COUGHING

    What Causes Coughing?

Many things can make a person cough. But most of the time, coughs are caused by viruses. These are the same viruses that cause colds and sore throats. Smoking causes long term coughing. Smoking also slows healing once a virus has caused an infection.

In babies and young children, a sudden coughing spell may mean that the child has a peanut or other small object caught in his or her throat. Remember, do not feed hard candy, nuts, or popcorn to small children.

    What Is The Home Treatment For Coughing?

1. If you need to cough, do not hold back. Coughing cleans the breathing tubes of things that shouldn't be there.
2. Stop smoking. You'll get better a lot faster.
3. Use a cool humidifier, vaporizer, or take a steamy shower.
4. Drink a lot of liquid - juice, soup, water.
5. Use nose drops, decongestants, or cough medicine at night so you can sleep. Ask your doctor for the names of medicines you can get without a prescription. Do not use these medicines for children under five years old without the advice of your doctor.
   

    When Should You Call The Doctor?

Call your doctor for coughing with any of the following:

• babies under three months old
• something caught in the throat or sudden violent coughing without signs of cold.
• high fever or shaking chills.
• mucous that is yellow, gray, or green.
• rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
• wheezing
• cough that lasts over one week
• change in cough or sputum if you have chronic lung trouble.

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