If the cough does not go away for a long time. Why does a dry cough persist for a long time in an adult? Dry suffocating cough

About 30 percent of the population suffers from various types of cough. This condition not only reduces performance, but can also completely change a person’s lifestyle, causing insomnia, headaches and depression. It is especially painful. It can appear as a complication after a cold or other illness. If the cough does not go away for more than a month, then

You should be examined by a doctor, as this may be a symptom of asthma, cancer or heart problems. In this case, it cannot be cured without eliminating its cause.

What are the causes of a persistent cough?

It is believed that a long-lasting cough mainly affects smokers. It is impossible to get rid of it completely. But people who do not have this bad habit sometimes suffer from lingering cough.

1. Most often it remains after colds or viral diseases. If done correctly, it goes away after a while.

2. One of the most common causes of persistent cough is asthma. This disease now occurs in every twentieth person. In this case, the cough can be episodic or constant. Sometimes it is the only symptom of the disease. It is necessary to treat it if you have asthma, because it can lead to suffocation.

3. appears due to irritation of the throat by nasal discharge. In this case, it intensifies at night or in the morning.

4. A cough that does not go away for a long time may indicate incipient tuberculosis, lung cancer or pleurisy.

5. Sometimes prolonged cough occurs as an allergic reaction to various irritants.

6. For some diseases gastrointestinal tract A cough that does not go away for a long time is also possible. This happens when rotavirus infection, reflux, dysbiosis or helminthic infestation.

Treatment of persistent cough

First of all, you need to eliminate its causes and cure the underlying disease. But there are also special medications to suppress the cough reflex, as well as various mucolytic drugs. Modern medicines often have complex impact and treat different types cough. The most effective are Bromhexine and Ambroxol. They are produced not only in the form of tablets, but also in the form of syrup for children.

If it doesn’t go away for a long time, you need to take medications that thin the mucus and help evacuate it from the lungs, for example, ACC. Additionally, it is recommended to use folk remedies.

Traditional medicine for cough

The most famous are inhalations made from a decoction of pine buds, eucalyptus leaves or mint essential oil. Warming the chest and back or mashed boiled potatoes are also useful. When a cough does not go away for a long time after a cold, it is good to drink currant or cabbage juice with sugar, a decoction linden color or cored apples. Lingonberry juice or

A cough that does not go away for a long time is debilitating and leads to decreased performance. Therefore, it is imperative to be examined and treated for it and the diseases that cause it.

Based on duration, the following types are distinguished:

• acute form (the symptom is pronounced for 2-3 days, gradually disappears);
• protracted form (cough does not go away for a week or more);
• chronic form (cough does not go away for a month or more).

From the dry type, the symptom transforms into the wet type after a few days. If this does not happen, the attacks continue to bother the patient; most likely, the correct treatment was not selected from the very beginning.

Protracted or chronic cough and its causes

For correct diagnosis the cause of the attacks, you need to see a doctor, get an x-ray of your lungs and take several tests.

Most often, cough does not go away due to illness upper section respiratory tract organs.

Correct diagnosis of the disease, the symptom of which was - important step to compile effective plan treatment.

Acute respiratory infections and influenza are among the most common organ diseases respiratory system, can cause long-term. This is facilitated by reduced immunity during illness.

A protracted type of symptom may appear due to an untreated disease; at times it is caused by the body at the level of a reflex (with hypersensitivity lungs).

Sometimes a dry cough does not go away due to the development of complications colds: bronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, otitis, pneumonia, etc. A prolonged form may appear due to diseases such as:

Less often, a child or an adult’s cough does not go away due to problems at work. of cardio-vascular system, heart failure.

The manifestation of a chronic form of the symptom can provoke an allergic reaction.

People who are susceptible to it tend to suffer from it for a long time chronic diseases respiratory tract, with bronchial asthma, respiratory allergies, occupational respiratory diseases (teachers, miners, chemical production workers).

Often a dry cough in an adult does not go away due to smoking. Bronchitis is one of the most common reasons for the transformation of the disease into a chronic form.

