| Coughing is one of the main symptoms of | | | | with both feet on the floor. Lean slightly |
| asthma. The cough in asthma is the same as | | | | forward. Relax. |
| the cough you get if you have a cold or chest | | | | |
| infection. It can be quite dry or mucus may | | | | 2. Fold your arms across your abdomen and |
| produced. A cough is a sudden, often | | | | breathe in slowly through your nose. (The |
| repetitive, spasmodic contraction of the | | | | power of the cough comes from moving air.) |
| thoracic cavity, resulting in violent release | | | | |
| of air from the lungs, and usually | | | | 3. To exhale: lean forward, pressing your |
| accompanied by a distinctive sound. | | | | arms against your abdomen. Cough 2-3* times |
| | | | through a slightly open mouth. Coughs should |
| Coughing is a useful function and does not | | | | be short and sharp. |
| always mean there is a problem with your | | | | |
| child. However, coughing at night, after | | | | Cough is generally a symptom of some other |
| going to sleep indicates the need for medical | | | | problem in the body. It is wise to "pull the |
| attention." | | | | rug out from under" the cough by helping the |
| | | | rest of the body get well. Healthy bodies do |
| Coughing usually means there is something in | | | | not cough. Whether it is a cold, flu, |
| the respiratory passages that should not be | | | | bronchitis, or pneumonia, strengthening one's |
| there. This can be caused by breathing in | | | | immune system with Vitamin C can only help. |
| dust particles in the air or when a piece of | | | | |
| food goes down the wrong way. Some common | | | | Coughs can be treated with cough medicines. |
| causes of chronic cough include asthma, | | | | Dry coughs are treated with cough |
| allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for | | | | suppressants (antitussives) that suppress the |
| example sinus infection), and esophageal | | | | body's urge to cough, while productive coughs |
| reflux of stomach contents. In rare | | | | (coughs that produce phlegm) are treated with |
| occasions, chronic cough may be the result of | | | | expectorants that loosen mucus from the |
| aspiration of foreign objects into the lungs | | | | respiratory tract. Centrally acting cough |
| (usually in children). It is very important | | | | suppressants, such as codeine and |
| to obtain a chest x-ray if a chronic cough is | | | | dextromethorphan reduce the urge to cough by |
| present. The following pertains to patients | | | | inhibiting the response of the sensory |
| who have a normal chest x-ray. | | | | endings by depolarization, or a dulling, of |
| | | | the vagus nerve, the nerve leading from the |
| There are many causes of cough. A thorough | | | | brain stem and serving the chest area. A |
| history and physical examination help the | | | | recent study indicates that, because of the |
| veterinarian decide which causes of cough are | | | | presence of theobromine in chocolate, 50 |
| most likely in your pet and helps him or her | | | | grams of dark chocolate may be an effective |
| decide which diagnostic tests to recommend | | | | treatment for a persistent cough.[ |
| and which therapies are most likely to be | | | | |
| effective. Cough originating from the trachea | | | | Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. |
| may be stimulated by lightly squeezing the | | | | Try over-the-counter medicines to treat your |
| trachea. Cough due to heart disease may be | | | | symptoms. See your doctor. He or she can |
| accompanied by a murmur or abnormal heart | | | | prescribe medicine to relieve your symptoms. |
| rate or rhythm. | | | | If the coughing is severe or if you don't |
| | | | believe the irritant has been cleared from |
| Controlled coughing technique | | | | your airway, see your doctor or go to the |
| | | | emergency room right away. |
| 1. Sit on a chair or on the edge of your bed, | | | | |