Cough
What is the difference
between a productive and a non-productive cough?
Basically, there are two kinds of cough: productive
and non-productive.
Productive cough
A productive cough, also known as chesty cough, is usually due to a viral or
bacterial infection. This type of cough expels the phlegm which has formed
in our respiratory passages, so that abnormal mucus and germs are eliminated
from the respiratory tract and breathing becomes easier.
Non-productive cough (Dry cough)
A non-productive cough is dry, tickling and irritating. This cough can for
example be caused by phlegm that is so viscous that it is not loosened and
expectorated. It can also have an allergic or neurotic origin or can be
caused by other perhaps more severe diseases.
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Is it possible that
non-productive cough turns to productive cough?
Yes. For instance, in the case of a common cold or
flu, there are often two phases: first a non-productive or less productive
cough that turns more and more into a productive cough.
When viruses invade the lung, the lining of the respiratory tract is
attacked and impaired. The normal secretion of mucus changes: mucus becomes
stickier and adheres in the lungs. It cannot be expelled yet, and coughing
is experienced as very troublesome and exhausting. As the cold progresses,
more mucus is usually produced and the cough becomes productive. It is then
possible to expel the phlegm by coughing.
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Does every cough indicate an
infection?
Often, coughing is only a natural reflex to help expel
foreign bodies or liquid that have come into our airways, for example by
swallowing the wrong way. In this way, coughing helps to clear the bronchi.
However, cough may also be a warning signal from the bronchi, indicating an
infection of our respiratory tract. It often arises with diseases like
common cold, acute or chronic bronchitis and asthma.
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At what point should I see a
doctor about a cough?
You should be especially cautious if your cough lasts
longer than about a week, if you are feverish, if you have lasting chest
pain or difficulty in breathing. You should then consult a doctor and ask
for advice.
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Why is it important to drink
a lot when you have a cough?
Infected mucous membranes tend to become dry. It is
thus highly recommended to drink at least two litres of liquid per day. If
your throat and bronchi stay moist, the phlegm in the bronchi becomes less
viscous. This allows it to be loosened more easily and your body has less
trouble in expelling it. Moreover, a therapy with an expectorant remedy such
as Bisolvon® can be supportive.
It is recommended to treat a cough as early as possible. If treatment is
delayed, the cough can last longer.
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