Severe cough in an adult. How to treat, relieve an attack. Folk remedies, drugs, procedures

Causes and principles of treatment of dry cough in adults

A reflex contraction of the lungs, called a cough, occurs when it is necessary to clear the airways of blockages. These may be mechanical particles or clots of mucus. All neoplasms in the bronchi have an irritating effect on their walls, causing coughing.

Cough is not a disease, it is a symptom of a disease. It is very important to establish the exact cause of the irritant, then it can be eliminated quickly without complications for the body. The cough can be dry, scratching the throat, and wet, with expectoration of a large amount of sputum.

Cough is a consequence of the disease, the treatment method is determined after diagnosis:

• Medicines aimed at eliminating the root cause of cough.
• If the cough is the result of a viral infection, antiviral drugs and antibiotics are prescribed.
• Expectorants (mucolytics).
• Traditional methods (antitussive herbal infusions and decoctions).
• Inhalations with the addition of agents that have an expectorant effect (essential oils, medicinal herbs).
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Products to strengthen the immune system.

There are many possible causes of cough. To establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment, it is necessary to take tests and undergo a medical examination.

How to treat a severe cough

A severe cough in an adult, which should be treated immediately after diagnosis, goes away quickly if you choose the right group of drugs:

• The first group of drugs is prescribed for cough and is aimed at blocking cough receptors in the brain and relieving irritation of the mucous membranes.
• The second group is taken to stimulate cough centers in order to quickly liquefy and remove mucus.

Cough medications are available in the form of syrup and tablets, capsules and lozenges, drops and ointments for external use.

Medicine to thin phlegm

1. Fluifort - the main active ingredient in the drug is the lysine salt of carbocisteine, it thins mucus and stimulates its discharge, and also prevents it from flowing into the lower respiratory tract. That is why Fluifort helps restore the structure of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, reduces the intensity of cough and makes breathing easier. Available in the form of a pleasant-tasting syrup and granules.
2. Bronchicum is an expectorant for dry coughs, which comes in the form of a sweet syrup. Take a teaspoon up to 4 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
3. Cofanol is a combination drug of plant origin. If a dry cough appears in an adult, it is advisable to take 2 tablets up to 4 times a day.
4. Tercodin is another answer to the question of what to drink for dry cough in adults. The drug thins sputum, the daily dose is 2 pills up to 3 times a day.

• Cough to the point of vomiting in children and adults
• Night cough in children and adults - causes of dry and wet cough, diagnosis and treatment methods
• How to quickly cure a cough at home

Causes and treatment of dry cough in adults

A severe dry cough occurs in children and adults when the upper respiratory tract is affected.

A prolonged cough is a common symptom of infectious, bacterial, allergic and occupational lesions of the body:

• After ARVI, a secondary infection may develop, which manifests itself in the form of a dry cough in the absence of other visible symptoms.
• The negative impact of environmental factors on the body (air conditioning, dry or polluted air, tobacco smoke) can also be accompanied by a barking cough.
• A specific type of asthma, in which there are no other characteristic signs of this disease (suffocation, wheezing), manifests itself in the form of a severe cough. Antitussives will not help in this case.
• Heart failure causes a dry cough.

It is strictly forbidden to treat a severe cough in an adult on your own.

Without a medical examination, one can only guess about the true causes of cough and it is easy to miss the development of a dangerous disease. If after a cold or acute respiratory viral infection the cough continues and does not go away for more than 10 days, you should consult a physician. After passing the tests, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment or refer you to other specialists (cardiologist, pulmonologist, ENT specialist).

Dry cough in an adult - treatment with folk remedies

Infections and allergic reactions are often accompanied by attacks of an obsessive, raw cough. To speed up recovery, it is important to achieve liquefaction and normal removal of mucus from the lungs and bronchi. It doesn’t matter whether a child suffers from an unpleasant symptom or an adult has a dry cough - treatment with folk remedies is effective at any age. Natural preparations help normalize the thickness and removal of mucus along with irritants of the respiratory system.

Traditional methods of treating dry cough in adults

All non-traditional recipes can be divided into 3 types:

• means for internal reception;
• external medications;
• solutions for inhalation.

When treating cough, you can use drugs of one type, but it is much better to use an integrated approach.

Folk remedies for oral administration for dry cough for adults

There are many oral medications made from herbal ingredients and natural products. Let's look at the fastest-acting and safest drugs.

Herbal recipe

Ingredients:

• coltsfoot - 1 tbsp. spoon;
• dried raspberries (berries) – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• oregano (leaves and stems) – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• licorice (root) – 0.5 tbsp. spoons;
• water – 170 ml.

Preparation and use

Mix these components thoroughly. Pour boiling water over 1 tbsp. spoon of the resulting mixture, leave for about 20 minutes. Drink the medicine as tea (hot) throughout the day, making a fresh drink each time.

Milk decoction recipe

Ingredients:

• medium-sized bulbs – 2 pcs.;
• milk – 1.5 cups.

Preparation and use

Peel and wash the onion. Boil it in milk without removing from low heat for 4 hours and strain. Every 3.5 hours take 1 tbsp. spoon of the product.

Expectorant drink recipe

Ingredients:

• dry apple slices - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• raisins (any) – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• hawthorn (shoots, stems) – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• apple leaves - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• rose hips - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• raspberries (dry fruits) – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• boiling water – 400 ml.

Preparation and use

Mix dry ingredients. Place 4 tbsp in a water bath. spoons of this collection, after filling them with hot water. Simmer the solution for 20 minutes, leave for half an hour, strain. Divide the entire received portion into 4 doses, they must be completed within 24 hours. Drink the medicine warm, adding a little honey.

Therapy with any of the selected drugs must be carried out until sputum begins to be coughed up.

External folk remedies against dry cough in adults

You can supplement the above medications with rubbing and compresses on the chest or back. They help make the bronchopulmonary secretion less viscous and facilitate its removal.

Among folk remedies, such a medicine for dry cough for adults as an oil compress is popular. You just need to heat the existing vegetable fat, soak a gauze cloth with it and place such a napkin on your back or chest, without covering the area of ​​the heart. Keep the lotion until it cools down.

A potato compress produces a similar effect. The root vegetable is boiled (in its uniform), after which it is kneaded together with the peel. The hot mass must be wrapped in thick natural fabric and placed in the same way as the oil lotion.

Warming compress recipe

Ingredients:

• mustard in the form of dry powder – 1 teaspoon;
• liquid fresh honey – 1 teaspoon;
• freshly squeezed radish juice – 1 teaspoon.

Preparation and use

Grind the ingredients together. Gently apply the mixture to the chest or back and massage lightly. Cover the treated areas with a clean cotton cloth and rest under a warm blanket or blanket.

How to quickly relieve a coughing attack at night

Despite the measures taken to eliminate the cause of the cough, the unpleasant symptom persists for some time and significantly complicates the patient’s life.

Night attacks of suffocating cough during sleep are especially painful. The body, weakened by the disease, needs to recuperate, and a debilitating dry cough prevents sleep and the person is deprived of the opportunity to get proper rest, which slows down the healing process.

Simple, proven methods will help relieve a coughing attack and improve sleep:

• If you are woken up by a coughing attack in the middle of the night, you need to raise your upper body by placing a pillow or thick blanket under your head. This will provide the patient with access to fresh air into the lungs and the cough will gradually subside.
• Warm milk with honey and raw chicken yolk will reduce bronchial spasms. Beat all ingredients thoroughly and add a piece of butter.
• Peel the ginger root and grate it on a fine grater. Then mix in a 1:1 ratio with 1 tsp. honey and take during attacks.
• If the cough is caused by a severe runny nose, it is useful to rinse your nose with water and salt before going to bed.
• Humidifying the air with a steam humidifier or wet towels hung on heating appliances will reduce a sore throat.
• A severe cough in an adult, which must be treated at an early stage of the disease, can be alleviated and the spasm relieved at night by taking a Validol tablet and dropping 2-3 drops of alcohol on it.

