18 January 2024 , 14:50
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As respiratory illnesses make the rounds, there’s nothing worse than a prickly cough that creeps up out of nowhere, especially if you’re at work or in school.
The panic-inducing cough, known as paroxysmal coughing, strikes when the body senses the presence of an irritating substance in the airways, such as mucus or bacteria. It is often accompanied by pain in the chest, difficulty breathing and nasal congestion, explains Buoy Health.
Michael Hanak, MD, an assistant professor of family medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, told Women’s Health: "[A] cough has many causes, ranging from a common viral illness to asthma or seasonal allergies to more significant health problems, such as chronic lung conditions, congestive heart failure, or even cancer."
Persistent coughing can also be caused by environmental triggers, such as dust, mould, and other pollutants, as well as postnasal drip and lung irritation, noted Dr Hanak. It’s common for people to take a big breath after coughing, but the NHS warns that this is "feeding" the symptom.
The health body explains that each breath will further irritate the lungs and throat, which can make the coughing worse. Fortunately, the NHS has shared their top tips to keeping an uncontrollable cough at bay, especially when the warning signs start to emerge.
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How to prevent a coughing fit
Once you feel a tickle on your throat, or as soon as you cough, put your hand over your mouth and swallow once
Then, hold your breath for a few seconds
When you start breathing again, take slow and smooth breaths for at least 30-seconds, while keeping your hand over your mouth
Keep telling yourself that you are not going to cough
The last step includes taking a smooth, normal-sized breath through your nose and take your hand away from your mouth
The health body advises repeating this process until the tickle has subsided. Healthline has outlined various home remedies for coughing fits, these include:
Drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day to stay hydrated
Using a humidifier to keep your airways moist, which can help to loosen mucus and make it easier to cough up
Avoiding heavily scented products such as air fresheners sprays, candles, cologne and perfume
Gargle salt water
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A stubborn cough could be a warning sign of something more serious, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, so it’s important to keep an eye on the symptoms. Healthline recommends visiting a doctor if you are experiencing the following red flags:
If the coughing fits last longer than a week and become increasingly frequent or violent
Coughing up blood
Vomiting
Not being able to breathe or breathing quickly
Lips, tongue, face, or other skin turning blue
Losing consciousness
Fever
Chills