The body responds to inflammation or irritation in the lungs, bronchi, larynx and throat through coughing. A cough could either be dry or congested. Congested or chesty cough occurs when there is phlegm or mucus in the respiratory system. Dry cough is raspy and is usually treated with cough suppressants. Dry cough often results due to smoking, asthma, pollution and dust. Congested cough is associated with flu, cold or sinus infections. It may also be accompanied by a sore throat or stuffiness of the nose. When there is mucus in the lungs or airways, the respiratory process is hampered. The body responds through coughing in an attempt to clear the mucus from the respiratory tract. A congested cough must not be suppressed as the phlegm needs to be eliminated from the body. In some cases, coughing is not enough to get rid of the phlegm and expectorants may have to be used to loosen it.
In some cases acid reflux and phlegm may occur together. In gastroesophageal reflux disease, there may be a nagging and persisting cough along with other symptoms such as burning sensation in the chest. Acid reflux occurs when there is weakening of the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The tube becomes unable to handle the acidic juices of the stomach. The irritation caused in the esophagus often leads to chronic coughing. Some of the signs and symptoms of acid reflux cough are soreness of the throat, persistent cough that does not improve with medication, changes in voice due to laryngitis and wheezing while breathing due to constriction of the airways. The main trigger of acid reflux phlegm and cough is the acidity of the stomach juices. In these cases, regular cough medication does not help much.
Lifestyle changes and home remedies are known to be beneficial in treating acid reflux cough. Excess acidity would result when one eats too fast or too much. Therefore it is advisable to consume smaller meals and to avoid eating too quickly. Smoking and alcohol consumption tends to aggravate the condition and hence must be avoided. You can prepare an effective cough tonic using garlic and honey. Combine minced garlic and honey and refrigerate for 24 hours. Once the mixture has marinated for some time, you may consume a teaspoon of it every morning. Herbal teas such as chamomile tea are also effective in treating a bad cough.
answered by G M