chronic cough is always a symptom of many diseases. It helps us get rid of pathological elements in the body. If the cough does not stop for 10 days or more, it is called chronic. A person can experience this disease not only with pulmonary diseases, but also with damage to the respiratory tract and nasopharynx.

A long-lasting cough indicates its chronic form.

Heartburn and asthma account for 90% of cases. Less common in allergies, various infections, and lung diseases.

Causes of cough

In an adult, the reasons for coughing can be different. If discomfort occurs infrequently and without any other symptoms, you may not need to focus your attention. But it happens that it lasts more than a month, and shortness of breath and fatigue appear, then it makes sense to visit a doctor.

What are the causes of cough:

  • on nerves;
  • smoking;
  • cardiovascular diseases;
  • infectious diseases;
  • gastrointestinal tract disorders;

If you suspect a pathological cough, you should consult a doctor

  • causeless cough;
  • allergic.

When the first signs of such an illness appear, it is necessary to understand its nature.

Nervous cough

If the attending physician did not reveal any diseases during a full examination, it is quite possible that the cough arose against the background of a nervous disorder. It is dry and sonorous, somewhat similar to the barking of a dog.

Nervous tics appear mainly when a person is stressed. This disease often goes untreated and haunts a person for quite a long time.

You can also determine the diagnosis by the fact that coughing in an adult disappears during sleep and calmness.

After a serious pulmonary illness, the duration of which exceeded a month, a nervous tic in the form of coughing may also appear. This is due to the habit that remained after the illness.

Cough may occur due to nervousness

Smoking

Smoking can cause a continuous cough. Debilitating, paroxysmal coughing is familiar to all heavy smokers. Tobacco, tar and nicotine contain a large amount of harmful substances that have a detrimental effect on the mucous membrane, thereby provoking it.

Tobacco smoke clogs the lungs, so smoking can cause cancer and impair male potency and blood circulation.

A severe cough torments smokers mainly in the morning, but the rest of the day is no exception, and it is not as strong as in the morning.

Heart diseases

Mild, but at the same time frequent coughing may indicate the presence of certain cardiovascular diseases. Most often, coughing along with frequent shortness of breath means that a person has heart failure. Less common in cardiomyopathies and cardiosclerosis.

If you suspect heart pathology, urgent consultation with a doctor, in particular a cardiologist, is necessary.

Infectious diseases

There are 2 types of cough: productive and non-productive. When it is productive, expectoration is observed, and when it is unproductive, it is dry, irritating the throat. In addition to this disease, symptoms such as loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, weakness, elevated body temperature, and difficulty breathing may be observed.

Coughing often occurs during the flu

There are quite a few reasons for the appearance of an infectious cough, here are some of them:

  • whooping cough;
  • hypothermia;
  • tracheitis, tonsillitis;
  • acute bronchitis;
  • pneumonia;
  • false croup;
  • flu;
  • tuberculosis.

When an infection enters the body, a dry cough appears, and it debilitates a person already in the initial stages of the disease. Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor, and self-medication can greatly harm the body.

Lollipops, sprays, and syrups to improve sputum discharge will help eliminate the virus. The doctor can also prescribe an antiviral drug in a comprehensive manner.

Today on pharmacy shelves there are a large number of different drugs that are aimed at fighting microbes.

Cough may be caused by hypothermia

Recommendations for improving the patient's condition:

  • peace;
  • bed rest;
  • drinking plenty of water;
  • non-forced eating.

It is important to know that a prolonged dry cough, body temperature above 37.8, sweating, drowsiness indicate infection has entered the body. The presence of such symptoms requires immediate medical attention.

Pneumonia is also accompanied by a cough

Cough due to gastrointestinal disorders

Sometimes, with a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, a person develops a cough. It occurs without any additional symptoms: sore throat, fever, runny nose, etc.

If there is no cold at all, but heartburn, nausea, dry throat, and shortness of breath appear, this may mean a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. With this pathology, coughing occurs, that is, a wet cough.

At night it intensifies, preventing a person from sleeping peacefully.

Unreasonable cough

There is no causeless cough as such; the cause may be invisible, and other symptoms are barely visible. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, you can quickly get rid of this disease by choosing an effective treatment.

Sometimes this signals the early stages of an infection. In this case, you need to monitor other symptoms: fever, sore throat, body aches, runny nose.

The cough may be allergic in nature

Allergic cough

An allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body to certain substances. Most often, these are dust, pillow fluff, blanket fillers, flowers, cat and dog hair, laundry detergent, and cosmetics. Less commonly, the allergen is found in spices, citrus fruits, and sweets.

