Cough, a seemingly common symptom, often plagues our lives. Many people's first instinct when they encounter a cough is to go to the pharmacy to buy cough medicine. However, blind cough suppressant may not only treat the symptoms but not the root cause, but also may cover up the real condition, and even bring about *** Therefore, understanding the type of cough and treating the symptoms is the right way to solve the cough problem.
1. Causes and types of cough
Coughing is a protective reflex of the body to clear foreign bodies and secretions from the respiratory tract. Depending on its cause and presentation, cough can be classified into a variety of types, including:
1. Infectious cough: It is mostly caused by pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, such as colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. This type of cough is usually accompanied by symptoms such as sputum production and fever.
2. Allergic cough: Caused by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, animal fur, etc. This type of cough is usually dry and worsens at night or early in the morning.
3. Irritating cough: Caused by external stimuli such as smoke and chemical gases. This type of cough usually appears quickly after exposure to an irritant and is relieved when the irritant is removed.
4. Drug-induced cough: Certain medications such as ACE inhibitors (antihypertensive drugs) may cause cough as ***
5. Other reasonsChronic conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can also cause coughing.
Second, the risk of blind cough
Blind cough suppressants, the casual use of cough suppressants without knowing the type of cough and its causes, can carry the following risks:
Concealing the true condition: Cough suppressants, while temporarily relieving cough symptoms, may mask the true condition and worsen the condition without being detected in time.
Producing inappropriate cough suppressants may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, allergic reactions, etc.
Effect: For infectious cough and other diseases that require antibiotics, blind cough may delay the timing and affect the effect.
3. How to prescribe the right medicine
For different types of coughs, we should take different measures:
Infectious cough: The first step is to identify the causative agent and use antibiotics or antivirals as prescribed. At the same time, maintain a good rest and diet to boost immunity.
Allergic cough: Avoid contact with allergens, such as using air purifiers, keeping the room clean, etc. When symptoms are severe, allergy medications can be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Irritating cough: Try to avoid exposure to irritants such as smoke and chemical gases. If contact is necessary, please take protective measures, such as wearing a mask.
Medicated cough: Adjust or change medications as recommended by your doctor. If you can't replace it, consider using other cough suppressants, such as drinking water and eating honey.
Other diseases: For cough caused by chronic diseases such as asthma and COPD, it should be standardized under the guidance of a doctor**, and should not be used at will.
Fourth, prevention is better than **
In addition to prescribing the right medicine, it is equally important to prevent coughing. We can start from the following aspects:
Keep indoor air fresh: Open windows regularly for ventilation and use equipment such as air purifiers.
Enhance immunity: Maintain a good routine and diet, exercise appropriately, and enhance the body's resistance.
Avoid allergens: Know your allergens and try to avoid them.
Pay attention to personal hygiene: wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, etc., to reduce the chance of pathogen infection.
In conclusion, cough, although common, is not a simple symptom. We should understand the types and causes of cough to avoid the risks of blind coughing. Through a combination of prescription and preventive measures, we can better solve the problem of cough and maintain good health.