Taking some medicines, the use of a number of chemicals in everyday life can cause a prolonged dry cough.

Possible complications

Long-term ones are very dangerous for asthma patients, because... can provoke a deterioration in the patient’s condition and lead to suffocation. They are always accompanied by fluctuations in blood and blood pressure.

Prolonged attacks can cause hypotension or hypertension in a person. Sometimes due to muscle strain abdominal region and increased pressure in the chest during forced exhalation, patients experience hernias. With such prolonged attacks, they are injured small vessels, the patient may cough up bloody mucous discharge.

For smokers, a prolonged cough is especially dangerous, because... may provoke lung collapse. This happens in people suffering from bullous emphysema. In patients whose bones have lost strength due to certain diseases, coughing can even lead to rib fractures.

After finding out the reason why the cough does not go away, treatment should be started immediately.

Treatment and prevention

To eliminate this symptom, you first need to treat the disease that causes it.

What to do if the cough does not go away for several days? Give preference to gentle ways to combat the disease, folk medicine. Can be used:

• herbs with medicinal properties;
• various rinses with herbal decoctions;
• compresses;
• herbal teas.

If the cough does not go away for a long time, physiotherapeutic treatment is effective. It includes various inhalations and rinses.

When carrying out such procedures, alkaline and salt solutions(half a teaspoon of soda or salt per glass of boiling water), medicinal herbs, milk and honey (remember that honey is a strong allergen).

You can use a nebulizer inhaler. The nebulizer is used not only to treat diseases of the respiratory system, but also to prevent them. Treatment with a nebulizer has a number of advantages:

• absence age restrictions, ease of use, high efficiency and effectiveness;
• absence side effects.

Sprays used for coughs do not give such an effect, because... the medicine is not sprayed so evenly and cannot penetrate all parts of the nasopharynx. The effect of the drugs in such throat sprays is very short-lived.

When it is not possible to diagnose the disease for any reason, the doctor prescribes medications that suppress the symptom:

For the treatment of protracted forms wet cough Mucolytics are used to thin sputum.

Efficiency therapeutic activities can complement massage. With its help, the bronchi are better cleared of mucus, the muscles located in increased tone, relax.

To get rid of prolonged mucus discharge, drainage or ultrasound therapy is sometimes used.

Treatment of the symptom in chronic form requires an integrated approach.

It is better to prevent the occurrence of a protracted form of the symptom by adhering to a number of the following simple rules:

• consult a doctor on time and follow all his recommendations;
• get rid of bad habits, smoking;
• spend more time in the fresh air;
• maintain personal hygiene.

Such simple measures have a positive effect on the body in case of any disease.

This cough is reflex reaction body, it is accompanied by a sharp exhalation, which helps clear the airways of foreign particles and body secretions. It passes without sputum discharge; experts call it unproductive, since it does not clear the airways, and only air is coughed up. A dry cough for more than a month may be a consequence of a cold, flu, or other respiratory diseases, if it lasts more than two weeks, then it is called chronic. Can also occur as a result of smoking and as a result of allergic reaction.

What to do if a dry cough does not go away for a month? Features of the treatment of lingering dry cough are the topic of this article. If the cough persists for a long time, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this may indicate serious illnesses.

Why a dry cough does not go away for a month: treatment features

A dry cough appears with the development of diseases such as flu, colds in the body, and appears after hypothermia, but most often it soon turns into a productive form. If there is no sputum discharge, then you should drink special drugs, prescribed by doctors, whose action is aimed at thinning mucus.

A dry cough may be due to an infection in the lung tissue, that is, the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic pathology lungs – bronchial asthma, Chronical bronchitis.

A paroxysmal dry cough appears as a result of diseases of the external auditory canal, gastric and food reflux, and acute heart failure.

Dry cough for more than a month - features of the disease

Nonproductive cough appears with the development of diseases such as flu, colds in the body, and appears after hypothermia, but most often it soon turns into a productive form. If sputum does not discharge, then you should take special medications prescribed by doctors, the effect of which is aimed at thinning the mucus.

A dry cough that does not go away for a month may be the result of an infection in the lung tissue, that is, the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic lung pathology - bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis.