When an allergy develops, a person suffers from a constant dry cough, in some cases it is accompanied by sneezing, runny nose, and red eyes. Treatment of allergic cough in adults is not required, since it is enough to remove the allergen.

But sometimes it is necessary to take drops, for example, Fenistil.

A persistent cough in an adult is observed with the onset of almost any cold. For example, with sore throat, ARVI, pneumonia, tonsillitis. Coughing that appears in adults cannot be without cause; the main thing is to understand its nature and begin treatment as soon as possible.

The doctor will tell you about dry cough in the video:

Source: http://bolezni.com/stati-o-simptomax/kashel/pokashlivanie-u-vzroslyx.html

Persistent cough in an adult - causes and treatment

Coughing is a protective reflex that helps clear the airways of various foreign bodies. An acute cough accompanies most bronchopulmonary diseases and helps clear the bronchi and lungs of mucus and sputum.

Often, long-term inflammatory processes lead to restructuring of the mucous membrane and coughing from a protective reflex turns into a painful and chronic symptom that significantly affects a person’s quality of life. Let's consider what processes can cause a constant cough in an adult and what can be done about it in each situation.

It is a mistake to believe that the causes of chronic cough development are only diseases of the lungs and bronchi. It often occurs against the background of diseases of the cardiovascular system or due to pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Let's look at the most common causes of this problem:

  • Chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis or bronchitis).
  • Allergy (permanent form).
  • Drip syndrome.
  • Bronchial asthma.
  • Bronchiectasis.
  • Diseases of the digestive system (reflux, chronic gastritis with high acidity, etc.).
  • Severe diseases of the cardiovascular system.
  • Side effects of certain medications.
  • Oncological diseases of this area.
  • Systemic and specific diseases (lupus, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, etc.)

There is a so-called psychogenic or psychosomatic cough. This means that there is no organic disorder that causes the symptom, but disturbances in the patient’s psyche lead to the cough that he complains to the doctor about.

Let's look separately at the most common causes of cough and figure out how to diagnose and treat them.

Cough in inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract

Chronic inflammatory diseases of all parts of the respiratory tract are almost always accompanied by constant coughing:

  • The cough with chronic pharyngitis is usually dry. Occurs in the upper parts of the pharynx. In addition, the patient feels a sore throat, tickling and scratching. Not accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Worries more often at night and in dry weather.
  • Chronic laryngitis causes a constant dry hacking cough. Symptoms of voice changes occur, and viscous, difficult-to-discharge sputum may be discharged.
  • Tracheitis and bronchitis in chronic form are accompanied by a dry, constant or periodic cough. The patient often complains of chest pain.

When using folk remedies, you need to be careful not to aggravate the existing problem. It is not recommended to experiment with traditional recipes when treating chronic cough in children and adults prone to allergies. To diagnose the cause of this symptom, the patient must be examined by an ENT specialist and a therapist. X-ray helps to clarify the data of a visual examination, as well as a smear for flora and sensitivity.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are used for treatment. Among various groups of antibiotics, drugs with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity are selected.

Alkaline inhalations, sprays and absorbable lozenges are prescribed locally. To eliminate the cough reflex caused by inflammation, you can use proven folk remedies: warm milk with honey and garlic, steam inhalation, radish juice, etc.

Cough caused by allergies

The techno-industrial development of the world leads to an increase in the number of patients with allergies and sensitization (hypersensitivity) to air allergens. The main manifestation of an allergic reaction is a persistent, dry, irritating cough.

Allergy symptoms appear almost immediately after contact with the causative allergen. In addition to coughing, patients may complain of itching, watery eyes, and nasal discharge.

Long-term allergization of the body is one of the risk factors for the development of bronchial asthma.

In treating this problem, the key aspect is to eliminate contact with the causative allergen. To do this, you must first recognize it. Skin tests and immunoblotting are used to diagnose allergies.

The immunoblotting method is a method for determining sensitivity to allergens using polymerase chain reaction. Allows you to test for several (10 or more) most common airborne and other allergens at once.

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To eliminate allergy symptoms, the patient is prescribed antiallergic drugs of different generations, such as:

  • Erius,
  • Loratadine,
  • Zodak,
  • Suprastin et al.

In severe cases, local and systemic hormones (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone) are used.

Postnasal drip syndrome

Recently, a theory has begun to be actively developed that the cause of cough, in the absence of inflammation in the lungs and bronchi, may be mucus that flows from the nasopharynx (Drip syndrome).

Normally, a small amount of mucus always flows down the back wall of the throat of a healthy person, which moisturizes and protects the mucous membrane.

If you have problems with the nose (rhinosinusitis, deviated septum, chronic rhinitis), the amount of this mucus increases. It enters the respiratory tract and causes a protective cough reflex.