These methods will stop the cough for a while and help you get a good night's sleep. But this is not enough for a complete recovery, since cough is only one of the symptoms of the disease, which should be the main treatment.

Antibiotics for dry cough in adults

Medicines classified as antibiotics have antibacterial activity and require strict adherence to the instructions for use. Antibiotics for cough can be divided into several groups:

• cephalosporins;
• macrolides;
• penicillins.

If the cough is complicated by a bacterial infection, then the following medications will be required for treatment:

• ampiox;
• amoxiclav;
• azithromycin.

As a rule, antibiotics are prescribed for the following diseases that may accompany a dry cough:

pneumonia, including nosocomial pneumonia;

• bronchitis;
• angina;
• tracheitis;
• asthma.

If antibiotic treatment is carried out incorrectly and not in full, then the pathogen will become addictive. In this case, you will have to switch to more powerful new generation antibiotics. To cure a dry cough quickly, you need to spend several days at home, on semi-bed rest.

Groups of cough medications for adults. Mechanism of action, indications for use

Not everyone can distinguish a dry cough from a wet one, and this is the most important point when choosing a medicine, since there is no universal drug for all diseases.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics effectively act on types of cough that are of bacterial origin: tuberculosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, respiratory diseases.

The most popular groups of antibiotics for adults:

• Tetracyclines are used only for adults. The drugs inhibit the production of proteins, but are contraindicated for people with liver disease and pregnant women.
• Aminopenicillins destroy bacteria by destroying their membrane.
• Cephalosporins are prescribed if penicillins are ineffective. The drugs have a delayed effect and are used once a day.
• Fluoroquinolones block the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, but have many contraindications.

The most popular types of antibiotics for adults, which are taken as prescribed by a doctor:

• Summamed is recommended for the treatment of ENT diseases (sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, otitis media) and bronchitis. Take the drug 1 time per day 1 hour before meals.
• Macropen - the maximum dose of the drug is 1.6 mg per day for an adult. The course of treatment is at least 7 days.
• Azitrox is an active antibacterial drug that is effective for advanced forms of cough.
• Azithromycin has a wide spectrum of action. Prescribed for diseases of the respiratory system, genitourinary infections and skin diseases.
• Cefazolin destroys the cell membranes of microorganisms.

There are many antibiotics that quickly penetrate tissue and block the growth of bacteria. To avoid side effects of medications, you should consult your doctor before starting use.

Immunostimulants

Measures to combat cough are aimed at destroying bacteria and viruses that cause the disease. Penetrating into the body, pathogenic microbes begin to multiply rapidly and a disease with characteristic symptoms develops. The immune system guards health and recognizes the appearance of harmful cells.

Once an infection is detected, a mechanism to protect healthy cells is activated. The production of interferon is activated, which creates a protective shell of cell walls. If the amount of interferon is insufficient, then the viruses enter the cells and the course of the disease develops. In this case, it is necessary to start taking medications that stimulate the immune system.

There are 3 main groups of immunostimulants. The doctor will tell you which one to choose in each specific case:

• Endogenous drugs consist of substances similar to those produced by the body. These include drugs made from the bone marrow and spleen of farm animals. For example: Myelopid, Timalin, Viferon.
• Exogenous products are produced on the basis of microorganisms and act on the principle of vaccinations. Microbes enter the body in small quantities and stimulate its protective functions. This group includes Pyrogenal, Bronchomunal, and BCG vaccine.
• Synthetic immunostimulants consist of chemical compounds and molecules (Amiksin, Levamisole, Neovir). Unlike other groups, they do not stimulate the production of protective cells, but completely perform a protective function. With uncontrolled use of synthetic immunostimulants, the body's production of its own interferon slows down. After stopping taking medications, a person is susceptible to attack by viruses, since there is no body resistance.

Medications can be replaced with natural immunostimulants: ginger, sea buckthorn, spirulina, garlic.

Antiseptics

Antiseptics for severe coughs are intended for local anesthesia and relief of irritation on the inflamed walls of the respiratory organs. Substances that have an antispasmodic effect are included in antitussive drugs or are available in the form of lozenges, aerosols, and lozenges.

All antiseptics have different ranges of use, so to achieve the desired effect you need to follow your doctor’s recommendations.

Expectorants

It is not recommended to treat a severe cough in an adult on your own due to the high probability of an erroneous diagnosis. Productive and nonproductive coughs are symptoms of different diseases and require different therapeutic treatments.

The onset of the disease is usually accompanied by a dry cough due to inflammation of the walls of the trachea. At this stage there is no sputum, the use of expectorants will lead to even greater irritation and worsening cough. For a dry cough, you need to take coating medications that promote mucus production.

• A good enveloping effect can be obtained using inhalations from decoctions of medicinal herbs: coltsfoot, chamomile, marshmallow root, licorice.
• Honey with warm milk.
• Drinking plenty of fluids will increase the amount of mucous secretions.
• The air in the room should not be dry.

With a dry cough, cough reflexes need to be suppressed, and with a wet cough, they need to be activated, since the resulting sputum is eliminated by coughing.

At this stage, the doctor prescribes mucolytic drugs to thin and expedite mucus rejection (Bromhexine, Ambroxol, Mucaltin). Dry (non-productive) and wet (productive) types of cough are signs of different diseases. The wrong choice of drug group of drugs will not lead to recovery and may complicate the course of the disease.

The best medicines for dry cough with central action

When using centrally acting antitussives, the effect is achieved by inhibiting the corresponding areas in the medulla oblongata. The active ingredients of this group are divided into narcotic (codeine, ethylmorphine) and non-narcotic (butamirate, glaucine, oxeladine). Narcotics have not been used recently because they depress breathing, cause constipation, and also cause addiction.

Sinecode syrup

Rating: 4.9

The first place in the ranking of the best antitussives was given to Sinekod. This Swiss medicine is available in the form of syrup (from 3 years) and drops (from 2 months). The active substance of Sinekod is butamirate. It has a direct effect on the cough center, dilates the bronchi, and facilitates breathing.

Take the medicine before meals 3-4 times a day. The clear syrup has a vanilla smell and a sweetish taste. The bottle has a special child-resistant cap. There is a measuring cup that helps you strictly follow the recommendations for use described in the instructions.

Advantages

• effectively relieves attacks of dry cough;
• does not belong to opium alkaloids;
• does not form dependence or addiction;
• does not contain dyes or flavors;
• suitable for diabetics.

Flaws

• may cause drowsiness.

Panatus Forte tablets

Rating: 4.8

In second place in the ranking is the medicine Panatus Forte. The drug is produced in Slovenia by the pharmaceutical company KRKA. One tablet contains 50 mg of butamirate citrate. This form of release is suitable for the treatment of adults and children over 12 years of age, and Panatus Forte syrup is available for younger patients. The drug is suitable for the relief of dry cough of any origin.

For adults, such tablets are more convenient to use than Sinecod syrup. In addition, one plate is enough for a minimal course of treatment. Take the medicine orally before meals. Panatus Forte works a little weaker than its Swedish counterpart, but it is still capable of stopping attacks of dry cough.

Reviews about the drug Panatus Forte are mostly positive. Adults are attracted by the fact that the medicine is available in tablets and also has an affordable price. It copes with the assigned tasks quite well and does not cause undesirable consequences characteristic of narcotic antitussives.

Advantages

• Available in tablets;
• effectively eliminates attacks of dry cough;
• is not addictive;
• does not depress breathing.

Flaws

• may cause drowsiness and dizziness.

Broncholitin syrup

Rating: 4.7

Bronholitin came in third place in the ranking. This is a Bulgarian antitussive syrup containing glaucine with ephedrine. The first substance suppresses the cough center, and the second expands the bronchi, stimulates breathing and, due to its vasoconstrictive effect, eliminates swelling of the bronchial mucosa. The syrup also contains basil oil, which has an antimicrobial and antispasmodic effect.