Not only respiratory diseases can cause a paroxysmal dry cough for more than a month. It manifests itself as a result of diseases of the external auditory canal, gastric and food reflux, and acute heart failure.

How to treat a dry cough that does not go away for a month: treatment features

Treatment of dry cough, if it does not go away for more than a month, can be done by taking such medical supplies, for example, tablets or syrup.

If a dry cough does not go away for a long time in a smoker, then perhaps this is the body’s reaction to this bad habit, so it should be abandoned

If a strong dry cough does not go away and torments you at night, then you should change the angle of the pillow, as horizontal position In humans, mucus flows intensely down the back wall larynx and irritates it.

Folk method getting rid of a dry cough involves drinking a lot of hot liquid, for example, hot tea, milk. This contributes to the transition of a dry cough into a productive and speedy recovery.

If, along with a dry cough, you have been suffering from a sore throat for more than a month, then experts advise drinking a solution of a spoonful of honey and 200 ml of water, this will help soften the inflamed mucous membrane of the throat.

Update: December 2018

Coughing is a reflex, just like breathing itself. And its appearance indicates that some kind of pathogen has appeared - allergic, infectious, viral, that is, the cause of a dry cough, serious or not, which causes irritation in the respiratory tract and forces the body to cleanse them of - allergen, infection, virus or foreign body.

Cough itself is not a disease, it is a symptom of over 50 various diseases or allergic manifestations, from a common cold to tuberculosis, oncology, bronchial asthma or heart disease. Most often, a dry cough goes away within a few days, turning into a productive, wet cough with sputum, but sometimes it can drag on. Based on duration, dry cough is divided into:

• Acute - which after a few days turns into wet or goes away
• Prolonged – which lasts from 3 weeks to 3 months
• Chronic – which lasts more than 3 months.

Let's figure out why a dry cough doesn't go away long time what diseases cause dry cough.

The main causes of dry cough related to the respiratory system

The most common causes of dry cough are inflammatory diseases upper respiratory tract, caused by viruses and pathogenic bacteria.

In this case strong body with a strong immune system, it copes on its own, and if the immune response to a virus or infection is weakened, then antibiotics or antibiotics come to the rescue.

If you have parainfluenza or influenza, you should definitely consult a doctor, as this is very insidious diseases, which in Lately become very aggressive, leading to a lot of complications. Read about that in our article.

If during ARVI, influenza or other infectious disease A dry cough that does not go away for a long time may be caused by:

• firstly by the fact that the immune system in humans is significantly weakened
• secondly, that there are provoking factors that affect the duration of a dry cough, these include: smoking and drinking alcohol, very dry air in the room and taking insufficient fluids during a cold or viral disease.
• thirdly by accession secondary infection or a complication after viral disease when bacterial, tracheitis, pharyngitis, etc. develops.

Diseases of the pleura and lungs can also be accompanied by a dry, painful cough - this is pneumonia, pleurisy. In this case, it most often happens heat, shortness of breath, chest pain.

Atypical forms of pneumonia

You should also keep in mind that a prolonged cough can be a consequence of mycoplasma and chlamydia, these pathogens may cause atypical pneumonia, bronchitis, which can last a long time and recur periodically. To differentiate the pathogen that caused pneumonia or bronchitis, you can take a blood test using ELISA.

Whooping cough, measles, false croup

Bronchial asthma

a very common disease characterized by a chronic painful dry cough and asthma attacks. This disease cannot be considered only a disease of the bronchi; it is a severe pathology that is associated with general violation immunity, nervous system and allergies.

Exposure to toxic substances in the home

facilities household chemicals containing chlorine, washing powders, etc., the presence of an abundance of exhaust gases in the air of cities and megacities leads to the occurrence of an allergic dry cough. Also pay attention to when your dry cough started; maybe it has something to do with the purchase of new furniture, new renovations, or the purchase of household appliances.

Modern industry, especially the production of plastics, furniture, building materials, even children's toys, often use an abundance of toxic chemical substances, which can provide irritant effect on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, bronchi, causing chronic chemical poisoning. If there are a lot of such products in the room, they are new and emit an odor - this may be the cause of a dry cough.

