Dry cough — soothe it with these easy remedies

Dry cough is one where there is no phlegm or no sputum production. Dr Mehul Thakkar tells us more about it.

By: Dr Mehul Surjibhai Thakkar | | Updated: December 22, 2014 11:06 pm

In order to treat any cough, it is important to figure out whether it is productive or dry. We discussed productive cough in an earlier post the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. In this post, we learn more about dry cough. Dr Mehul Thakkar, a renowned pulmonologist practicing in Mumbai tells us more.. Also Read - auto draft test 1

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Dry cough is one where there is no phlegm or no sputum production. Most commonly you see a dry hacking cough which is seen in viral infections of the nose and throat. In which one has a continuous cough with a feeling of something being stuck in the throat. Also Read - Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

The other type of cough is what is called a barking cough or croup,this is mainly seen in cases of laryngitis (swelling or infection of the larynx). The classic sign of cough due to this condition is pain in the throat and difficulty in breathing.

It can be caused due to the simplest of irritants

Dry cough may be caused due to a number of reasons, some of the common ones being a sore throat, inhaling an irritant like dust or smoke, asthma or an allergic reaction.

There are other more serious conditions, like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), GERD (gastro oesophagal reflux disease) and in rare cases heart disease that could give rise to a dry cough. However, these are extremely rare occurrences. Here are top 9 causes of cough you should know.

The right diagnosis is important

On visiting a doctor, he/she will most likely ask you about your symptoms and listen to the sound of your cough. He/she will then listen to your chest sounds to check for any congestion and check your throat for any infection or inflammation. In some cases you may need to undergo a chest X-ray in order for the doctor to make sure that there is no other underlying reason for the cough.

Home remedies and OTC medication can provide relief

Though finding the root cause of the cough is key to treating it completely, certain home remedies and OTC medication can give some symptomatic relief. Here’s a simple home remedy you can try for treating cough –aloe vera. If your cough is accompanied by sore throat, here are 5 foods you should include in your diet for sore throat.

Steam inhalation moistens the airways and helps relieve a sore and irritated throat. Other remedies include using lozenges to soothe the throat and OTC cough syrups specifically formulated to treat a dry cough.

In cases where the cough is due to an allergy or infection, one may be prescribed and antibiotics and anti-histamines respectively to relieve the associated symptoms. If the patient s condition worsens it may be necessary to use a nebulizer, which is a method to help the patient breath easily by dilating the bronchioles. Here’s all you need to know about medicines for cough and cold

Pay attention to your cough if untreated it can cause severe complications

A dry cough, if left untreated can cause a lot of problems. Therefore, it is important that we know when to visit a doctor or when it is dangerous. Usually, when a cough lasts for longer than a week and over the counter medication do not help, it means you need a doctor. Here a person can develop complications due to the underlying conditions like inability to breathe, fainting, or even death.

Another complication is the physical nature of the cough itself. Sometimes the nature of the cough is so severe that it can cause vomiting,fractures specifically that of the ribs, muscle pain around the back and urinary or stool incontinence. Other uncommon problems include fainting or syncope and heart palpitations.

Benadryl DR Dry Cough Active Relief has the active ingredient Dextromethorphan hydrobromide in a sugar-free, alcohol-free mentholated base which helps to relieve dry cough and soothes a dry, irritated throat. This new formulation exclusively targets dry cough without causing unwanted drowsiness.

Image source: Getty images

Published : December 22, 2014 8:32 pm | Updated:December 22, 2014 11:06 pm

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