Bronholitin is indicated for the treatment of various pathologies accompanied by dry cough. Suitable for treating children from 3 years of age. Take the syrup orally after meals. The medicine is a clear liquid with a specific taste and aroma. It causes more side effects than butamirate-based drugs. Increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, and insomnia are possible.

In their reviews, patients note that the syrup suppresses a painful cough well, but you need to adapt to taking it in order to reduce the number of adverse reactions. Some try to consume it before 16:00 so as not to cause insomnia. And to reduce the manifestation of other side effects, even adults drink it not 10 ml, but 5 ml. This is quite enough to stop a dry cough and relieve bronchospasm.

Advantages

• effective for dry cough;
• relieves bronchospasms well;
• combined with antibiotics, antipyretics and vitamins.

Flaws

• ephedrine is a poisonous alkaloid;
• provokes increased blood pressure, tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, insomnia.

Drug treatment of cough in adults

Diseases whose symptoms include cough require laboratory tests before starting treatment, since proper treatment will quickly defeat the disease and eliminate possible complications.

Paroxysmal dry cough

Treatment of paroxysmal cough depends on the cause that influenced the occurrence of this symptom:

• The first group of medications affects the cough centers of the brain, dulling respiratory activity: Oxeladin, Butamirate, Codeine.
• The second group soothes inflamed areas and stops the transmission of nerve signals to the brain: Gerbion, Sinekod, Stoptussin.

The task of these groups of drugs is to dull the symptoms of the disease and alleviate the patient’s condition.

Severe wet cough

Preparations for the treatment of productive cough in adults are designed to thin and quickly clear sputum.

Inflammatory processes lead to swelling of the walls of the bronchi and narrowing of the passages, which makes it difficult for sputum clots to move through. The bronchi should be completely cleared of accumulated mucus. To do this, the doctor prescribes medications to activate cough reflexes and relieve inflammation of the respiratory tract: ACC, Bromhexine, Ambroxol, Acetylcysteine.

Dry suffocating cough in an adult

A dry cough without mucus production often begins suddenly due to severe sore throat.

The reasons for this process may be phenomena that cause the deposition of foreign objects on the mucous membrane of the larynx:

• ENT diseases that are accompanied by inflammation of the throat: pharyngitis, laryngitis.
• A disease of the digestive system in which the contents of the stomach are released into the esophagus. In this case, the acid irritates the throat and severe soreness occurs.
• Oncological diseases of the respiratory tract.
• An allergic reaction often causes itching in the nasopharynx, which is accompanied by a dry cough.

Attacks of dry cough can be so strong that a spasm in the throat prevents you from taking a full breath and suffocation begins. The patient suffocates and a gag reflex occurs. Medications in the form of sprays, syrups or effervescent soluble tablets (Lazolvan, Ambroxol, ACC) relieve convulsive spasms of the respiratory tract and eliminate sore throat.

Dry barking cough

A prolonged, muffled cough emanating from the lower respiratory tract and sounding like a dog barking indicates a serious illness and requires medical examination. A barking cough may be accompanied by loss of voice, wheezing, and suffocation.

In addition to therapy aimed at eliminating the cause of cough, the doctor will suggest drugs that suppress the cough reflex for non-productive cough:

• For severe debilitating attacks, antibiotics and opioid drugs containing codeine and dextromethorphan are prescribed.
• Antihistamines: suprastin, loratidine, tavegil.
• Night attacks will be relieved by: broncholithin, bronchocin, glaucine.

Along with medication, local treatment is prescribed: warming the chest, inhalations, traditional methods of treatment.

Allergic severe cough

An allergic cough is one of the symptoms of the body's reaction to an allergen. In addition to eliminating irritating factors, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system, eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle. The doctor determines the dosage of antihistamines individually.

How to treat dry cough

In any case, cough appears with diseases of the upper respiratory tract. There can be several diagnoses, for example, acute bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, influenza. Even a common cold deprives the patient of sleep and peace. To alleviate your general condition and find out what helps with dry cough, it is recommended to make an appointment with your local physician. The following medications are highly effective for this unpleasant symptom:

1. Medicines for thinning phlegm help to cough faster, promote the unhindered outflow of mucus, and clear the throat. These are Ascoril, Neo-bronchol, ACC long, Flavamed, Bromhexine, Mucaltin.
2. Antibiotics are prescribed in complicated clinical situations, when the first step is to suppress the pathogenic flora of the oral mucosa. Representatives of the group are Cephalexin, Azithromycin, Sumamed.
3. Herbal and homeopathic remedies relieve swelling of the throat and have a gentle effect on the mucous membrane. These are Bronchipret, Stodal, Herbion, Bryonia, Sinupret, Doctor Mom, Doctor Theis.
4. Antitussive drugs are intended to suppress the pathological reflex and alleviate general well-being. These are medications such as Codelac Neo, Sinekod, Prospan, Ascoril, Gedelix.
5. Folk remedies are only an auxiliary treatment for dry cough, but they significantly accelerate the recovery of an adult patient and enhance the immune response of a weakened body.
6. Immunostimulants and vitamins are designed to increase the body's resistance to pathogenic flora and reduce the cough reflex. These are Imudon, Immunoplus, Amiksin, Imunofan, Ribotan, Viferon.

Warming up. Rules and recipes

Warming up is one of the methods of physiotherapy, which is recommended to be done as soon as the disease begins to recede. In acute cases of the inflammatory process, it is impossible to warm up or rub the chest.

The doctor prescribes warming to quickly eliminate the consequences of the disease:

• Warming compresses should not be applied to the heart area.
• Compresses should be distributed on the right and left along the spine at the level of the bronchi.
• Warming up at elevated temperatures is contraindicated.
• Before heating, apply a thin layer of cream to the skin and place a thin cloth. Then distribute the compress and cover again with a thick cloth.
• At the end of the procedure, wipe the skin dry and change the patient into clean clothes.

For warming up you can use:

• Warm mashed potato scones.
• Mustard plasters.
• Badger or goose fat.
• Banks have a targeted effect, increasing blood flow and lymph movement.

Without the supervision of a doctor, warming up can become not a useful procedure, but a dangerous one for health.

Specifics of paroxysmal cough and predisposing factors

A paroxysmal cough can occur as a result of foreign matter entering the windpipe in the form of food particles, dust, smoke or simply dry air. This manifestation is considered natural (physiological). In this case, it goes away on its own after the airway lumen is cleared.

Any type of cough (dry or wet) is a reflex reaction of the body, it occurs independently, and its occurrence cannot be controlled. The biomechanism of its occurrence is explained by irritation of cough receptors, which are localized on the surface of the larynx, trochea, bronchi and pleura.

Unlike a cough due to natural causes, a pathological one develops as a consequence of inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs that are associated with the penetration of pathogenic microflora.

The main types of pathogens that provoke the development of dry cough:

• Influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus infection.
• Bacterial damage as a result of staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.
• Fungal infection of the genus candida.
• Legionella and mycoplasma.

Provoking factors that trigger the appearance of paroxysmal dry cough can be:

1. Various types of allergens (pollen, household chemicals, house dust and cigarette smoke).
2. Cold drinks and air.
3. Mucous contents in the nasal passages.
4. Emotional turmoil (as a result of worries or strong feelings of joy).
5. Anomalies in the development of the larynx and digestive tract (vocal cord paralysis, tracheal fistula).
6. If the patient is diagnosed with a lung abscess, bronchitis, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis of the respiratory organs.
7. Diseases of the esophagus (esophagitis or esophagospasm).

Inhalations. Medicines, folk remedies

Inhalations are effective for treating cough. The procedures are carried out using a special device, a nebulizer, or a regular bowl with a hot medicinal solution.

