Cough and how to treat it – all you need to know

Is coughing just an annoying symptom of bronchitis, or is it a way for the body to help itself? More about treatment and home remedies here.

Bronchitis: symptoms, treatment and consequences

If the airways in the lungs, the so-called bronchi, are inflamed, experts speak of bronchitis. The main symptom is cough, for which about 5 in 100 people seek medical attention each year. The following text explains the causes, symptoms and possible consequences and presents helpful home remedies.

Signs of acute bronchitis

Many people suffer from colds and coughs, especially during the cold season. But although the symptoms of the common cold and bronchitis are similar at first, they are not the same disease. Nevertheless, both like to go hand in hand or the inflammation of the deep airways occurs as a result of coughing up a cold.

The symptoms are annoying and it is important to recover from the bronchitis well in order not to procrastinate. So how can those affected find out whether they are suffering from a cold or whether bronchitis has already developed, depending on the severity?

need treatment?

The quality of the cough changes as the disease progresses: at the beginning there is often a dry, non-productive cough that develops into a productive cough. The body expels the irritating mucus from the respiratory tract.

The symptoms of bronchitis often occur more intensely at night. Therefore, a treatment is often useful to improve the quality of sleep and to promote the regeneration of the body. Depending on the intensity of the cough, it can be accompanied by pain in the chest, breathing problems and hoarseness.

Cough – symptom or self-help?

Viruses are responsible for the development of bronchitis in about 90 percent of cases. Bacteria, fungi or environmental pollutants are rarely the cause. Regardless of the exact cause behind the annoying symptoms, the following applies: when inhaled through the nose or mouth, the foreign bodies get into the deep ramifications at the end of the trachea, settle there and multiply.

As a result, the body’s immune system, which is ready for action, reacts: the mucous membranes produce more mucus, which takes the pathogens and dead cell residues outside when you cough. Patients usually want to get rid of this annoying, sleep-depriving symptom, which is understandable. And yet the cough makes sense and is a helpful tool for the body to promote the treatment of bronchitis itself.

treatment of bronchitis

Assuming general health, the inflammation of the airways usually heals on its own without specific treatment. If tormenting cough, pain and a feeling of sluggishness accompany bronchitis, symptom-oriented therapy can be used.

You can get rid of the cough with these tips:

• • come to rest and take it easy
• • Abstaining from sport and exertion in general
• • warm drinks for increased well-being
• • Cough stimulant, analgesic and antipyretic

medication

Home remedies can also be used for bronchitis and, if used according to your own feelings, improve your well-being. Wraps and pads on the chest as well as steam inhalations promote the decongestion of the mucous membranes and the removal of unwanted pathogens. Warm teas, like honey, calm the urge to cough and allow those affected to calm down.

Important to know

The treatment of bronchitis is uncomplicated and focuses primarily on the symptoms. However, those affected should keep a close eye on the development so as not to prolong the disease.
In many cases, the use of home remedies and plenty of rest for bronchitis is sufficient to increase well-being and alleviate the annoying symptoms somewhat. The basically healthy body can easily counteract such inflammatory diseases itself thanks to its active immune system. Some symptoms often improve quickly and almost completely disappear. But it can take several weeks before there are no more signs of bronchitis. Therefore, it is of great importance to be alert and closely monitor the signs over time.

If those affected refrain from treating the bronchitis despite the lack of improvement, unpleasant consequences can develop. The inflammation of the bronchi may spread to the tissues of the lungs and lead to other diseases there. If other diseases of the respiratory tract are present, if the immune system is weakened or if the bronchitis persists for more than eight weeks, the doctor should decide on a suitable treatment.