In his complaints to the doctor, the patient focuses on the constant flow of mucus down the back wall of the throat, and upon examination, the doctor may reveal chronic sinusitis or a violation of the normal anatomical structure of the nose. An x-ray of the paranasal sinuses or a CT scan helps determine the diagnosis.

Antibacterial drugs are used for treatment if the disease is of a bacterial nature. Other patients are offered surgical treatment for chronic rhinitis or a deviated septum. The third one chooses antihistamines and local hormonal sprays if the cause of the disease is an allergy.

Washing and irrigating the nose with saline solutions has a good effect. They help remove excess mucus, improve the functioning of the nasal mucosa and remove dust particles and allergens from the surface of the mucous membrane. You can purchase such products at a pharmacy or prepare them yourself at home.

Bronchial asthma and cough

Bronchial asthma is a severe systemic disease that can occur in various forms. In addition to nightly attacks of suffocation, the patient is often bothered by a dry cough with difficult to separate sputum. Such coughing attacks, like choking, often bother the patient at night, and also intensify after physical strain.

A feature of the diagnosis of bronchial asthma is that it is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Those. First, the patient is tested for most of the most likely lung diseases and only then is a diagnosis of asthma made. Specific research methods, such as spirography, peak flowmetry, etc., help in diagnosis.

Therapy depends on the form and stage of the disease; it is selected by a specialist depending on the severity of the symptoms. For treatment, inhaled and systemic hormones, cromones, bronchodilators, mucolytics and other drugs are used.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

A pathology such as gastroesophageal reflux (or GERD) can cause the patient to suffer from a constant dry cough. The reason for this is irritation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and pharynx by the acidic contents of the stomach.

With GERD, due to insufficiency of the esophageal sphincter, hydrochloric acid backflows into the pharyngeal mucosa. This acid leads to the development of mucosal atrophy and causes persistent chronic pharyngitis or laryngitis.

In addition to coughing, the patient complains of heartburn, belching, and an unpleasant taste and odor in the mouth. This cough provokes overeating, disruption of the usual diet, and most often it occurs immediately after eating. For diagnosis, the patient is recommended to undergo fibrogastroduodenoscopy, as well as 24-hour pH-metry. These methods make it possible to diagnose GERD and establish its connection with cough.

Medications that help cope with the disease include:

  1. Antacids (Almagel).
  2. Proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole).
  3. Drugs that enhance intestinal motility (Cerucal).
  4. Among alternative medicine, herbal preparations based on chamomile, marshmallow, calamus, plantain, etc. are widely used.

Cough as a side effect of medications

Many patients suffering from arterial hypertension and constantly taking medications to normalize blood pressure complain of a feeling of tickling and coughing. This is a common side effect of taking blood pressure medications.

According to statistics, 70% of patients taking ACE inhibitors (Enalapril, Ramipril) experience side effects in the form of a constant dry cough and sore throat. In some patients, this effect is observed on the first day of use, while in others it can be registered after months or even years of taking the medication. How to cure this type of chronic cough? Unfortunately, no way. Taking blood pressure medications is much more important for the body than this side effect.

What can be done to reduce its irritating effect:

  • Try changing the drug. Some patients react to a specific medication, and changing tablets will help eliminate the cough.
  • Stop smoking to reduce the irritating effect on the mucous membrane.
  • Take a regular course of physiotherapy and distracting symptomatic procedures (inhalations, gargling, moisturizing the mucous membranes with vitamin A or E oil).

Oncological pathology

This symptom may be one of the first signs of cancer of the larynx, trachea or bronchi. What you need to pay attention to:

  • A cough that lasts more than a month and is not associated with a cold or allergies. An alarming symptom is the appearance of fresh or old blood.
  • Unexplained weight loss with normal diet.
  • Enlargement of axillary, supraclavicular and other groups of lymph nodes.
  • A change in voice or unexplained hoarseness may indicate manifestations of laryngeal cancer.
  • Unmotivated fatigue, weakness and increased drowsiness.

Visual examination (for laryngeal cancer), bronchoscopy, and X-ray or CT scan of the chest organs help in diagnosing this pathology. The final diagnosis is made only on the basis of a pathological examination, for which a piece of altered tissue or lymph node is taken from the patient (biopsy).

Treatment is selected by the oncologist, taking into account the extent of the process, the type of tumor and the presence of concomitant pathology. Chemoradiation, surgical and palliative therapy are used.

What other diseases cause prolonged cough?

In addition to the above problems, chronic cough in adults is provoked by other reasons:

An infectious disease that affects many organs, but most often the lungs. The key symptom is a prolonged cough with viscous sputum; in the later stages, hemoptysis appears.