The principle of operation of the inhaler is based on the entry of microparticles of drugs into the respiratory tract:

• Solutions for inhalation Lazolvan, Atrovent.
• Fluimucil to reduce the viscosity of sputum in a dosage of 3 ml.
• Dioxidin 5%.
• Interferon with saline solution.
• A mixture of essential oils: eucalyptus, mint, sage. Mix 2 drops of each type of oil with 200 ml of water.
• A mixture of infusions of anti-inflammatory and antitussive herbs.
• Aqueous solutions of propolis, grape juice, sodium chloride.
• Juice from Kalanchoe, onion or garlic mixed with saline solution.

For different types of cough, different types of inhalations are effective. Inhalations, like drug treatment, are prescribed by a doctor.

What can the color of sputum indicate?

Sputum production is an important clinical sign that allows one to establish the type of disease. What will determine the correct choice of subsequent therapy?

The color of sputum depending on the pathological process.

Recipes for folk remedies for coughs for oral administration

There are many folk remedies for treating cough.

All of them consist of natural ingredients, so they can be taken simultaneously with the main treatment:

• A decoction of onion and garlic with milk works quickly and effectively. Mix finely chopped onion and garlic with milk and cook until the vegetables are ready. Mix the prepared decoction 1 tbsp. l. honey and take 1 tbsp. l. 6-7 times a day.
• A fast-acting folk remedy for coughs is onions with honey, baked in the oven. Mix the chopped onion with honey and place in the oven. Bake for 2 hours at 100°. Take the resulting onion puree 2-3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.
• Mix honey with chopped fresh garlic and leave overnight. Then take 1 tbsp. l. several times a day.
• A proven effective cough remedy is black radish with honey. The center of the vegetable is cut out, removing the inner part to make a radish bowl. The inside is filled with honey and left in the refrigerator for 1 day. The resulting mixture of juice and honey is taken 1 tbsp. l. 4 times a day.

Whatever traditional methods are used, before using them you need to consult a doctor who will help you choose the most effective one.

Medicine for persistent dry cough

1. Alex-Plus is a lozenge with an expectorant and antitussive effect that will help quickly stop the pathological process. An adult patient is advised to dissolve 1 tablet under the tongue up to 3-4 times a day. Recovery is ensured within 3-4 days.
2. Sage.­
3. Codelac is an effective medicine available in the form of pills and syrup. If you have any doubts about what to take for a dry cough, a herbal preparation is an ideal option. Codeine in its natural composition exhibits an astringent effect in the body. For 5-7 days, drink 1 tablet up to 3-4 times a day.

Cough rubs and compresses

Rubbing and compresses remain effective against coughs:

• For rubbing before going to bed, use bear or badger fat. You can use lard.
• Apply a layer of honey mixed with aloe or Kalanchoe juice to the back and cover with a whole cabbage leaf. Then wrap the patient in insulating cloth and leave the compress overnight. The next morning there will be no trace of honey left, everything will be absorbed along with the cabbage juice.
• Ointment prepared at home has a good antitussive effect.

Compound:

• Vegetable oil – 100 ml.
• Honey - 3 tbsp. l.
• Mumiyo – 2 tablets.
• Streptocide – 2 tablets.
• Propolis and beeswax – 2 g each.

Melt wax and propolis in a water bath, add vegetable oil and honey. Then chop the remaining ingredients and mix everything. Apply the resulting ointment to the bronchi area on the chest and back before going to bed.

Diagnostics

To identify the cause of a cough that has developed against a background of normal body temperature, a medical examination is carried out, which includes a number of mandatory and additional studies:

• collection of complaints and medical history;
• objective examination;
• laboratory tests (general and biochemical blood tests, sputum examination, antibiogram, allergy tests, analysis for tumor markers, etc.);
• X-ray examination;
• bronchoscopy;
• magnetic resonance and/or computed tomography;
• electrocardiography;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy.

If a dry cough does not resolve for a long time, the patient’s risk of infection increases, which is facilitated by constant irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

Gargling

To reduce a sore throat, use various gargles:

• The most popular solution is a mixture of iodine, salt and soda dissolved in water.
• It is useful to gargle a sore throat with decoctions of medicinal herbs: calendula, chamomile, linden, honeysuckle.
• If you are not allergic to bee products, using propolis tincture mixed with water is effective.

For rinsing, you can use ready-made pharmaceutical solutions. You need to gargle often, at least 5-6 times a day.

A severe cough is a consequence of some disease. It cannot be cured separately from the underlying disease that caused the cough. Having discovered a prolonged cough, any adult, first of all, should consult a doctor and then begin treatment.

Antibiotics

1. Hexapneumin is a combined remedy against pathogenic flora that causes a cough reflex. It is allowed to take antibacterial drugs for dry cough after a week of futile attempts to recover. Daily dose – 1 tablet 3 times a day, course – no more than 5 days.
2. Cephalexin - yellow capsules with a minimal list of contraindications. Take 250-500 mg every 6 hours for 3-4 days. Then, together with the doctor, adjust and reduce the daily dose.
3. Sumamed - tablets or powder in the fight against prolonged dry cough and its causes. Take an antibiotic at a dose of 500 mg 3 times a day. In this case, you can get rid of the characteristic ailment in 3-4 days.

Main symptoms of dry cough

• spasmodic cough is accompanied by periodic retching , and with prolonged and unproductive cough, vomiting is possible;
• the disease is accompanied by nasal congestion, nasal sound and hoarse voice ;
• if the disease is a complication of an acute inflammatory process, then local enlargement and tenderness of the lymph nodes ;
• with the acute development of the disease, there may be low-grade fever, sweating, fatigue and lethargy .

What is a cough like?

Traditionally, cough is classified depending on the presence or absence of sputum or other discharge. Thus, the cough may be:

• Productive – expectoration of sputum or mucus, sometimes mixed with blood;
• Dry - when coughing, only air is coughed up.

Typically, the choice of symptomatic medications is based on this symptom.

Another classification is based on the length of time during which the patient coughs. Depending on this, the cough can be:

• Acute – duration up to 2 weeks;
• Protracted – up to 4 weeks;
• Subacute – lasts no more than 2 months;
• Chronic – the patient coughs for more than 2 months in a row.

Depending on this criterion, the doctor prescribes etiotropic treatment - therapy aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disease.

Types of cough

When a patient first comes to a medical facility, it is very important to establish the nature of the attacks that occur. It is necessary to clarify whether a strong cough occurs with or without sputum, during the day or at night, and whether it is accompanied by pain or other unpleasant symptoms. Let's take a closer look at the possible types of cough.

Dry cough

A severe dry cough without fever occurs mainly during nervous tension, before important events, or in patients in a depressed state. This type is also called a nonproductive cough because the pulmonary system does not increase sputum production. Cough shocks do not contribute to the removal of mucus from the respiratory tract, but are exclusively reflexive in nature.

A dry cough is dangerous primarily because the wall of the bronchi is subject to very strong tension and irritation. The condition is often accompanied by pain in the chest. The cough may be accompanied by wheezing in the lungs and a subjective feeling of uncomfortable movement of mucus in the bronchi. It has a general depressive effect on the body, provokes depression, loss of strength, lack of appetite, accompanied by loss of strength, irritation, and a state of constant stress.

Wet cough

A dry cough very often progresses to a severe wet cough. The process develops gradually, a wet cough is characterized by the release of a certain volume of sputum. A productive cough with sputum without fever occurs in infectious diseases, less often in allergic reactions. Due to the discharge of wet secretions, the bronchi self-cleanse themselves of pathogenic pathogens.

The danger lies in copious amounts of sputum, which can lead to mechanical blockage of the lumen of the respiratory system, local collapse of the lung or total asphyxia. Particular attention is paid to the discharge of sputum in a newborn child, since he is not able to independently cough up and spit out the mucus that has formed. Definitely, you need to seek help from a doctor.

Barking cough

A dry cough can also gain strength, become more frequent, debilitating, and acquire a barking character. Patients with this type of symptom complain mainly of whistling and shortness of breath during quiet breathing; tearing pain occurs in the chest with each cough. Symptoms like these are difficult to ignore.

