Common Ailments

CHESTY COUGH

Coughs tend to fall into one of two categories, either 'dry' or 'chesty'. In chesty coughs a patient will expel phlegm and mucus when coughing.

Coughing is simply a reflexive way in which we keep our throat and airways clear.

Therefore a cough normally indicates the presence of something in the respiratory passages that should not be there.

In the case of chesty coughs, it is normally mucus or phlegm on the chest that is coughed up through the lifetime of the symptoms.

CHESTY COUGH

Most coughs are described as acute, meaning that they appear suddenly and normally do not last longer than 2-3 weeks.

They are often due to a cold, flu or sinus infection that in turn causes a build-up of phlegm or mucus on the chest. Smoking cigarettes, allergies & asthma are also common causes of coughs.

In some cases a cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition. These could include:-

•  Lung infections like pneumonia or acute bronchitis (may start suddenly but then linger on)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)
• Sinusitis 

Do not panic though, for most people a chesty cough will pass quickly and can be treated by a number of products available at your Numark Pharmacy.

There are a number of remedies available for the different types of cough that most commonly affect people. Many of the remedies available for chesty coughs contain an expectorant.

Expectorants work by thinning out the mucus in the sinuses and the throat. They also stimulate coughing by increasing the level of secretions occurring in the airways.

The more you cough the more air you expel hence more of the phlegm and mucus is expelled which causes the symptom.

A common ingredient in these types of cough remedy is guaifenesin.

Some cough remedies also contain substances known as sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine.

These relax the airways and have decongestant effects, and are useful if you have a blocked nose as well as a cough.

In some cases, the ingredients in cough remedies can interact with prescription medicines so you should always mention any medicine you are taking to your Pharmacist when purchasing a remedy. You should also never use a cough remedy for longer than two weeks.

For further advice about chesty coughs consult your Numark Pharmacist.