What does your cough mean?

Q: What are the possible types of cough?
Cough can be dry or productive (bringing up mucus/sputum). Depending on its duration cough is classified into three different types: Acute (present one to two weeks), Sub acute (present two to three weeks) and Chronic (present for four weeks or more). The cause may differ with each type. For some, cough may trigger in pollen allergy or winter season or due to perfume, smoke, etc. But some may have it all the year around.
Q. What generates cough?
Many a times there is not just one but various reasons for it.
1. Postnasal drip is the most common cause where mucus drips into the throat causing constant irritation. Patients usually don't recognize this and keep coughing. The nose glands enlarge preventing proper drainage. The sufferer keeps clearing the throat or swallows.
2. Asthma, the second common reason has various forms. Commonly, a patient coughs, has shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and wheezing. But this may not exist in every patient. Some may only experience cough. This is known as Cough-variant asthma.
3. Stomach reflux is the most under recognized reason when acid from the stomach refluxes into the oesophagus. This causes irritation in the windpipe as the walls of the wind and food pipe are close enough. This results in cough. 30 percent people not experiencing stomach reflux have acidity.
4. Chest infections can be another reason. There are various kinds like pneumonia, Tuberculosis, etc. Symptoms differ for each infection. Lung infection causes pneumonia and a particular scar on the lungs can be seen in an X-ray.
5. Certain medicines like those used for high blood pressure can be cough inducing.
Q. What could be the reason for an episodic cough attack?
It depends on the type of cough. Firstly, the duration of cough is considered. The earlier mentioned five reasons would then be looked into. Subsequently the actual cause can be determined.
Q. Is cough associated with cold season?
Asthma is activated in cold season because the windpipe is sensitive to cold air. People with blocked nose usually breathe through the mouth. Nose is the body's best humidifier and a condition known as mucosal edema occurs when cold air directly goes into the lungs causing asthma and cough. Not everyone experiences cold induced cough unless there is an underlined reason.
Q. How can a common man identify his type of cough?
There is no need to worry if a healthy man has cough along with cold, flu and fever that lasts for a week or two. Visit your physician for guidance.
Q. What can be the consequence of a neglected cough?
It can be dangerous if the duration of cough is prolonged and is continuously neglected. There may be gradual development of a severe disease that may be difficult to diagnose and treat later. Secondly, cough damages the lungs. Bronchitis's is a condition in which the membranes lining bronchial tubes are inflamed and mucus starts pile up in them. Its major reason after chronic coughing is multiple coughing. Therefore cough especially in smokers should not be taken lightly because the first sign of lung cancer is also cough.
Q. To what extent can the application of ointments (like Vicks) help clear cough?
There are no side effects of using them. It provides temporary relief especially before going to sleep at night. The cooling effect makes breathing easier when having a blocked nose.
Q. Is gargling with warm water and salt effective?
The effect of gargling depends on the symptoms. It is not a treatment. Gargling with salt in water reduces edema caused by inflammation and soreness in the throat. This makes one feel better.
Q. What precautionary measures can be taken to avoid cough?
There is as such no universal rule for preventing cough. Prevention is basically for the disease.
1. First thing to do is stop smoking.
2. Pneumonia, influenza, etc. vaccines are available for asthma or COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients who are 50 and above.
3. Allergy patients should use mask during allergy season. Avoid things you are sensitive to, like smoke, perfume, etc.
Q. What tests are available?
A chest X-ray or lung function test is done for prolonged cough. A chest X-ray shows signs of pneumonia, TB or lung cancer. Lung function test identifies asthma. The test requires the patient to take a deep breath and then exhale it. This will show the lung capacity.
Q. Any message for sufferers of cough?
Do not take cough lightly. Consult the doctor if cough persists for more than a week. Patients taking salbuterol syrups or inhalers for extended periods should inquire about the need for the long duration from their doctor. Because it does not cure asthma. It just hides it.