Night coughs often have a barking character. The attacks are so strong that patients feel the urge to vomit. From a scientific point of view, this is explained by the close location of the vomiting and cough centers in the structure of the brain: with persistent irritation, excitation spreads from one to the other. A barking cough can be a symptom of whooping cough, diphtheria, laryngotracheitis or another equally serious disease.

We recommend reading: Barking cough, no fever.

Persistent cough

The protracted nature of the cough is noted when attacks occur over a long period of time, usually more than seven days. This condition can be characterized by different indicators, since it is provoked by different reasons. Naturally, this symptom occurs in people living in environmentally unfavorable environments, when the respiratory tract is subject to constant adverse effects of air.

A severe cough with phlegm can also be prolonged, especially if accompanied by a chronic respiratory disease. If even the treatment prescribed by a specialist does not help within two weeks, the patient is recommended to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. A cough may indicate not only a pathology of the respiratory system, but also a systemic disorder of the body. Everything may turn out to be much more serious, then you certainly cannot do without medical help.

What to do if you have an attack of dry cough?

An attack of dry cough begins suddenly, often at night, and has an extremely debilitating effect on the patient. To relieve an attack, you need to take the following measures:

1. If the source of the cough is a mechanical irritant, such as dust or tobacco smoke, you should immediately leave the room or ventilate it. After this, you need to drink warm tea, a decoction of herbs, weak coffee or just a glass of water.
2. If the cough is of an allergic nature, then immediately avoid contact with the allergen - close the window where the pollen came from, wash your hands if there is a particle of irritating household chemicals left on them, and so on. It is then recommended to rinse your nose with saline or salt water. You can gargle with the same means. If you regularly take allergy medications, you can do so to prevent an attack from developing.
3. If the cause of the cough is a throat disease, then it is recommended to drink as much warm water as possible, humidify the air in the room, and open the window to make it cooler. If an attack catches you in transport or in a store, then suck on a mint candy or other similar medicine, which is available in a large selection in pharmacies.
4. Often the attack begins at night. In this case, the cause may be a common runny nose, in which mucus flows down the back wall and irritates the larynx. Clearing the nose and instilling vasoconstrictor drops helps a lot. The only condition for such therapy is that it must be a temporary measure, since regular use of decongestants has a negative effect on the condition of the mucous membrane and is addictive.
5. If all of the above methods do not help, then you can take an antitussive drug. However, in the future it is necessary to consult a doctor to find out the cause of the cough and eliminate it.

Treatment

A specific dry cough without fever in an adult should be treated as early as possible. The final course of treatment is prescribed after extensive diagnostics, a comprehensive examination and determination of the exact cause of the disease, since the causes and treatment are closely related. In the course of analyzes and studies, instrumental and functional diagnostics, infectious and allergic diseases are differentiated, and the entry of foreign bodies into the esophagus and upper respiratory tract is excluded.

Prevention

How to stop bronchospasm attacks is clear. It is necessary to begin treatment and, in rare cases, use medications that affect brain receptors. But any experienced specialist will say that it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Preventive measures are the key to ensuring that a person does not experience serious coughing attacks. It’s not difficult to follow them, the main thing is to find time and be attentive to your health:

• regular walks in the fresh air - this point is important to observe from the very birth of a person. The child should be outside every day, and not sit at home. Snow or rain is not a reason to sit in a stuffy room;
• maintaining humidity in the room, ventilation;
• draw up a daily menu including fish, meat, fruits and vegetables in the diet;
• do not go to places with large crowds of people during epidemics;
• do not give in to stress, do yoga;
• do exercises and at least some minimum physical activity;
• give up bad habits - smoking and alcoholism.

If you are unable to protect your body from disease, you should immediately go to the doctor. The specialist will select competent treatment and will be able to say for sure that serious tumors and infections do not develop.

Bronchospasm in the form of attacks is only a symptom of a certain disease. You can't treat a cough without knowing what exactly causes it. If the doctor recommends inpatient therapy, then there is no need to refuse. In such institutions they will be able to provide proper assistance and offer a number of procedures that cannot be done at home.

What else can influence the appearance of a dry cough?

Although the etiological factors themselves are listed above, there are a number of irritants that can affect the bronchial mucosa and irritate it, thereby causing cough.

• Stress. In difficult situations, a person releases quite a lot of adrenaline, which can also affect the bronchial tubes that are sensitive to it, which causes a cough;
• Polluted air. In a dusty office, on the street where there is a lot of traffic, as well as in smoking areas, similar symptoms may appear. This point also applies to people who work in hazardous industries and are constantly in contact with substances that irritate the respiratory system;
• If you have recently had bronchitis or pneumonia, there may be residual effects in the form of a cough. It should go away on its own within a month;
• The air in the room is too dry. It is necessary to maintain optimal humidity from 30% to 60% to avoid this phenomenon;
• If you take several incompatible medications at the same time, a cough may develop. For example, this happens in the case of simultaneous use of ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and psychotropic drugs;
• Excessively hot or cold air can also cause a cough.

These causes of cough are not associated with diseases, but if you are constantly under the influence of negative factors, the condition can worsen and a simple cough can develop into something more serious.

Good to know - What are the causes of a persistent cough?

Cough without fever as a symptom

You may have noticed for yourself how different a cough can be. The point is the reason for its occurrence and the characteristics of its development. This “difference” helps specialists diagnose the disease. During the examination, it is not in vain that the doctor asks about the nature of the cough and its timbre.

Dry barking

It can signal diseases:

• pharyngitis, bronchitis, whooping cough and other infectious diseases, especially in the initial stage;
• asthma;
• ascariasis;
• heart failure;
• tumors in the respiratory organs;
• swelling of the vocal cords.

This is usually a non-productive and prolonged cough that becomes wet during infections.

Strong wet

This is a sign that there is inflammation and mucus inside the respiratory tract. When you cough, phlegm and mucus come out of the respiratory system, such a cough is called productive. Wet is often accompanied by fever and runny nose. But is it always?

• No fever or runny nose. Parasites, foreign bodies, allergies, reflux, smoking, polluted environment - in these cases, a cough appears without fever or runny nose. But the nature of a non-temperature cough can be of a cold or infectious nature. In a chronic form, for example. Therefore, coughing as a symptom should not be ignored. Find out more about wheezing here.
• Night cough. What are the causes of night cough in adults ? In a person in a horizontal position, the outflow of mucus decreases, almost no mucus comes out. Occurs in asthmatics, heart patients and allergy sufferers.
• Severe attacks. They can occur at any time and for any reason. The symptoms in this case must be considered in their entirety.

You can quickly relieve coughing attacks by taking a vertical position and leaning forward slightly.

• For heart failure. It manifests itself in sharp and painful attacks, often at night, when the patient is in a horizontal position. A debilitating cough deprives the patient of strength and causes sharp pain in the heart.
• For thyroid. Thyroid cough is one of the important symptoms. It is dry and deaf.

Treatment: is it possible to take expectorant medications?

The method of treating dry cough directly depends on its cause. In any case, it is important to provide conditions under which the cough becomes productive. If the cause of the cough is a common cold, flu or acute respiratory viral infection, it is important to create conditions for a speedy recovery.

You cannot use cough medicines, that is, those that suppress the cough reflex, without a doctor’s prescription. This can lead to serious complications, even if the drug can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription.

The most important conditions that help turn a dry cough into a productive one are drinking plenty of fluids, as well as cool and moist air. It is important to do wet cleaning every day; the air temperature should not be higher than 18 - 20 C. It is better to dress warmly, but do not allow the mucus to dry out in the lungs due to the dry air.

Drinking plenty of fluids improves the effect of expectorants by helping to thin the mucus.

A large amount of warm liquid is the most important condition for treatment. This helps to effectively moisturize the mucous membrane and thin the sputum. After this, it becomes less thick and viscous, which facilitates its easy removal from the bronchi. The best options for this are tea with lemon, herbal infusions, cranberry juice, warm milk with honey and still mineral water.

