Cough is the most common reason for patients to consult a physician, but it is also the most neglected complaint. Cough is actually an important protective mechanism that protects the airways from foreign stimuli, so the issue of when it is beneficial and when it can be a sign of disease is very important.
It may be a sign of serious disease
There are serious diseases that progress with cough alone. Such as lung cancer, tuberculosis, foreign body aspiration, allergic conditions, diseases affecting the lung tissue - sarcoidosis. Pre-existing. Changing the nature of the cough - increasing its severity, adding sputum, changing the amount and color of sputum, and the presence of blood with the sputum should warn the person and prompt him/her to consult a specialist.
SMOKING SHOULD BE QUESTIONED
Smoking history, whether one is currently smoking, how many packs and years of smoking, if quitting, duration, degree of passive smoking, and whether there is an underlying disease are very important in evaluating the cough. Workplace conditions, history of contact with environmental and domestic allergens, and the presence of pets are as effective in causing cough as smoking. It should not be forgotten that cough is observed in approximately 50% of children in families where parents smoke.
SHORT LASTING COUGH
It is a cough lasting less than 3 weeks. It may be due to upper respiratory tract infections, cold, acute sinus infection, hay fever, asthma. Fever, shortness of breath. If it is accompanied by chest pain, weight loss or bleeding from the mouth, a chest x-ray should be taken urgently and other diagnostic methods should be applied.
LONG LASTING COUGH
A cough lasting more than 8 weeks has become chronic. In patients who do not smoke and have no history of medications that may cause cough, such as blood pressure medication containing ACE inhibitors, the most common causes of cough are pathologies such as asthma, cold and sinusitis, and gastric reflux. These problems may occur alone or together. In addition, infectious diseases of the airways such as acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and bronchiectasis may cause long-term cough.
UNEXPLAINED COUGH
All research and research Despite the ticks, there may be no condition that can cause cough. This conclusion should only be reached after rare causes have been excluded and possible treatments have been applied.
WHAT IS A TIC COUGH?
Cough may be due to psychological reasons, a habit or a tic disorder. However, reaching these diagnoses is only possible after a long investigation. Treatment is possible under the control of a specialist.
ASTHMA MAY PROCEED WITH COUGH
Asthma typically progresses with shortness of breath and wheezing. However, some asthmatic patients only have long-lasting, dry and disturbing coughs. This usually stimulates cough attacks. There is an allergic basis. If the specialist physician suspects asthma, he evaluates the patient's respiratory functions with a spirometer. This test is very easy to apply; the capacity of the airways is measured with the help of the device while the patient breathes deeply. This test diagnoses asthma with a slight error and with appropriate treatment, the patient can return to the environment. He/she will get rid of the cough within 1 month and should continue to be under regular specialist control, like an asthmatic patient.
Many patients complain of long-lasting and disturbing cough attacks after the flu. This phenomenon is caused by the flu virus airborne. It causes an asthma-like mechanism that occurs as a result of hypersensitivity in the respiratory tract.
HOW IS CHRONIC COUGH DIAGNOSIS?
Detailed history of the patient, examination findings, chest radiography, evaluation of respiratory functions, blood tests. , sinus film, methods for the esophagus are diagnostic depending on how necessary they are.
WHY CAN'T PATIENTS GET RID OF COUGH?
Long time. There may be various reasons why a persistent cough does not go away. Usually the diagnosis is incorrect and therefore the treatment is not appropriate. The fact that the cough has more than one cause is ignored. Asthma is not considered as the cause of cough, and the necessity of cough treatment to continue for weeks and sometimes months is not expressed to the patient. The patient is not informed by the physician. He did not use the prescribed medications properly. It has been commented that cough is psychological even though it has a cause. It may occur.
CLUFF TREATMENT
During a cold, there is nasal and nasal discharge and the need for frequent throat clearing. An ear, nose and throat specialist performs a throat examination. It diagnoses with typical appearance. Allergic or non-allergic causes may cause cold. Treatment with allergy medications / decongestants is beneficial. However, the cold may recur or become chronic.
REFLUX CAN BE DISAPPEARED BY COUGH ONLY
Stomach reflux may recur or become chronic. It occurs as a result of the contents leaking back into the esophagus. In fact, this phenomenon is a physiological event that occurs during and after eating in every healthy person. However, its development as a result of tissue damage causes reflux disease and complaints of difficulty in swallowing, burning in the chest, and food coming back into the mouth. Reflux complaints decrease during sleep, and are aggravated while standing, after eating, and with talking and laughing. Obesity is also a problem that increases reflux.
There are no stomach complaints that make diagnosis difficult, but complaints such as dry cough and hoarseness are at the forefront. Reflux causes dry and long-term cough in a wide range of cases, ranging from 5% to 40%. Precautions that a person can take in the treatment of reflux are important: losing weight, quitting smoking and not drinking alcohol, changing eating habits - not eating anything 2-3 hours before going to bed in the evening.
CAN MEDICATIONS CAUSE COUGH?
ACE inhibitor drugs, especially used in the treatment of hypertension, can cause dry and irritating cough and can occur after the drug is stopped. The patient can get rid of cough within 4 weeks, sometimes within 3 months. A different group of blood pressure medications should be prescribed under the supervision of a physician.
COUGH SUPPLITANTS AND EXPECTANTS SHOULD NOT BE USED RANDOMLY
Cough and phlegm production are inevitable events in the process and recovery of many diseases. Therefore, they should not be prevented or suppressed with unnecessary medications.
Using cough suppressants, especially those effective on the central nervous system, in respiratory diseases such as COPD can have extremely dangerous consequences.
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