The disease is diagnosed using CT, X-ray, and microbiological examination of sputum. Therapy lasts six months or more.

For treatment, a combination of several antibiotics is used in combination with symptomatic treatment.

A systemic disease in which specific granulomas appear in the lungs and lymph nodes become enlarged. In this case, an adult has a constant cough, fatigue and chest pain. The disease aggravates existing concomitant diseases and is capable of regressing on its own within a year.

  • Systemic connective tissue diseases (lupus).

Thus, there are more than a dozen different reasons why patients develop chronic cough. Diagnosis and treatment are carried out by a specialist based on accompanying complaints and clinical picture data.

Prevention of this symptom is aimed at early diagnosis and elimination of acute forms of diseases, as well as reducing the irritating effect of pathogens on the airways (smoking cessation, protective equipment in hazardous production conditions, etc.).

The appointment is conducted by a pulmonologist. Chronic cough – Fadeev Clinic

Source: https://pneumoniae.net/postoyannyj-kashel-u-vzroslogo/

Frequent coughing in an adult without signs of a cold

The causes of a cough without a cold in an adult can be very different. Cough is one of the most common symptoms of respiratory tract diseases. In addition, this clinical sign can be caused by pathologies of other organs and systems of the human body.

A clinically healthy person (adult or child) can normally experience no more than 20 cough impulses per day. The cough may be dry or wet (nonproductive or productive) depending on whether the patient produces sputum. It can also be acute (up to 3 weeks), protracted and chronic.

To determine the cause of cough, make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, you should contact a qualified specialist and undergo an examination.

If a person, in the absence of a cold, which is usually understood as ARVI, develops a non-productive cough, the cause of this may be:

  • beginning laryngitis or bronchitis;
  • allergic reaction;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • emphysema;
  • tuberculosis;
  • malignant neoplasm of the respiratory tract;
  • nervous overstrain, stressful situations, excessive anxiety;
  • inhalation of dust and/or chemical fumes;
  • entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract;
  • taking certain medications (in particular antihypertensive drugs);
  • disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • consequence of congestive heart failure;
  • pleurisy;
  • endocrine system disorders;
  • whooping cough.

A nonproductive cough can sometimes become productive.

A possible cause of a wet or productive cough is most often the presence of an inflammatory process in the respiratory tract, congestion in the bronchi (for example, advanced bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.), and prolonged smoking.

In inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, a non-cold cough may be the only symptom or be accompanied by nasal discharge, nasal congestion, fever, sore throat and/or chest pain, difficulty breathing, etc.

With pulmonary tuberculosis, a person may be bothered by a prolonged, painful cough, which gets worse in the morning. Blood may be present in the sputum. In the later stages of the disease, hemoptysis is often observed.

Patients with tuberculosis complain of increased sweating at night, they may experience unmotivated weight loss, lethargy and fatigue.

With whooping cough, the patient usually develops a paroxysmal barking cough, which is accompanied by weakness and an increase in body temperature to subfebrile levels. Coughing attacks often occur in patients at night. In adult patients, the disease is usually milder than in children.

An allergic cough can occur directly upon contact with an allergen or some time after that. Cough with the development of an allergic reaction may be accompanied by:

  • lacrimation;
  • discharge from the nasal cavity;
  • a feeling of itching in the nose and/or throat;
  • sneezing;
  • difficulty in nasal breathing;
  • the appearance of a rash on the skin.

With bronchial asthma, coughing attacks occur, after which glassy sputum may be released. Patients may experience an attack of suffocation following a cough, pain in the lower chest, and cyanosis of the skin. Patients with asthma also complain of shortness of breath, tachycardia, and wheezing. An attack of suffocation may be preceded by hives, runny nose, and sneezing.

With malignant neoplasms of the respiratory system, the cough is usually prolonged, and blood is found in the sputum. In some cases, patients produce purulent sputum, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, shortness of breath, and a deterioration in the general condition of the patient. The patient experiences weight loss, voice changes, and weakness.

If a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, patients experience severe coughing and suffocation.

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If the object is small and enters the lower respiratory tract, a person may experience coughing, difficulty breathing, and cyanosis of the skin may occur.

With gastroesophageal reflux disease, cough often occurs at night. It may be accompanied by:

  • heartburn;
  • sour belching;
  • smell from the mouth;
  • unpleasant taste in the mouth;
  • bloating;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • constipation or diarrhea.

In patients who take certain antihypertensive drugs , in some cases there is a constant cough, which can occur both after the first use of the drug and after long-term treatment with the drug. There are usually no other symptoms.

In diseases of the cardiovascular system, cough may be accompanied by shortness of breath, tachycardia, and pain in the heart area.

