A cough is a reflex action to get rid of mucus and other irritants like smoke and dust from your airways. Coughs are generally not considered to be something serious, and most of them clear up without treatment. Keep reading to find out how to get rid of a cough in Birmingham.
Some coughs are dry and don’t include any thick mucus (phlegm). The ones that produce phlegm to help clean the airways are referred to as chesty coughs.
Talk to your pharmacist to get rid of your cough in Birmingham if:
– Your cough has lasted for over three weeks
– Your cough is relatively serious
– You have a bloody cough
– Your cough comes with breathing difficulties
– The cough is accompanied by other symptoms like sudden weight loss, swelling in the neck, or changes in voice
You may be referred to a medical specialist by your pharmacist for further assessment if the cause of your coughs is not clear. You may also be required to undergo a number of tests like breathing tests, allergy tests, chest X-rays, as well as analysing a sample of phlegm to find out the cause. It is important to note that if you believe your cough to be a symptom of Covid-19, you should not visit the pharmacy; you should instead follow current guidance regarding self-isolation and testing.
Learn more about how to treat minor ailments such as a sore throat in our previous post here:
Short-term coughs
Short-term coughs are caused by:
– An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) which attacks the windpipe, throat or sinuses. Examples of these infections include flu, cold, sinusitis, whooping cough, or laryngitis.
– A lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). This infection affects the lower airways or the lungs. Examples include pneumonia or acute bronchitis.
– Allergies like allergic rhinitis or hay fever.
– A symptom of a long-term health condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis or asthma.
– Inhaled smoke or dust.
A short-term cough might turn out to be the first sign of a more serious complication, but this happens in rare cases.
Find out how to treat cold and flu in our previous post here:
Persistent coughs
Below are some of the causes of a persistent cough.
– A long-term respiratory tract infection like chronic bronchitis
– Asthma – a cough is accompanied by other symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing
– An allergy
– Smoking
– Bronchiectasis – This is an abnormal occurrence where the airways of the lungs are widened
– Postnasal drip – This is a condition that involves the dripping of mucus from the back of the nose down to the throat, resulting in conditions such as sinusitis or rhinitis.
– Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – This is when the throat is irritated by acids from the stomach.
– Medications like angiotensin
– A prescribed medicine, such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor), which is used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases as well as high blood pressure.
In some rare cases, a persistent cough can be a sign of a more complicated health condition like heart failure, lung cancer, or tuberculosis.
Coughs in children
Coughs in children show the same symptoms as any other coughs. In rare cases, a persistent cough in a child can turn out to be a symptom of more severe complications like cystic fibrosis.
Get rid of a cough in Birmingham with the Minor Ailments Scheme
As we mentioned before, coughs normally go away on their own, and most cases do not require any medical attention. However, if you feel like your cough requires treatment, you can contact Saydon Pharmacy today for cough treatment and professional advice on how to deal with cough symptoms. We do this under the NHS Minor Ailments Scheme.
This blog post was written on behalf of Saydon Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.