Dry cough: symptoms, causes, drugs, remedies

Definition

What is a dry cough?

Dry cough is a type of cough which in medical terms is known as a nonproductive cough. This means that a dry cough is a reflex for the body to remove foreign objects without the help of mucus or phlegm produced by the respiratory system.

This type of cough is generally accompanied by several other health problems, such as itching and burning in the throat caused by airway irritation.

There are several conditions that can cause a dry cough, ranging from upper respiratory tract infections, asthma, smoking habits, exposure to pollution, to increased stomach acid (GERD).

With proper treatment, nonproductive coughs can be cured quickly. However, in some cases this type of cough can also indicate a more serious health problem.

How common is this type of cough?

Coughing has an important role in maintaining the quality of the air flowing in the respiratory tract.

The cough mechanism works by pushing out foreign particles and dirt that enter the airways. Coughing can be harmful to health if it lasts for a long time.

Similar to cough with phlegm, dry cough is a common disease experienced by many people. Continuous dry cough can certainly interfere with daily activities.

This disease can last for weeks. The length of time the cough lasts tells you how severe your condition is.

Based on the duration of symptoms, coughs were divided into acute cough which is 3 weeks, sub-acute cough for 3-8 weeks, and chronic cough for more than 8 weeks.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms that accompany a dry cough?

Common symptoms that are often experienced by sufferers of dry cough are a burning and itching sensation in the throat so that it is difficult to speak or swallow food.

The frequency of dry cough usually gets higher at night. A number of other breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, shortness of breath, and runny nose are also felt when experiencing a dry cough.

When to see a doctor

If self-medication is not able to relieve coughing, even if the pain in the throat and other symptoms gets worse, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Especially when the prolonged dry cough experienced is also accompanied by bloody phlegm, aka bloody cough. The following are signs of a worsening health condition, so you need to seek treatment from a doctor:

The cough lasts for more than 3 weeks
Breath gasped and sounded squeaky
Difficulty swallowing food
The throat feels sore and lumpy

Cause

What causes dry cough?

The cause of dry cough can come from various conditions, both related to problems in the respiratory system and other organ disorders.

From a study conducted by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), postnasal drip syndrome, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and asthma are the main causes of chronic dry cough.

Some of the conditions that cause dry cough include:

Respiratory tract infection: This condition is commonly known as post-infectious cough. After recovering from colds and flu, the respiratory tract becomes sensitive which can cause irritation and cause a dry cough.
Cough variant astma: asthma is a long-term respiratory disorder that causes constriction of the airways in the lungs. One of the most common symptoms of asthma is an asthmatic cough that continues at night or in the morning, a wheezing sound (wheezing), and shortness of breath.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD is a condition of an increase in stomach acid in the body that occurs in the esophagus or esophagus. Increased stomach acid can irritate the esophagus and stimulate a dry cough.
Postnasal-drip: a condition which is also known as upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) is described as the discharge of mucus from the nose into the back of the throat so that it can trigger a dry cough.
Whooping cough: cough that occurs is usually accompanied by a shrill sound "whoop"When breathing this can last up to 3 months. This type of cough often affects children.
Pneumothorax: a condition in which the lungs are deflated which could be the result of a collision or accident.
Lung cancer: dry cough can be a symptom of growing cancer cells in the lungs. Dry cough due to lung cancer can be accompanied by bleeding.
Heart failure: occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump blood optimally to all parts of the body. This condition is also commonly experienced by people who suffer from heart or coronary arteries and high blood pressure.

Another cause of dry cough

External factors such as environmental conditions, smoking habits, and even the side effects of taking blood pressure-lowering drugs, namely ACE inhibitors, can also cause dry cough.

1. Environmental irritants

Various environmental irritants such as air pollution, dust, motor vehicle fumes, and mold can irritate the respiratory tract and cause a dry cough. Products containing chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide can also cause dry coughs.

2. Smoking habits

Cigarette smoke is an irritant that can cause coughing, whether accompanied by phlegm or not. Therefore, active smokers who are accustomed to smoking and passive smokers who often inhale cigarette smoke are very susceptible to coughing.

Apart from being the cause of a dry cough, the dangers of smoking also have the potential to cause permanent damage to the respiratory system.