A psychosomatic cough can occur in a patient under stress, severe anxiety, and go away some time after the situation that caused its development.

A smoker's cough gets worse in the morning. With such a cough, a person usually produces a large amount of sputum. In addition, smokers may experience frequent coughing throughout the day.

Table. Drugs that are often prescribed for non-cold coughs

source

Quite often, when recovering from colds or due to some unfavorable factors, an unpleasant symptom such as coughing in adults occurs. Of course, it does not pose a significant danger to life, however, it significantly worsens its quality.

The materials in the article will help answer questions about why such a symptom occurs and what ways can be dealt with.

The cough reflex itself can have both a physiological and pathological nature. A physiological cough is necessary for the timely removal of mucus from the lumen of the respiratory tract. Quite often, for example, you can encounter physiological coughing in a child during teething.

  • You need to understand that a pathological cough, if it is productive (wet), plays an important role in recovery: with its help, mucus is removed from the lungs, due to which the disease recedes faster.
  • If an adult has a cough or coughing, what signs of disease are they in this case?
  • A list of the most common reasons is presented below:
  1. Professional activities related to hazardous industries.
  2. Inhalation of toxic substances.
  3. Smoking and the process of quitting long-term smoking. Coughing may continue for several months.
  4. Past respiratory diseases of a cold nature, tracheitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia. Coughing and a hoarse voice, for example, are often combined with laryngitis.
  5. Allergic diseases. Ingestion of an allergen, which often includes household allergens, pet dander, plant pollen, and aggressive substances, can cause coughing in both adults and children. Often this symptom is combined with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
  6. Oncological pathologies.
  7. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastroesophageal reflux. Regular heartburn can also provoke coughing attacks.
  8. Osteochondrosis. Coughing with osteochondrosis can be caused due to pinching of certain nerve structures.
  9. Disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system (in particular, aortic aneurysm, heart failure).
  10. Respiratory failure.
  11. Hereditary pathologies: cystic fibrosis.
  12. Bronchiectasis.
  13. Bronchial asthma.
  14. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  15. Tuberculosis.
  16. Nervous system disorders.
  17. Unfavorable environmental conditions.

Only an experienced doctor can correctly determine the cause of coughing in a patient. After carrying out all the necessary diagnostic measures, the specialist identifies the provoking factor and takes everything for its successful therapeutic correction.

So, what is the connection between coughing and neurology?

Coughing, which occurs due to nervousness, is often found in patients with stressful conditions, depression, excessive nervousness and increased excitability. This symptom can be explained by irritation of brain structures that control the manifestation and severity of the cough reflex.

Coughing that occurs in this way is also called neurogenic. No somatic reasons play a role in its appearance.

Attacks of dry cough can occur during nervous overexcitation; the symptom manifests itself more intensely in a stressful state. When the effects of stress factors are eliminated, the coughing stops. This cough does not occur during sleep.

Standard cough treatment methods are not used to eliminate neurogenic cough. In this situation, medications prescribed by a psychotherapist are used to correct a nervous disorder.

Most often these are sedatives, but more serious medications can also be used. In any case, a doctor should prescribe adequate treatment.

After diagnosis, the attending physician must select the correct tactics for therapeutic correction of the condition when a constant cough appears. The purpose of treatment depends on the provoking pathology.

To correct the condition, the following measures are taken:

  1. In the case of a cold-like cough : identifying the causative agent, prescribing antibiotics or antiviral agents, as well as mucolytics and expectorants.
  2. For allergic pathologies : limiting contact with the allergen, prescribing antihistamines.
  3. When smoking : giving up the bad habit, inhalation, drinking plenty of fluids (see Smoker's cough: how to get rid of it yourself).

The remaining pathologies, the list of which is given above in the causes of coughing, should be subject to detailed diagnosis and specific treatment. Often, the course of treatment for diseases that provoke coughing continues for a long time.

It is important to strictly follow the doctor’s prescriptions, take medications strictly according to the instructions and not self-medicate. Violation of the recommendations can lead to a significant deterioration of the condition and the development of complications.

To somewhat speed up the process of healing from constant coughing, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

  1. Drink enough liquid. It is recommended to drink warm tea, herbal infusions (breast teas, thyme, oregano are especially useful), mineral water.
  2. Maintain a favorable indoor microclimate: regularly ventilate rooms and monitor air humidity.
  3. Avoid contact with potential allergens and toxic substances.
  4. Perform inhalations regularly. It is useful to do the simplest steam inhalations with a soda solution or herbal decoctions. Decoctions of chamomile, eucalyptus, and calendula have a healing effect. The price of herbs in the pharmacy is low, but the benefits are undeniable.

