Causes and remedies for long-lasting painful cough | Japanese medical interpretation service clinic in Toronto, Canada

Are you okay with that lingering painful cough?

It's still a cold winter in Canada, and the indoor heating is running at full capacity. Indoor ventilation is poor and dust tends to accumulate. In addition, the air is quite dry, so even though the fever and stuffy nose have calmed down due to colds, there are probably many people who have persistent coughs and irritated throats. Especially this winter, there are a lot of people who are going to the clinic for a cough that can't be cured.

What is a cough in the first place? Coughing is medically called coughing, and it is a defensive reaction that forcibly expels foreign substances such as viruses, dust, and food from the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Coughing is also used to expel phlegm from the airways. When you see a doctor or talk to a pharmacist at a pharmacy, even if you just say, "I have a cough," the cough has various characteristics. Clearly convey the information necessary to find out the cause of the cough, such as what color the sputum is and whether there are any symptoms other than the cough.

Cough Causes and Treatments

Less than 3 weeks: Called acute cough, often caused by respiratory infection disease. In addition to coughing, flu-like symptoms (such as stuffy nose and fever) are often present, and sputum that gradually changes in color and viscosity may be produced. If the cough appears to have passed its peak, supportive measures such as cough suppressants are used.

If the cough persists, a chest X-ray and a blood test will be carried out, as diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis can be considered. If it turns out to be a bacterial infection, treatment that can be expected to eradicate the cause, such as antibiotics, will be performed. Seasonal allergic rhinitis and sinusitis may also cause coughing, so it is a good idea to pay attention to symptoms other than coughing.

For more than 3 weeks: If the cough continues for a long time, a chest X-ray, lung function test, blood test, etc. will be performed. Coughing due to asthma, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc. is also considered. If phlegm is produced, sputum examination and bronchial endoscopy are also performed, and the cause may be COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchiectasis, or chronic rhinitis. Also, if cough persists for more than 8 weeks, tuberculosis or lung cancer is possible, and you should see a respiratory medicine doctor immediately. In the same way as above, if the cause of coughing is identified, treatment that can be expected to be effective against each pathogen, such as antibiotics, inhaled steroids, and anti-allergic drugs, will be performed.

How to choose over-the-counter drugs (OTC drugs) and precautions

Cough medicine ingredients are roughly divided into antitussives and expectorants. There are two types of antitussive drugs: narcotic ones that can be expected to have a high antitussive effect by acting directly on the cough center, and non-narcotic ones that suppress the cough reflex. Expectorants include those with a mucolytic effect that reduce the viscosity of phlegm and make it easier to expel, and those that increase airway secretions to make it easier to remove phlegm.

In addition, there are various medicines on the market, such as those with bronchodilators that relieve coughs during asthma attacks, those with antihistamines that suppress allergic coughs, and those that directly disinfect and sterilize the throat to suppress inflammation. increase. Common cold remedies (cold remedies) often contain multiple ingredients, so even when purchasing over-the-counter medicines, consult a pharmacist to select the medicine that best suits your symptoms and ensure that the ingredients with the same effects are used. Do not take multiple doses.

Natural remedies that can be done at home

□ Humidify the room and stay hydrated: If your airways are dry, it will be difficult to produce phlegm. Hydrate frequently and raise the humidity to make it easier to produce phlegm.

□Warm your neck/Drink a hot drink: Drinking a warm drink slowly can improve your immune system. Also, by directly warming the neck, it stimulates pressure points on the neck and can be expected to be effective in improving cold symptoms.

□Keep indoor air clean: Using an air purifier and cleaning frequently will lead to basic prevention of coughing.

□ Raise your pillow when you sleep: It opens up your airways and makes breathing easier. Coughing can be suppressed by improving air circulation.

"Cough" is one of the symptoms that tend to be neglected in the hope that it will go away eventually. If you have been coughing for more than 3 weeks, especially for more than 8 weeks, or if you have blood in your sputum, you should see a doctor immediately, as some illness may be hidden.

Words about cough

cough = cough

Example: I have a cough

phlegm = phlegm

Example: I cough up some phlegm

dry cough = dry cough

↔wet cough or productive cough

asthma

asthma attack

shortness of breath/dyspnea = shortness of breath

e.g. can cause shortness of breath

Note: This article provides general information and is not meant to be advice for individual symptoms. If you have any concerns or questions about each symptom or medication, please consult a specialist such as a doctor or pharmacist.

WELLNESS KIZUNA provides Japanese language medical support so that Japanese people living in Canada can live with peace of mind. If you are not feeling well, want to see a doctor but don't know where to go, or are worried about your English, please feel free to contact us. If you are enrolled in overseas travel insurance, all treatments covered by insurance are cashless, such as referrals and reservations to affiliated clinics, and accompanying interpreters to clinics and hospitals. There is no cost for treatment, examination, medicine, interpretation, etc. Please contact us first.