Defining And Understanding The Asthma Cough

By Author: Casey Miller
Total Articles: 13
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The asthma cough is an inherent characteristic of the condition, and that at most times precedes an actual asthma attack. With this knowledge one would need to find means to suppress the cough to preempt a potential asthma episode. In most cases these coughs are a result of bronchial spasms and will as a rule be dry i.e. lack phlegm, though some rattling sensations may be felt in the chest cavity.
The asthma cough differs slightly from a conventional one on the basis that it lacks the characteristic wheezing. These coughs become more pronounced when temperatures fall significantly, mostly at night, and a patient will as a result be unable to get consistent sleep. Persistent asthma coughs should be taken as a sign of a developing asthma condition and consequently inform the need for treatment. This is especially if the cough is accompanied by fever and/or sweating, weight loss, painful or swollen lower legs including calves, and shortness of breath.
Though asthma does not have a cure, patients can take solace in the fact that asthma coughs can be treated. This treatment can be achieved via medications and a number ...
... of helpful actions that will gradually tone down the condition's severity.
The first thing to do when experiencing an asthma cough is to keep your calm. Patients tend to become agitated and anxious given that cough bouts can be sustained even for a few minutes at a time. Being apprehensive at such a time will sometimes lead to an actual attack so one is advised to be relaxed. Tone down the asthma cough by breathing deeply and taking a few sips of water.
In the event that the asthma cough starts becoming more pronounced one is advised to ease it via the use of inhaled medications including Atrovent and Albuterol. The former has anticholinergic properties that avail immediate respite while the latter is an agonist that effects a relaxation of the air passage muscles so as to ease breathing. Apart from using these pharmaceutical preparations one can also use herbal remedies as advised by a physician.
The asthma cough can be prevented with the implementation of a few helpful actions. First is the need to drink water on a regular basis to moisten the air passages. There is a need to always breathe in clean air, free of allergens that precipitate asthma coughs. This can easily be done by wearing scarves and face masks over the mouth especially when the air is cold.

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