What to Take for a Cough?

Want to know what to take for a cough? Coughing is one of the most common symptoms of various conditions associated with discomfort in the airways or as part of the most frequent symptoms of the onset of possible colds or flu.  Living with a cough can be very annoying and can even disrupt our daily routine. That is why it is increasingly common to find a wide variety of products, most of them natural remedies, to relieve and combat it.

At Farmaciasdirect we offer you not only our wide catalogue of products but also the information you need to find a quick and effective solution to get rid of a cough. Learning more about coughs is the best remedy for tackling them naturally. Of course, always by taking the appropriate medication recommended by your specialist.

What should I take for a cough?

Before using medication, whether natural or prescribed by your specialist, it is important to bear in mind that it is possible to follow a series of measures that help your body fight it. Thereforewe recommend that you:

• Maintain goodhumidity levels in the air,whether by using a humidifier or inhaling steam.
• When sleeping, use apillowthat keeps your head raised enough to prevent mucus from building up
• Avoid tobacco useor other products that may irritate the airways.
• Do not expose your body to sudden changes intemperature

If these measures are not enough, it is always possible to turn to medicines and products designed to relieve coughs that do not require a prescription, while waiting to consult your GP or specialist. In any case, here are themain medicinesto take for a cough.

• Arkovox Pastillas de propóleo con vitamina C. With this simple and easy-to-take treatment, it is possible to prevent and relieve symptoms related to throat irritation, whether caused by possible colds or by any other cause that leads to coughing.
• Aquilea Tos Family Jarabe.This syrup is indicated to relieve both dry and chesty coughs for the whole family, as it is suitable for use in adults and children from 2 years of age. Made with honey, marshmallow, ivy, plantain and Iceland moss.
• Inmunoferon Flulenza Garganta Spray. Its practical spray format reduces cough symptoms, as well as symptoms associated with acute pharyngitis and/or laryngitis, such as a sore throat or hoarseness.
• Aboca Grintuss Adultos. These are very easy-to-take tablets specially formulated for the treatment of both dry and chesty coughs. They are suitable for adults and adolescents aged 12 and over.

What is a cough?

Now that you know what to take for a cough, let us take a closer look at this condition. A cough is defined as anatural mechanismof the body itself to help expel excess mucus or any other irritating agent that reaches the airways. When this type of unwanted agent enters and in response to these stimuli, the body itself, thanks to the mucosa found in organs such as the larynx, trachea or bronchi, sends a signal to the brain stem to force air out of the lungs in a violent movement. With this in mind, it is perfectly normal to cough regularly on some occasions. A cough remains a physiological mechanism that helps keep our airways clear. However, you should remain alert, as if the cough lasts too long or becomes recurrent it may be a clear warning sign from the body of a possible illness.

Possible causes of coughing

In addition to the possible illnesses related to coughing mentioned below, a cough may also appear due to inhaling any substance that may be irritating, as a reaction to some type of medication, or because of inhaling foreign bodies or accidents caused by the presence of some type of food or product passing into the trachea.

• Cold
• Flu
• Allergy
• Asthma
• Sinusitis
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

Types of cough

We can classify a cough both according to how long it lasts and depending on whether or not it is accompanied by the expulsion of secretions.By duration,there are three types of cough: acute, subacute and chronic. In the first case, we are talking about a cough that lasts less than 1 month, in the second more than 2 months and in the last, from 4 months onwards. Likewise, we speak of aproductive coughwhen it is accompanied by the expectoration of secretions and adry coughwhen, in addition to not being accompanied by secretions, it is caused by clear irritation of the airways. Specialists do not recommend eliminating a productive cough, as it helps the body expel secretions. By contrast, a dry cough needs to be suppressed as soon as possible so that it does not become self-perpetuating by creating a feeling of dryness and throat irritation that triggers more coughing episodes.

Bibliography

Giachetto, G. (2001). When and how to treat cough: a common problem. Archivos de Pediatría del Uruguay, 72(4), 281-285.