An excellent drink option for a dry cough is raspberry jelly. It not only perfectly quenches thirst, but also coats the mucous membrane of the throat, softening dry cough.

If there is no high temperature, breathing exercises and drainage massage become an important component of therapy. This helps make your cough more productive by helping you cough up phlegm more easily. For this, you can use warming procedures, such as rubbing.

Such aggressive “distracting procedures” as mustard plasters or “cupping” should not be used to treat dry cough.

How to quickly get rid of a dry cough using medication

Most often, the main task in treating a dry cough is to transform it into a wet and productive one. To do this, it is convenient to use ready-made “breast preparations”, which include medicinal plants such as coltsfoot, licorice root, thyme, chamomile flowers, plantain leaves, marshmallow root, oregano, and pine buds. Do not use expectorants and cough medications at the same time. This leads to stagnation of mucus in the lungs, which can cause bronchitis or pneumonia.

To make coughing more productive, expectorants are most often used. This could be such effective and safe drugs as Lazolvan, Sinupret, Ambroxol, Fluimucil or drugs based on calendula extract.

For expectorants to be effective, you need to drink as much fluid as possible.

If we are talking about a non-productive cough due to whooping cough, asthma, cancer or allergic rhinitis, “cough suppressants” are prescribed to suppress it, that is, they remove the cough reflex. This provides relief, allowing you to eat and sleep peacefully. Additionally, such drugs can simultaneously relieve spasms or have an antipyretic effect.

To relieve a nonproductive cough, you need to drink enough fluids. This helps moisturize the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

All cough remedies are divided into 3 main groups:

1. Centrally acting drugs. These include medications such as Sinekod, Butamirat or Glauvent.
2. Peripheral acting drugs. This could, for example, be drugs such as Libexin or Levoprom.
3. Combined medications. They not only suppress the cough center in the brain, but also additionally help thin the mucus. These are drugs like Stoptussin, which is familiar to most. These can be such effective drugs as Codelac, Glycodin, Codterpin, Grippostad.

Some drugs, such as Grippostad, simultaneously have an antipyretic effect. This allows them to be successfully used for the treatment of infectious diseases such as influenza or parainfluenza. All these drugs can be used only as prescribed by a doctor, strictly observing the recommended dosage and duration of treatment.

Price from 125 rub.

Folk remedies instead of drugs

If a dry cough is caused by an inflammatory process in the respiratory tract, simple and safe folk remedies can be used to treat it. They will help make the cough moist, facilitating the removal of sputum, reduce inflammation and alleviate the general condition.

Home remedies for dry cough can only be used as an addition to the main treatment. Before using them, you should consult your doctor.

To treat dry cough, it is very good to use warm goat milk with honey. This is not only a tasty drink, but also a way to increase mucus production. All folk remedies for the treatment of dry cough can be divided into:

• inhalation (for this you can, if desired, use not only essential oils, but also ready-made compositions for inhalation);
• compresses (have a warming effect);
• oil applications (a type of compress that effectively softens cough).

All these remedies help relieve cough and reduce irritation of the mucous membrane. An important advantage of their use is that they do not contain hazardous components and consist of the most available ingredients.

Despite the safety of folk remedies, it is worth remembering that many of their components can cause allergies.

What to do if you want to clear your throat, but you can’t

Treatment tactics depend on the underlying disease, duration and intensity of cough. In case of infection of the ENT organs, measures are taken aimed at:

• dilution and removal of mucus from the respiratory tract;
• reducing inflammation of the mucous membranes;
• relief of associated symptoms.

In the case of a cold, the upper respiratory system is affected. Therefore, treatment is limited to inhalations, rinsing the nasal cavity, gargling, and rubbing the chest. For bacterial inflammation, antimicrobial therapy is used.

Tablets and syrups

To suppress the cough reflex, antitussive drugs are used - Terpinkod, Codelac, Butamirate, etc.

If phlegm does not clear up due to pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis or flu, take mucolytic drugs. They reduce the viscosity of sputum, so it is easier to separate from the walls of the mucous membrane, and the cough becomes moist.

Mucolytic drugs for dry cough

When the cough becomes productive, they switch to expectorant medications based on thermopsis, marshmallow, licorice, and essential oils:

• Broncathar;
• Sinupret;
• Dr. Theiss with plantain;
• Pertussin;
• overslept;
• Tussin;
• Vero-bromhexine;
• Bronchipret;
• Mukodin.

When treating with mucolytics, you should not take antitussives - Libexin, Sinekod, Glauvent, etc. They suppress the cough reflex, causing mucus to settle in the bronchi. Due to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in it, the risk of pneumonia increases.

Drugs for dry cough are divided into three groups - secretolytic (mucolytics), secretomotor (expectorant) and antitussive. The first reduce the viscosity of mucus, the second stimulate its excretion, and the third suppress the cough reflex.

Inhalations

If the cough does not clear the throat, inhalations are effective. For carrying out the following are used:

• steam inhalers;
• nebulizers (ultrasonic or compression).

Otolaryngologists advise using nebulizers, as they convert solution drugs into steam at room temperature, so there is no risk of burning the mucous membrane. Unlike steam inhalers, they can be used for fever and high temperature.

In cases where sputum is not expectorated, mucolytic and expectorant agents are used for inhalation:

• Ambrohexal;
• Fluimucil;
• Sinupret;
• Mukaltin.

Depending on the frequency of cough attacks, inhalations are done up to 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days.
For colds, alkaline mineral waters - Borjomi, Narzan - are used to thin mucus. To relieve swelling and inflammation, the following are suitable:

• Rotokan;
• Chlorhexidine;
• Miramistin;
• Dekasan;
• Chlorophyllipt;
• Sodium chloride (isotonic solution).

It is undesirable to pour oily solutions and suspensions into nebulizers, which is associated with the risk of filter clogging and compressor failure.

Rubs and compresses

In the case of complex treatment of ENT diseases, the recovery period is reduced by 2 times. For a dry cough, it is recommended to use warming rubs with camphor, menthol, fir oil, mustard:

• Eucabal balm;
• Roztiran;
• Doctor Mom;
• Vicks Active.

To stimulate blood circulation and increase the tone of the respiratory muscles, rub not only the chest, but also the back.
Perform the procedure in the morning and evening. If mucus does not cough up, place hot compresses on the back using:

• Dimexide;
• goose fat;
• warm cottage cheese;
• boiled potatoes;
• mustard;
• honey and eucalyptus oil.

Warming with compresses is allowed only for viral (in no case bacterial) ENT diseases that are not accompanied by fever.

Decoctions of medicinal herbs

To thin sputum, reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes and strengthen local immunity, you need to drink decoctions of medicinal plants. For non-productive cough, herbs with different medicinal properties are recommended:

• analgesics - calamus, pine buds, St. John's wort, cumin;
• soothing – chamomile, sage, valerian, fireweed;
• mucolytic – elecampane root, peppermint, black elderberry, licorice root, plantain leaves;
• secretomotor - viburnum leaves, St. John's wort, fennel fruits, cinquefoil;
• immunostimulating – Rhodiola rosea, ginseng, ginger root, rose hips.

Features of preparing the decoction:

• 5 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured into a thermos;
• steam 2 liters of water;
• insist for 3-5 hours;
• strain through a fine sieve.

To eliminate an unproductive cough, take the decoction warm, 150 ml up to 4-5 times a day. To soften the throat, add 1-2 tsp. melted honey. The course of treatment takes from 7 to 14 days.

Air humidification

To reduce the severity of signs of acute respiratory infections, the air humidity in the room should be maintained at 60-70%. For this use:

• ultrasonic and steam humidifiers;
• hanging wet towels and sheets;
• water containers on heating radiators.

With increased air humidity, the liquefaction of mucus in the lungs accelerates, as a result of which the cough becomes productive.
To prevent complications, avoid drafts; in the first days after illness, maintain bed or semi-bed rest.