The photos and videos in this article will help you understand the reasons for the appearance of such a symptom as constant coughing. Getting rid of it is not always easy, but it is important to follow all the measures recommended by a specialist, and then recovery will come faster.

source

Doctors warn that coughing for no reason in adults is a symptom that requires special attention. A reflex expectoration act may be the visible peak of hidden pathological processes in the body and indicate diseases of vital systems and organs.

Not only diagnostic tests, but also accompanying signs of a particular disease will help determine the severity of the problem.

A cough for no apparent reason is a signal that you definitely need to listen to. Medical practice includes more than 50 reasons why a person may develop a cough.

Moreover, this reflex act can be completely different in nature - come in attacks or manifest itself as obsessive coughing, be forced, dry or deep wet with mucus and phlegm.

One thing is clear - it cannot be without cause.

Source: https://azimutmebel.ru/prostuda/chastoe-pokashlivanie-u-vzroslogo-bez-priznakov-prostudy/

Constant desire to cough reasons - Tonsil

Sputum production when coughing is not an independent disease. This is just a symptom, but it is very common and characteristic of many respiratory diseases. This manifestation occurs both with a common cold and with serious pathologies. The severity of the disease can be judged after examining the secretions.

Possible reasons

The accumulation of mucus occurs mainly in the bronchi, on the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea, as well as in the lungs. Normal breathing is disrupted and a cough appears as a reflex reaction, coughing up mucus in the morning . The most common reasons are:

  1. Tobacco smoking: passive smoking is not excluded. Constant irritation of the mucous membrane of smokers contributes to the frequent and rapid occurrence of infection. Smoker's bronchitis slowly begins to develop. It is very difficult to treat, even after getting rid of the bad habit;
  2. Occupational hazards: sputum discharge is often observed during prolonged contact with industrial aerosols or low-quality fuel combustion products. Moreover, the most severe irritation of the mucous membrane is caused by incompletely burned fuel.
  3. Bronchitis is a chronic stage: the cause of bronchitis is an incompletely cured acute respiratory viral infection. In the future, even the mildest cold causes an exacerbation and transition to a chronic form.
  4. Laryngitis: little sputum is produced, but the cough is painful and frequent.
  5. Pneumonia: in this case, a lot of secretion comes out. Its color is greenish or white-yellow.
  6. Bronchial asthma: more often observed after certain physical or emotional stress.
  7. Genetic change in chromosomes: the framework structure of the lungs suffers, which leads to the formation of obstructive bronchitis.
  8. Cardiovascular lesions: against this background, little sputum is produced, and there are no other signs of lung disease.
  9. Oncological diseases of the respiratory tract: the discharge of secretions is observed against the background of a prolonged painful cough. Moreover, there are no symptoms of intoxication. There is severe pain in the chest that persists after coughing.
  10. Severe infectious diseases (tuberculosis).

Expectoration of mucus from the nasopharynx

The mucous membranes of the oral cavity, larynx, nasopharynx and other respiratory tracts are an excellent breeding ground for many bacteria. All this contributes to the active development of the inflammatory process and the appearance of bad breath.

The discharge of mucus from the nasopharynx mainly indicates colds. This symptom is typical for tonsillitis, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis.

During diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude gastro-enteral reflux, in which mucus is often coughed up after eating. This pathology is characterized by the flow of food from the stomach back into the esophagus.

As a result, a small amount of liquid enters the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, causing irritation.

Expectoration of mucus from the lungs

This symptom is observed with bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis or oncological pathology. These diseases share very similar symptoms. These are cough, fever, general malaise, chest pain.

When coughing, mucus and blood may be coughed up. This manifestation indicates severe forms of the disease. Most often, blood appears due to damage to the lungs by tuberculosis or oncology.

But blood cords are also observed with a common cold, when the removal of sputum is difficult and the cough is dry. In this case, small vessels burst, and blood enters the mucus.

This is not a serious pathology and is not destructive.

Diagnostics

When examining sputum, pay attention to its color and consistency. To carry out a correct diagnosis, the secretion must be fresh. White or colorless liquid indicates the presence of acute bronchitis or early stages of pneumonia. The volume of sputum is small and not every time it is released after a cough.

When it becomes chronic, the secretion becomes viscous and foamy. The volume increases, sometimes several times. But in the case of viral or allergic pneumonia, its amount remains scarce.

Purulent sputum is yellow or greenish-yellow in color. These include patients with tuberculosis, the last stage of lung cancer, as well as with abscess and bronchiectasis.

Treatment

Therapeutic measures depend on the form of pathology that caused the accumulation and secretion of mucus.

After clarifying the diagnosis and conducting a bacteriological examination of sputum, an individual course of treatment is prescribed. All medications and methods are prescribed by the doctor.

