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Smoker’s cough can be a symptom of a serious illness and should not be taken lightly. Smoking cigarettes has consequences for years – coughing can last a long time after quitting. How to fight smoker’s cough?
How does a smoker’s cough arise?
The cause of smoker’s cough is, of course, cigarette smoking. It has not been specified how long and how much a day it is necessary to smoke cigarettes in order to develop a smoker’s cough. It is an individual dependence of the organism.
The ailment arises from irritation of the ciliary epithelium in the respiratory tract. It is responsible for protecting the lungs from air pollution. It performs its functions during our inhalation.
However, the effect of prolonged smoking is a disruption of the protective functions of the epithelium. Smokers have to cough up the excess. Initially, it takes the form of a white discharge, gradually becoming green-yellow. There are cases when blood appears in the discharge. This is a serious warning for the smoker. A medical consultation is necessary here.
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Smoker’s cough – how to recognize?
In addition to coughing, the following may appear:
- hoarseness,
- fainting
- worsening cough in the morning or when you wake up
- shortness of breath
- chest and back pain.
Smoker’s cough – diagnosis
In order to clearly identify a smoker’s cough, the doctor orders tests, such as:
- allergy tests,
- spirometry,
- Chest X-ray,
- optional chest CT scan (computed tomography) and bronchofiberoscopy are also recommended.
Smoker’s cough – treatment
The first recommended step is to quit smoking. In addition, medications are used to alleviate the cough. In people with dry cough, drugs are used that inhibit the cough reflex. In patients with wet cough – preparations facilitating expectoration. Herbs can also help to relieve cough, including: hoof herb, marshmallow root, anise fruit, thyme, coltsfoot flower, lavender extract.
A cough that is similar to a smoker’s cough may be a symptom of other conditions, such as:
- lung cancer,
- asthma,
- emphysema,
- bronchitis,
- tuberculosis.
Appropriate treatment is initiated after the diagnostic tests are performed and any of the aforementioned diseases is identified.
Home remedies to relieve smoker’s cough
There are natural, home remedies to treat or alleviate the symptoms of smoker’s cough:
- inhalations with essential oils (e.g. thyme, menthol, pine), saline,
- drinking horsetail tea,
- onion, ginger and turmeric syrup.
Smoker’s cough after quitting
The body starts the cleansing process as early as 20 minutes after lighting the last cigarette. Unfortunately, when the next one lights up, the process will have to start all over again, which is a lengthy process. Coughing is one form of cleansing the body of toxins. Its duration depends on the body’s needs. The longer the smoker is – the longer it takes for the body to regenerate.
Researchers calculate that about nine weeks after the lung has been dropped, they start working normally. Their efficiency increases gradually after a month, on average it is approx. 10%. for 10 years of non-smoking. How much addiction residues may persist has not yet been established. Some ex-smokers report coughing for up to a year after quitting. The best way to reduce a smoker’s cough is not to start smoking.