In addition, dry coughing as an allergy occurs from inhaling perfumes, toner vapors from copying and printing equipment.

Worm infestations

Sometimes cases of ascariasis are recorded, in which, during the migration of ascaris larvae through the pulmonary circulation, they linger in the lung tissue, causing an annoying dry cough. Getting into the lungs, trachea and bronchi, they cause irritation of cough receptors; the migration phase for ascariasis is 8-14 days (see).

Professional dry cough

The reason for its appearance may be associated with working in hazardous industries, where a mass of suspended toxic substances is formed in the air, causing workers to have a dry cough. Workers in the stone processing and coal mining industries often develop pulmonary silicosis. Also among occupational diseases, causing dry cough, it is worth noting the disease of American farmers or fibrosing alveolitis, where a dry cough is only the debut of a pathology, the outcome of which is severe respiratory failure.

Some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract provoke a dry reflex cough without fever; it occurs after eating with diverticula of the esophagus, esophageal-tracheal fistula, reflux esophagitis.

Taking certain medications

usually, ACE inhibitors, which are used to lower blood pressure and treat other cardiovascular diseases. In 20% of patients, these medications cause a dry cough, if it disappears after discontinuation of the drug, therefore, this cough was a side effect of the drug taken.

Cardiovascular diseases and heart failure can also cause dry cough

The cause of the allergy, the provocateur of allergic reactions, can be determined using tests ordered by an allergist. It is worth taking any manifestations of allergies seriously, since it is not just a dry cough, runny nose or rash; a severe allergic reaction can occur anaphylactic shock, which without timely medical care can be fatal.

A hysterical cough is a common phenomenon among adults and children. This symptom tends to progress, accompanied by painful sensations, sore throat, insomnia. If a dry cough in an adult does not go away for a long time without fever, it is important to find out its cause and select a reliable treatment regimen.

Dry cough and shortness of breath in an adult

When the body is unhealthy, coughing serves as a kind of protective mechanism against getting into the respiratory system. foreign bodies or increased production mucus. A dry cough and shortness of breath in an adult are often observed with the disease:

• laryngitis;
• tracheitis;
• pneumosclerosis;
• bronchial asthma;
• dry pleurisy.

Other complaints of patients with the development of respiratory diseases may include hemoptysis, pain in chest, loss of strength, disturbed sleep, shortness of breath. The latter is not only a symptom of respiratory disease, but also of cardiovascular pathology.

Shortness of breath – main clinical sign respiratory failure, in which a person’s normal blood gas composition is disrupted. When it appears, the patient does not have enough air, he tries to breathe more often and deeper. Attacks of intense shortness of breath that occur suddenly are called suffocation. This condition develops in case of detection of bronchial asthma, embolism, thrombosis pulmonary arteries, edema vocal cords or lungs.

Treatment of shortness of breath accompanying a dry cough is aimed at eliminating its root cause, as well as improving general condition sick.

Dry cough that leads to vomiting and does not go away for a long time

If a dry cough leads to vomiting and does not go away for a long time, this may indicate the following:

• the development of complications after a cold and the accumulation of thick sputum resulting from the lack of adequate treatment;
• abundant accumulation of mucus in the nasal cavity, flowing down the throat and provoking the gag reflex;
• the presence of untreated diseases (pneumonia);
• cardiac dysfunction.

Tuberculosis or respiratory cancer is often accompanied by coughing and vomiting. TO this symptom may be added bloody issues, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, increased body temperature.

Cough with vomiting - typical sign bronchial asthma, which is an intractable disease of the respiratory system. With this diagnosis, it often turns into suffocating attacks.

Mostly attacks of coughing with vomiting manifest themselves in evening time day or during night sleep. Active smokers and people working in unhealthy conditions are more prone to them than others.

An adult has a dry cough at night

There are often cases when a dry cough in an adult does not go away for a long time without fever, resuming with renewed vigor at night. Such attacks deprive a person good sleep and the opportunity to have a good rest.

