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Causes and Treatment of Dry Cough

Coughing is an act which helps to clear the foreign particles from the throat and the airway, where the foreign particles are usually germs, irritants, or mucus. It can be voluntary as well as involuntary. Coughs are of two types—productive and non-productive. A productive cough or wet cough involves phlegm and mucus whereas a non-productive cough or a dry cough does not include any phlegm and mucus.

According to the American Lung Association, dry cough is a persistent medical condition for many individuals in the country. In this article, we will concentrate on the causes of a dry cough and treatment of this medical condition.

What causes a dry cough?
Medical conditions, lifestyle disorders, and environmental issues are the common causes of a dry cough among most people. Continue reading to know more about the causes of a dry cough and treatment thereafter.

  • Upper respiratory tract infection
    In more than 25 percent of the cases, dry cough results due to upper respiratory infections including pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tonsils. These types of medical conditions are most common during the fall and winter.
  • Asthma
    Asthma is another common cause of a dry cough where the airways of the patients become inflamed, and their thickness reduces. There is a condition cough variant asthma (CVA) which results in a chronic dry cough. The patient experiences wheezing, respiratory distress, and chest pain along with a dry cough in asthma.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
    It is a condition where the acid from the stomach refluxes into the esophagus and causes irritation in the food pipe. This irritation results in a dry cough in patients. In many cases, the patients also complain of heartburn, regurgitation of food, sore throat, and a feeling of a lump of food in the throat. It is a common cause of a dry cough and treatment of GERD is usually undertaken through lifestyle changes and medicines.
  • Environmental irritants
    The presence of allergens in the atmosphere like smoke, pollution, pollen, and dust, may irritate the windpipe and result in a dry cough.
  • Smoking
    Smoking is a potential cause of a dry cough. Toxic chemicals present in tobacco interfere with the function of cilia and causes inflammation. The reflex action tries to remove this inflammation and it ends in a dry cough.

Dry cough treatment
Here are some of the cough treatments which may offer you relief from the condition.

  • Salt and water gargle
    Regular gargling with salt and warm water soothes the throat and prevents the occurrence of a cough.
  • Consumption of honey
    Drinking a cup of herbal tea made of honey and lemon can work wonders in curing dry cough and soothing a sore throat.
  • Cough expectorant
    Certain over-the-counter cough expectorants containing dextromethorphan help in treating dry coughs.

 A dry cough is annoying, but a combination of healthy lifestyle and medicines help in curing it under medical supervision.

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