3. Take ACE Inhibitor drugs

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are drugs commonly given by doctors for hypertension and heart failure. The goal of this drug is to lower blood pressure.

There have been several cases in which patients taking this medicine showed ACE inhibitors to be the cause of persistent cough.

Although the mechanism that causes dry cough from taking this drug is not clearly known. However, one of the biggest possibilities is that the ACE inhibitor can trigger the substance bradykinin in the body to stimulate a cough.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose the cause of this cough?

To determine the main cause of dry cough, doctors will usually begin to ask about the symptoms that appear along with the sufferer's medical track record.

After the information is obtained, then the doctor will perform a simple physical examination. If from a physical examination, the doctor has not been able to diagnose the cause, the doctor will carry out a number of further examination steps, which include:

Chest X-ray or CT scan
Spirometry
Bronchoscopy

Medicine and medication

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat dry cough?

A number of treatment methods can treat this type of cough, either by self-medicating with non-prescription drugs, taking cough medicine from a doctor or trying natural cough remedies.

In general, mild cough symptoms can be relieved by taking medication over-the-counter (OTC), namely drugs that can be purchased directly at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. However, not all types of OTC cough medicines are effective for relieving coughs without phlegm.

The purpose of administering the drug is to relieve pain and reduce the frequency of coughs so that health conditions can be better. The following are cough medicines that are safe for consumption and are effective at curing dry coughs:

1. Antitussive

Antitussives are a class of cough suppressants that work to relieve coughs. Especially a dry cough that appears after an infection in the respiratory tract such as a cold or flu.

The way this drug works is by suppressing the cough reflex commanded by the brain. In addition, this cough medicine is also anlagesic, which reduces the pain when a dry cough lasts and provides a relief effect in the throat.

There are several types of antitussives that are generally used as cough medicines without phlegm, most of which are opioids which have side effects such as drowsiness and dependence, such as dextromethorphan and codeine.

2. Decongestants

Decongestant cough medicines, such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine can help relieve dry cough caused by allergies, cold viruses, and conditions postnasal-drip.

Decongestants are often combined with other medicinal ingredients to treat flu symptoms. Decongestants are also available as sprays, which can help treat congestion caused by excess mucus inside the nose.

Side effects that arise from the consumption of decongestants are drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and dry throat. Patients with heart disease, diabetes, thyroid and prostate disorders are advised to consult before taking this cough medicine.

3. Antihistamines

Antihistamines work by blocking the histamine released by the body in the central nervous system due to an allergic reaction. Histamine itself is an amino acid that triggers reactions such as watery eyes, runny nose, and coughing.

Some of the commonly used antihistamines are loratidine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, and cetirizine. Research conducted by the Association of Physicians of India shows that the antihistamine type chlorpheniramine can help cure chronic dry cough..

Other medicines for diseases that cause dry cough

Dry cough is also a symptom of an asthma attack. The quickest way to deal with this is to use fast-acting drugs, such as bronchodilator lozenges, one example of albuterol.

To control cough symptoms due to daily asama, slow-acting drugs can be used such as fluticasone, triamcinolone, budesonide.

Meanwhile, treatment for cough caused by GERD aims to suppress stomach acid production. Drugs such as antacids, H2-receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitor is an acid reflux drug that can be consumed to reduce cough symptoms.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can treat this cough symptom?

OTC cough medicines have several side effects and not all of them are safe for consumption by children. If you want to avoid the risk of using chemical drugs, natural dry cough medicine can be an alternative.

1. Honey

Many studies, one from the University of Pennsylvania, have shown that honey can reduce inflammation and thus reduce throat discomfort.

2. Salt water

It is believed that gargling with salt water has a soothing effect on the throat. Dissolve one tablespoon of salt in warm water and use it to rinse your mouth three times a day. Salt water works by eliminating inflammation that occurs in the throat.

3. Ginger

Simply cut the ginger into small pieces and steep it in hot water. You can add honey and drink it.

Not only used to relieve coughs, consuming ginger directly also benefits the digestive system.

In addition, avoid consuming prohibited foods when coughing so that the cough does not get worse.

During treatment, make sure you also meet your body's fluid needs by drinking more water, fruit juice, and getting plenty of rest to increase endurance.