With the arrival of winter, infectious diseases began to pose a threat to individuals. Chest Diseases Specialist Assoc. Dr. Sibel Ayık pointed out that dry coughs, which are especially seen with infection and negatively affect daily life, can lead to more serious health problems if left untreated.
“CHRONIC COUGHS DUE TO LUNG CANCER MAY OCCUR”
Assoc. Prof. stated that dry cough means ‘a ticklish cough without producing phlegm’. Dr. Sober, your cough; He explained that if it occurs within the first 3 weeks, it is grouped as ‘acute’, if it occurs between 3 and 8 weeks, it is grouped as ‘subacute’, and if it lasts longer than 8 weeks, that is, over 2 months, it is grouped as ‘chronic cough’. Stating that the most common cause of acute coughs is usually infections, Ayık said, “It may occur especially due to viral upper respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis. The groups we call subacute may also be due to a prolonged infection. “Subacute” or “chronic” coughs may occur due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, tumor or lung cancer,” he said.
‘IF COUGH AFFECTS DAILY LIFE, YOU MUST CONSULT A DOCTOR’
Assoc. Dr. Sibel Ayık suggested that the person with dry cough should first learn in which environments the cough occurs, what the triggering situations are, and the difference between day and night and evaluate himself. Underlining that the patient should definitely consult a doctor if the patient has not had an infection in the recent past, has a cough that occurs in the mornings and is at a level that may affect his daily life, Ayık said, “Because chronic cough is a self-protection mechanism of the lungs or airways. It is a finding that indicates that a problem has occurred. “In these cases, the underlying reasons need to be investigated.”
“COUGH MAY OCCUR IN CASES ORIGINATING FROM THE STOMACH”
Stating that the cause of chronic cough is very important, Assoc. Dr. Ayık said:
“Sometimes coughs may occur due to conditions originating from the stomach, which we call reflux. In these cases, the nutritional system needs to be changed. Again, there are discharges due to infections and allergies, which we call postnasal discharge. If it is an allergic cough, it can sometimes very rarely be due to food, but it is mostly due to pollen. Elimination of these Chronic coughs may also be required in cases of infection and tumor. In such cases, we call supportive treatment, popularly known as ‘linden or sage’, which softens the throat and suppresses cough. Foods or similar teas can also be consumed.”
“COUGH IS THE ALARM OF THE LUNGS”
Stating that dry cough is an alarm for the lungs, Ayık continued as follows:
“A dry cough indicates a problem with the lungs. If the cough lasts more than 2 months, a chest physician should be consulted. It may be an indicator of serious underlying lung diseases that can cause death. “It should not be neglected.”
“COUGHS THAT OCCUR AT NIGHT MAY BE DUE TO REFLUX”
“A dry cough, especially if it occurs as soon as you go to sleep, can usually occur due to reflux,” said Ayık, adding: “It may occur when food escapes from the stomach to the esophagus. While there may be coughs triggered by reflux during the night, sleep apnea may cause cough due to dryness of the throat at night. Asthma attacks can often occur, especially in coughs that occur in the morning. “If there is any cough during the night, this indicates that there is a problem,” he said.
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