Other techniques

Before coughing, it is necessary to determine the cause of the symptoms. If the activation of cough receptors is caused by respiratory diseases, then it is recommended:

• do cupping massage;
• rinse the nasal cavity with salted water;
• maintain bed rest;
• do foot baths;
• gargle with Chlorophyllipt, saline solution with iodine;
• drink more alkaline drinks (warm milk, soda).

If the sputum does not begin to cough up, contact an ENT doctor. A prolonged non-productive cough is one of the signs of diseases not related to the respiratory system.

What are antitussives?

The list of pharmacological drugs that are used in medical practice to treat cough includes more than 100 types of drugs. Antitussives are prescribed to reduce the severity of an unpleasant symptom or to suppress the cough reflex, and the choice of group is based on the mechanism of action of the drug and clinical indications. The effect on central structures in the brain and peripheral receptors allows you to get rid of a painful dry cough and improve the patient’s well-being.

To choose a suitable and effective remedy, you need to establish the cause of this symptom and understand the principle of action of the medication. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease you should consult a doctor.

How do they work?

According to the classification, all cough medications are divided into groups, each of which has its own mechanism of action. When choosing an effective remedy, it is important to consult a doctor, since it is quite difficult to understand the pharmacy range on your own, and possible adverse reactions and contraindications pose a serious danger.

Groups of antitussives:

1. With central action. They block the cough center located in the medulla oblongata. This group includes drugs with narcotic (opioid) and non-narcotic effects. Prescribing centrally acting medications in the presence of sputum slows down the process of its evacuation and complicates treatment.
2. Narcotic antitussives are used in medical practice in limited cases. The most powerful remedy in the presented group that helps fight dry, or unproductive, cough is Codelac Fito. This effective drug, like the medicine in Caffetin tablets, has a combined composition.
3. The most famous and effective drugs that have a central effect and do not contain narcotic substances are Codelac Neo, Sinekod and Omnitus, as well as the herbal preparation Glauvent.
4. With peripheral action. The antitussive effect is achieved by acting on receptors located in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. The blockage prevents the transmission of signals from nerve endings to the cough center, so attacks become less frequent. The sensitivity of the receptors can be reduced due to the anesthetic and bronchodilator effect or by providing a combined effect on the pathogenesis of the formation of the reflex. Libexin is the best remedy included in this group, which has been used for a long time in the presence of a non-productive cough.
5. Combined action. A separate category of antitussive drugs is represented by drugs with complex effects. A distinctive feature is the presence of several components, each of which plays a role in the treatment of dry cough, or the use of an active substance with a complex effect. Bronholitin and Stoptussin are often used in medical practice.

When taking care of your own health, it is important not only to choose the right effective remedy for dry cough, taking into account the diagnosis, but also to become familiar with the side effects and contraindications. Before starting to take the medicine, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Indications for use

The principles of conservative therapy in the presence of dry and wet cough are different, therefore the drugs prescribed to the patient differ:

1. Antitussives with a central mechanism of action, which have a depressing effect on the cough center, are prescribed in the absence of sputum, in case of pathological changes in the organs of the respiratory system, chest injuries, and also if instrumental examination by invasive methods is necessary.
2. Drugs with a peripheral mechanism of action do not inhibit the central structures, but can reduce the severity of a dry cough by influencing the receptors of the tracheobronchial tree, expanding the lumen of the bronchi and facilitating breathing. They are used in combination with other medications for congestive processes in the lungs, for the treatment of pneumonia, for viral and colds, and have a symptomatic effect.
3. At the initial stage, respiratory infections are accompanied by a painful, non-productive cough, so it is necessary to quickly achieve the appearance of sputum and speed up the process of its elimination, for which use agents that have an expectorant and mucolytic effect with a mild antitussive effect.

A therapist will help you choose the optimal remedy for dry cough in adults, who will conduct the necessary diagnostics, determine the cause and stage of the disease, and then draw up a treatment plan.

conclusions

A dry cough is a symptom of many diseases, many of which are caused by inflammation of the respiratory tract. Depending on the origin of the dry cough, it is important to make it productive, or “turn it off.” Most often, a dry cough is made productive with the help of products that thin the mucus and make it easier to expel. If we are talking about a non-productive, debilitating cough, the main task is to suppress the cough reflex. Find out how to treat dry cough and chest pain in this material.

What causes a dry cough?

No one is immune from dry cough; both adults and children suffer from it equally. Occurring for various reasons, it gives a serious impetus to sleep disturbances and other physiological and psychological inconveniences. The human body, weakened by the disease, cannot actively fight this pathology; it simply no longer has enough strength. In such situations, the patient requires mandatory medical care. In order to correctly prescribe a course of treatment and cure a dry cough, it is necessary to find out the exact cause of its occurrence.

Most often, this symptom manifests itself for the following reasons:

• Colds, flu and other types of respiratory viral infections, for example, bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, caused by pathogenic microbes or bacteria. A dry cough appears at the very beginning of the disease and can continue even during the recovery stage.
• Allergic reactions to various allergens found in the environment. Dust, pollen from trees and plants, animal hair, household chemicals, paints and varnishes, etc. have a negative impact.
• External factors that pollute the environment: gas pollution, tobacco smoke, industrial waste and others.
• Heartburn. The acidic contents of the stomach rise in small quantities up the esophagus and have an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the throat.
• Congenital or acquired pathologies - asthma, COPD, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, tuberculosis, whooping cough, etc. Smoking is a common cause of cough.
• Stressful situations, experiences and breakdowns often cause a so-called nervous dry cough or coughing.

Knowing the exact cause of a dry cough will help prescribe the correct treatment. In some cases, antitussives will be sufficient, while in others expectorants may be needed to cause the patient to have a wet, productive cough.

Diagnostic methods

Before treating coughing attacks without fever, it is necessary to diagnose the body. The list of general mandatory examinations includes:

1. Listening to the chest.
2. A general blood and urine test, which provides information about the presence of inflammatory processes in the body.
3. A throat smear reveals pathogenic pathogens localized on the back wall of the throat.
4. Sputum microscopy, if the patient has a wet cough without fever, makes it possible to determine the type of pathogen and its properties.
5. Polymerase chain reaction to identify various pathogens.
6. Fluorography or Mantoux test to exclude tuberculous lesions of the pulmonary system.

The examination helps to get a general idea of ​​the patient's condition. Additionally, you can test the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics. Such a study helps in the future to prescribe the most effective drug treatment.

Causes of dry cough

• Colds and flu overtake the population during the season of sharp cold or warming, and the first manifestation of the disease is a runny nose and cough.
• Cough has varying degrees of severity. The cause of cough is irritation of the larynx, trachea and bronchi, and the cough itself is a protective reaction of the body, which is trying to cleanse the bronchi and lungs in this way.
• I would also like to note that cough occurs not only with colds and acute respiratory infections, but also with such severe diseases as asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer, diseases of the nervous system, and so on.
• Sometimes a person does not know why the cough appeared and writes it off as a cold, which sometimes may not be entirely justified.
• To establish the actual cough problem, you should visit a therapist and not start self-medication, as you may not only not get the desired result, but also complicate the problem.
• People have suffered from coughs at almost all times, and therefore people have long learned to get rid of it. For example, people believe that the best medicine for coughs is radish and honey.
• There are many different recipes and here is one of them. The radish should be washed well, cut in half and cut holes in each half. Then chop the pulp, pour honey inside, let it brew so that the juice that comes out of the radish mixes with honey. Take the resulting mixture 1 tablespoon 5 times a day.

Sometimes you can do without medication

Using carrots to treat cough

Carrots are also a good cough medicine. Pre-squeezed carrot juice is mixed with honey and taken a tablespoon every two hours.

Carrot juice is a time-tested cough remedy

The use of fruit and berry juices to treat cough

To thin sputum, take viburnum or lingonberry juice with honey, and for a good expectorant effect, it is recommended to take honey with lemon, aloe.