In an adult, a dry cough at night may occur due to:

• ARVI;
• asthma;
• pleurisy;
• pharyngitis;
• laryngitis;
• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis;
• heart failure.

Coughing at night causes a lot of inconvenience to the patient and those around him. The process is accompanied by the following unpleasant sensations like nausea increased salivation, suffocation, tachycardia, heaviness in the chest, uneven breathing.

Short-term night cough may result from exposure external factors. These include the presence of dust in the respiratory tract, inhalation of gas, cigarette smoke, fragrances, household chemicals, cold air. IN similar cases it goes away on its own and does not require any special medications.

If a dry cough in an adult does not go away without fever for a long time (more than two weeks), this may indicate acute form diseases. A cough is considered chronic if it lasts two or more months.

Treatment of adults with drugs

Drug treatment of adults with drugs is aimed at suppressing the symptom by affecting the smooth muscles of the bronchi and increasing sputum production.

The following drugs are most effective in this regard:

• Sinekod;
• Libexin;
• Bromhexine;
• Levopront;
• Helicidin.

From the list of combined antitussives we can highlight Tussin, Lorraine, Bronholitin, Althea, Licorice, Thermopsis, Stoptussin. The listed drugs have a minimum of side effects and are used in patients of all ages.

To remove inflammatory process for dry cough, treatment is carried out using Askorila, Gedelix, Eucabala, Pulmotina, . Used for rubbing local remedies: Herpferon, turpentine ointment , Eucabalus, Vicks asset. According to standard scheme, treatment of dry cough must be continued for 5-7 days.

For getting positive result from the use of antitussive drugs, you must additionally consult with a specialist. Only a doctor can choose the most effective scheme treatment based on individual characteristics patient.

Healthy fat for cough

Traditional medicine advises treating dry cough with the following types of fat:

• goose;
• lamb;
• badger;
• bearish.

Goose fat applied externally and internally until the condition improves. The product is mixed with chopped onion, rubbed on the neck and thoracic regions, wrap themselves in a warm scarf. Take a tablespoon of the mixture in the morning.

Useful for cough treatment young sheep fat. It is used to rub, add to warm milk with honey and drink before bed. Good medicinal properties exhibits the following composition: 4 aloe leaves, 250 g honey and 200 g lamb fat. This remedy is taken in the amount of a tablespoon before meals three times a day.

Treatment badger fat for dry cough begins with rubbing before bed at night in the back, chest and feet. In parallel, the substance is taken 20 ml orally for 2 weeks, three times a day on an empty stomach. After stabilization of the condition, a double dose is recommended.

Bear fat- very rare and especially valuable product. For internal reception one teaspoon is diluted in a glass of warm milk. Drink the product in small sips before meals. At night, rub the back and chest with fat, avoiding the heart area, and tie it with a warm scarf.

How to treat with folk remedies

For those who are interested in what to treat folk remedies lingering dry cough, Alternative medicine offers a lot of effective options.

Inhalations with essential oils

At home, you can undergo a useful healing procedure, for which you will need essential oil pine or eucalyptus. Two drops of the product are poured into a small container of water. Then the vessel is placed over a candle, or placed on the stove over low heat. When the water starts to heat up, you need to inhale the steam emanating from it. This inhalation helps effective disposal from a dry painful cough.

Treatment with vodka

The recipe with warm vodka, red pepper and honey is widely known. IN a small amount of add a teaspoon of honey and add a small pod of red pepper. The product is drunk before bedtime in order to sweat thoroughly.

Radish with honey

The top of a large black radish is cut off and the contents are taken out by 1/3. Add a small amount of honey to the resulting cavity and wait for the juice to form (about 3 hours). The medicinal liquid is drunk, after which the radish is again filled with honey.

Carrots and milk

Fresh carrot juice mixed with warm milk in equal proportions. The mixture is taken when attacks of dry cough occur, up to 6 times daily.

A condition where a dry cough in an adult does not go away without fever for a long time requires the most careful approach to treatment. You can read reviews on this topic or write your opinion on the forum about treatment with folk remedies.