What is a productive cough? Photo: Getty
What is a productive cough?
Usually, a cough does not become productive right away,and after some time. At first it is dry and painful. And at this stage the task of how to make the cough productive is more important. After all, it is much easier to get rid of it than a dry one. And when the phlegm begins to separate freely - this indicates a quick recovery. This happens with the flu, acute respiratory viral infections or bronchitis in the acute stage. But sometimes a wet cough is a symptom of chronic diseases. These include tuberculosis of the lungs, bronchitis and bronchial asthma. A productive cough has its own mechanism of development. Phlegm accumulates in the bronchi for the following reasons:
- smoking;
- polluted atmosphere;
- colds;
- Diseases of the digestive tract, in which the acid enters the esophagus;
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In most cases, productive cough is caused by infections of the upper respiratory tract and lungs - bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis.
How to get rid of productive cough
When coughing due to acute respiratory infections or flu, usuallyexpectorants are used. They thin the mucus and help remove it from the bronchi and lungs. Popular remedies used in folk medicine are inhalations over steam and warm drinks in large quantities. There is no need to rush to eliminate a productive cough in a child with chemicals. Thermal procedures will help alleviate the condition: warming compresses on the chest area and foot baths. The following folk remedies are suitable for coughs in children and adults:
- Drinking warm herbal infusions of thyme, oregano and chamomile.
- Receiving syrup from cranberries with the addition of sugar.
- Raziranie thorax by badger fat, vodka, butter from cumin.
- Drinking broth from potatoes, apples and onions.
- Inhalations over broths of chamomile, linden, kidneys of a pine and a potato in uniforms.
- Drinking radish juice.
- A mesh painted with iodine on the chest.
Before using the listed methods andgenerally try to cure a cough at home, you need to find out its cause. A visit to the doctor is a must, especially if we are talking about a child. Only he will establish the cause, prescribe an effective remedy and tell you whether it is possible to use folk methods in your case and how best to do it.