Correct intake, according to the plan and following the doctor’s recommendations will help you get rid of the problem quickly and without complications. The following is recommended as a therapeutic effect:

  • Antibacterial drugs;
  • Expectorants;
  • Phytotherapeutic effects and traditional medicine;
  • Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents;
  • Drink plenty of fortified drinks;
  • Drugs that expand the lumen of the bronchi;
  • Breathing exercises;
  • Immunomodulators.
  • Find out the causes and treatment of mucus in the throat that does not clear up.
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Source: https://mindalinna.ru/postoyannoe-zhelanie-otkashlyatsya-prichiny.html

Persistent (long) dry cough

By its nature, coughing is a reflex contraction of the muscles located in the respiratory tract. Under normal conditions, it performs the function of protecting and cleaning the respiratory system. Such coughing is not a disease and is a purely physiological manifestation. However, quite often people experience a persistent dry cough, indicating serious abnormalities in the functioning of the respiratory tract. Constant irritation of the throat causes severe pain, including a gag reflex. In such cases, timely treatment is required to avoid serious complications in the bronchopulmonary system.

Types and manifestations of dry cough

A cough that lasts long enough is a direct symptom of a disease or other painful condition that causes irritation and inflammation in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

At the same time, sputum is not coughed up at all or is released in very small quantities. Under normal conditions, a dry cough in a healthy person is a natural reaction to external irritants - smoke, dust, strong odors, etc.

This manifestation in the form of coughing occurs constantly, with some frequency.

The situation noticeably worsens when unproductive coughing becomes a consequence of exacerbation of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections and other viral infections. A prolonged or persistent dry cough in an adult indicates more serious pathologies that threaten human health and life. These include tuberculosis, pneumonia, etc.

Dry coughing, depending on the causes of its occurrence, can be divided into several types:

  • Night cough. Even from the name it is clear that it appears at night or early in the morning, when the body is resting and in a relaxed state. Sleep is disturbed, the patient's condition worsens against the background of a general nervous situation.
  • Persistent, incessant cough. It is not associated with any factors and can occur continuously over days, weeks and months for no apparent reason. A persistent cough lasts 2 weeks or more, and over 4 weeks is defined as chronic. The true causes can only be determined through a comprehensive study and diagnosis.
  • Allergic. This type of cough appears in certain situations under the influence of irritants - allergens.

If we consider specific reasons, then first of all we should dwell in more detail on internal and external irritating factors. They are taken into account when drawing up an accurate clinical picture of the disease.

Internal causes of persistent dry cough

These factors are considered first, since their action is directly related to various pathologies in the body itself. Hence the answer to the question, why was this possible? Of all the reasons, the most common are the following:

  • Viral respiratory diseases arising under the influence of pathogenic microorganisms. These agents provoke the appearance of influenza and ARVI, bronchitis and other diseases that affect the throat and upper respiratory tract.
  • Acute and chronic form of pneumonia. Occurs under the influence of bacteria or viruses. In addition to a dry cough, there is an increased temperature.
  • An even more serious cause related to the lungs is COPD. This disease is a chronic obstructive condition that necessarily causes a prolonged cough syndrome. The same thing happens with malignant tumors in the lung area.
  • Allergic reactions associated with increased sensitivity of the body to household or food allergens. This pathology is always accompanied by frequent attacks of dry cough.
  • Asthmatic bronchitis. Causes severe reactions, including the development of anaphylactic shock. A continuous cough is accompanied by difficulty breathing and whistling sounds.
  • The occurrence and development of whooping cough and croup in children. There is a continuous convulsive cough with barking sounds.
  • Acid reflux. Acid moves from the stomach into the lungs mainly at night. And it causes a constant cough.
  • Other pathologies affecting the respiratory system. Among them, the most common are bronchiectasis, pneumothorax, tuberculosis and others.

Influence of external factors

Quite often, external causes can cause prolonged dry coughing. This cough will continue indefinitely until the cause is completely eliminated. The most typical manifestations are the following:

  • Active and passive smoking, when combustion products and toxic substances enter the respiratory tract in large quantities. Intoxication of the body occurs, accompanied by a constant desire to cough.
  • Small foreign objects and pieces of food caught in the throat. The person will cough until the body is completely cleared of these foreign substances.
  • Negative effects of certain types of drugs.

In order to get rid of unpleasant attacks, it is necessary to identify the exact causes that provoke a dry cough. In all cases, you should consult a doctor, who will first refer you for an examination and then prescribe adequate treatment.