Citrus fruits will help cope with a lingering cough

Aloe juice - a folk remedy for cough

The best expectorants made from natural raw materials

Some of the best expectorant drugs are:

• coltsfoot,
• eucalyptus,
• plantain,
• chamomile,
• Linden,
• calendula,
• sage,
• raspberries and viburnum,
• mint,
• sagebrush.

Coltsfoot - cough remedy

Decoctions and infusions are made from the collections, the recipes for which are varied. The simplest way to prepare a decoction is to pour boiling water over the leaves of a plant (for example, coltsfoot) and infuse the decoction for two hours.

Eucalyptus - a source of essential oils

Rubbing badger or goose fat into the chest also helps with coughing. Some people add onion or aloe juice to the fat. After rubbing, you need to wrap yourself up in order to sweat well. With sweat, the disease leaves the body.

Badger fat

Folk remedies are good and effective, but in the modern world everyone should definitely consult a doctor.

If treatment with folk remedies does not help and the cough does not go away or weaken within five days, consultation with a specialist is required.

It may be necessary to start taking antibiotics. It should be remembered that an advanced cough can be a consequence of bronchitis, pneumonia or tuberculosis, which means that folk remedies will not help here, and individual treatment is required, which can only be determined by a doctor.

Causes of dry obsessive cough

A nonproductive cough is a periodic or constant cough that is not accompanied by mucus. Occurs due to irritation and inflammation:

• upper respiratory tract - nasal and oral cavities, nasopharynx and oropharynx;
• lower respiratory tract - larynx, lungs, bronchi, trachea.

20% of patients have diseases not related to the respiratory system.
Therefore, the causes and treatment of dry cough are determined by an otolaryngologist. Depending on the accompanying symptoms, the following are prescribed:

• physical and instrumental examination of ENT organs;
• allergy tests;
• bronchoscopy;
• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
• ECG;
• fluorography;
• tuberculosis tests, etc.

If an obsessive cough does not go away within 5-7 days, be sure to consult an ENT doctor.

ENT infections

A severe cough without sputum production is caused by irritation of the cough receptors, which are located in the ciliated epithelium. In most cases, it is caused by infectious respiratory diseases:

• Influenza is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system, complicated by inflammation of the trachea. At the initial stage, a non-productive barking cough is tormented, which is accompanied by rawness and pain in the throat.
• Parainfluenza (parainfluenza) is a viral disease primarily affecting the larynx, which is caused by a pathogen from the paramyxovirus family. Lasts no more than 7 days, more often detected in preschool children.
• Pharyngitis is a viral or bacterial inflammation of the back wall of the pharynx. It manifests itself as an unproductive cough, dryness and burning in the laryngopharynx, pain when swallowing saliva.
• Laryngitis is a disease predominantly of viral origin, in which the laryngeal mucosa becomes inflamed. Without proper treatment, the deep parts of the respiratory system suffer. It manifests itself as a barking cough, fever and scratching in the throat.
• Tracheitis is an infectious lesion of the tracheal mucosa, manifested by coughing attacks. At the initial stage, sputum is not separated, but after 2-3 days the cough becomes productive.
• Bronchitis is an acute or indolent inflammation of the bronchi, which is most often provoked by a bacterial infection. It is characterized by the accumulation of difficult-to-clear sputum in the lungs, which is why the cough is accompanied by wheezing.
• Tonsillitis is a bacterial, fungal or viral infection of the tonsils. It manifests itself as sharp pain when swallowing, coughing attacks, and enlarged regional lymph nodes.
• Pneumonia is an acute respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lungs. At the initial stage, sputum is not coughed up, but after a few days the cough becomes wet.
• Whooping cough is an inflammation of the respiratory tract caused by the whooping cough bacillus. It manifests itself as a suffocating cough, which intensifies in the evening.
• Pulmonary tuberculosis (consumption) is a lesion of the lung tissue by the mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, accompanied by the formation of granulomas. At the initial stage, mucus does not come out when coughing. Over time, sputum streaked with blood appears.

Unproductive cough is also provoked by combined ENT diseases - nasopharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, laryngotracheitis.

Other reasons

A persistent cough is not always associated with an infection of the ENT organs. Often the cause of the symptom is:

• diseases of the esophagus - hernia of the middle part of the esophagus, gastric reflux;
• damage to the pleura - benign and malignant tumors, pneumothorax;
• heart pathologies – pericarditis, congestive cardiomyopathy, post-infarction syndrome, pericardial cysts;
• thyroid neoplasms – nodular goiter, adenoma, cancer, diffuse toxic goiter;
• non-infectious diseases of the ENT organs - Williams-Campbell syndrome, tracheal stenosis, bronchial foreign body, pneumosclerosis, pulmonary cystic fibrosis;
• allergic diseases - asthmatic bronchitis, allergic alveolitis, bronchial asthma, schistosomatid dermatitis.

Dry obsessive cough is provoked by:

• parasites in the intestines;
• work in production (silicosis, berylliosis);
• smoking;
• dry indoor air;
• pharynx neurosis.

Morning nonproductive cough occurs in people who abuse certain medications:

• antiarrhythmic;
• beta blockers;
• PPF inhibitors.

There are many causes of nonproductive cough, so before you stop the symptom, you need to find out its cause.

How to choose the right cough medicine

Before you go to the pharmacy to buy medicine, decide what type of cough you have to deal with. There are productive and non-productive coughs, and the treatment of each requires taking drugs with different pharmacological effects.

1. The presence of sputum during coughing indicates the clearing of the airways and the beginning of the healing process. The purpose of medications for such a symptom is only to increase bronchial secretion. Mucolytic and expectorant complexes will help do this.

2. With a dry cough, sputum is not produced, and attacks and spasms are the result of dry and irritated airways. In this case, medications with combined and anti-inflammatory action will help.

3. For acute cough (a symptom of bronchitis) and prolonged attacks with copious amounts of sputum, the use of bronchodilators, mucolytics and anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.

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How to treat a cough

All medications are conditionally (since they can have several different directions of action) divided into:

• thinning agents - mucolytics,
• cough intensifiers - expectorants,
• suppressing the functioning of the cough center.

There are combination drugs, for this reason the division is quite arbitrary.

Unfortunately, there is currently no magic “golden” cough pill. But let's hope, maybe in the future they will invent such a medicine.

Very popular folk remedies for cough

Varieties and symptoms

In medicine, cough is conventionally divided into two types:

• Dry form (non-productive state). It begins at an early stage of the disease and is characterized by the absence of sputum. There is a feeling of constant soreness in the throat, the patient tries to clear his throat, but the bronchi and lungs still remain clogged and there is no relief. Strong and frequent pushing can injure small blood vessels, causing the voice to become lost and hoarse.
• Wet cough. It is considered productive because during the process of coughing the patient actively produces sputum. This indicates the beginning of recovery and the gradual elimination of harmful organisms accumulated in the bronchi. As a rule, this is the next form of a dry cough, which gradually becomes wet.

Why does a dry cough appear?

If you think that this type of cough can occur solely as the main symptom of a cold, then other reasons will be a surprise to you:

Smoking

A person can cough throughout his entire smoking history, even from the first day. The fact is that acrid smoke can irritate the mucous membrane of not only the pharynx, but also the lungs.

Exposure to household chemicals

Any chemicals are irritants to the respiratory tract, but most often we come into contact with detergents and cleaning products.

Tracheitis

Characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pulmonary trachea. The cause can be either a viral infection or simply inhaling cold air. In this case, the cough will be incessant and painful, so you should not delay treatment.

Laryngitis

Everyone knows that inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx is a common occurrence. It begins with a simple sore throat, which later develops into coughing attacks.

Pneumonia

Everyone has heard about it, and it is under the fear of pneumonia that people go to the hospital when the cough has not stopped for several weeks. After all, the consequences of such a disease can be fatal.