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How to choose cough medicine?

To get rid of a cough, you need to understand that different cough medicines treat cough in different ways. There are two types of medicines that relieve cough. The first type of cough medicine in its action contributes to liquefaction of sputum and is called "Mucolytic agents". The second type of cough medicines acts on the mechanism of the cough reflex, which helps to remove sputum from the respiratory system and they are called "Expectorants".

To cure a cough, you need to understand which of the two types of drugs you need to take and in what sequence this should be done.

In the process of inflammation of the respiratory mucosa caused by various factors, for example, an infection of the respiratory tract, a burn of the respiratory tract (hot air, chemical vapors), dust or gas injury of the respiratory tract, allergic particles, the mechanism of secretion of mucous exudate and its excessive secretion is triggered in the body, which is called mucus.

In the respiratory tract, the cough reflex is reflexively triggered, and the body thus tries to get rid of excessively secreted mucus. The cough starts. But in some cases, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract produces such a thick exudate that it is impossible to remove it with one cough reflex, and the cough becomes unbearable. In such cases, mucolytic agents come to the rescue, which, with the help of various enzymes and antimicrobial substances, reduce the viscosity of sputum and neutralize the action of microbes or chemical compounds that have entered the respiratory tract. By their action, mucolytics help to reduce inflammation of the respiratory tract mucosa and, in turn, reduce sputum secretion.

Expectorants continue to fight cough by removing thinned sputum from the respiratory tract. The mechanism of sputum excretion from the bronchi and lungs is based on the excitation of the motor activity of the ciliated epithelium, which is part of the structure of the inner lining of the bronchi. In fact, expectorants cause peristalsis of the bronchioles (form the structure of the bronchi) and the movement of sputum into the oral cavity, where it is excreted from the body together with saliva - it is expectorated.

An interesting fact is that the mechanism of expectoration is directly related to the activation of the gag reflex in the stomach, but with a weaker effect. It is the activation of the gag reflex and a deep breath that make the muscles of the diaphragm move, which “push” the human body to cough. From the frequent urge to cough, caused by the active work of the diaphragm, it begins to seem to a person that the stomach hurts from an intense cough.

Both types of cough medicines have a weak anti-inflammatory effect, which has a beneficial effect on reducing the cough reflex. But cough medicines are not harmless, as they themselves can cause side effects:

dyspeptic disorders,
allergic reactions,
shortness of breath (and even respiratory depression),
edema.

Cough preparations change the rheological properties of sputum, reducing its stickiness, increasing fluidity, and also affect the purulent contents of sputum, which requires a gradual change from one cough remedy to another.

Side effects, the advisability of choosing and using different types of cough medicines require an assessment of the state of health at the time of taking such drugs. For this reason, the choice of cough medicine is carried out on the recommendation of a doctor, and not at one's own discretion.