Symptoms of a continuous dry cough

As a rule, a dry cough that occurs in a person is accompanied by other, pronounced disorders. The most common symptoms are:

  • During breathing movements, wheezing is clearly audible.
  • The throat feels sore and the voice becomes hoarse.
  • The cough is accompanied by headaches and muscle pain.
  • In many cases, the nose becomes stuffy and a runny nose appears.
  • The lymph nodes in the neck area are noticeably enlarged.
  • Gastroenterological disorders manifested by diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
  • The patient experiences general malaise and severe fatigue.
  • In the evening, a feverish state with severe chills may occur.

The listed symptoms are most characteristic of influenza and ARVI in the acute phase of the disease. Gradually, the dry cough turns into a productive form, and sputum produced in large quantities indicates an improvement in the patient’s condition.

Other diseases accompanied by a prolonged dry cough may manifest as follows:

  • Feeling of tightness and pain in the chest.
  • The appearance of an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
  • Feeling of lack of air, difficulty breathing.
  • The patient quickly gets tired and tired even with minimal effort and stress.
  • Unreasonable weight loss, up to anorexia.
  • A rash appears on the skin.

Quite rarely, with a dry, prolonged cough, more serious symptoms occur, in which you should immediately consult a doctor:

  • Persistently high temperature accompanied by fever.
  • Breathing is significantly difficult, severe shortness of breath is noticeable.
  • A dry, persistent cough becomes painful and produces metallic sounds. Severe pain is felt while breathing.
  • Swallowing is difficult and accompanied by pain, speech is impaired.
  • The legs swell greatly, and the urge to urinate is constantly felt.

Drug Therapy Options

After a thorough examination, the main cause of the disease is determined and treatment is prescribed. Such activities are carried out in a complex, depending on the identified pathology. In addition to the therapist, consultations and appointments with specialized specialists may be required - an allergist, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, otolaryngologist, oncologist and others.

If a bacterial infection is detected, the patient is prescribed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, inhalations may be prescribed to help dilate the bronchi and reduce spasms. Due to this, the liquefaction of sputum is accelerated, making it easier to remove from the body. At the same time, medications are taken to strengthen the immune system.

A dry, prolonged cough caused by allergic reactions is treated with antihistamines. The most famous are Suprastin, Loratadine, Erius and others. In especially severe cases, use hormonal drugs - Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone. In some cases, it is enough just to eliminate the allergen, and the dry cough stops on its own.

In the presence of rhinitis, sinusitis and other nasal problems, antibiotics and vasoconstrictors are used to treat the cough reflex. Sometimes surgical intervention may be required to remove the adenoids, straighten the nasal septum, or puncture the paranasal sinuses.

Treatment of dry cough, which appears due to disturbances in the digestive system, is carried out with special drugs that improve the functioning of the digestive organs.

The most commonly used are Almagel, Omeprazole, Cerucal and others. Treatment is supplemented with decoctions of medicinal herbs - marshmallow, plantain, chamomile.

The correct diet is of great importance, in which food is taken in small portions - 4-5 times a day.

Use of medicinal plants and natural products

Traditional medicine widely uses various remedies that effectively soothe frequent dry coughs. Infusions, herbal teas and other natural preparations are prepared from them. The following plants are most often used for this purpose:

  • Linden. Used in dry form to prepare infusions. It contains thialicin, which has a mild sedative effect and effectively relieves spasms of the respiratory muscles.
  • Thyme. Also used as an infusion. This plant contains thymol, which has antibacterial properties. It has an expectorant effect and accelerates the removal of accumulated mucus.
  • Mallow. The leaves of the plant are used in infusions against dry cough. They contain large quantities of active components, the action of which is similar to penicillin. Very good for the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Medicinal plants are very useful for inhalation procedures. The most commonly used expectorants are herbs and essential oils. For laryngitis and pharyngitis, they are used in gargling formulations. In addition to the herbs listed above, chamomile, eucalyptus leaves, lemon balm, coltsfoot, St. John's wort, thyme, and pine needles are good for dry cough.

Everyone is well aware of the remedy made from natural products - honey and milk. The basic recipe includes warmed milk (1 glass) and honey (1 teaspoon). The drink is thoroughly mixed and drunk before bedtime.

A recipe based on honey and black radish is also effective. Take a medium-sized vegetable and grate it. Honey is also added here in the amount of 2 teaspoons, after which the mixture is sealed in a container and infused in the refrigerator for 12 hours.

Take 1 tbsp before meals. spoon 3-4 times a day. Badger and goat fat helps well when rubbed on the back and chest.

The procedure is performed before bedtime, after which the rubbed areas are wrapped in a warm cloth and the patient remains in this form throughout the night.

Source: https://medic-z.ru/postojannyj-suhoj-kashel

Coughing in adults and the most common causes of deviation Link to main publication
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