The Truth About The Asthma Cough

The Asthma Cough

A persistent and chronic cough is one of the most common symptoms of an asthma attack and can even cause a person’s death.

This is what parents worry about when it attacks their children. Parents who know their children have asthma should be prepared to face anything from a mild to a severe asthma attack if the child starts coughing.

Asthma attacks can be mild or severe, sudden or start slow. And every one can be different.

Any of these might be the result of a severe asthma attack:

Breathless and can't breathe
Extreme trouble talking
Neck muscles very tight or look strained
Bluish or grayish lips and fingernails
Sucked in look at the bottom of the chest - most often in children.

Call 911 or your local emergency service provider immediately if these occur.

What Causes This Cough?

According to doctors and researchers, there are a variety of factors.

The cause can be any of a number of irritants or allergens around the house, such as pollen, mold, house dust and certain foods or strong odors or chemicals or air pollutants or even just changing weather conditions.

Facts About The Asthma Cough

Asthma Cough Is Curable

Though we haven't found a cure for asthma yet.

The asthma cough responds to normal asthma medications such as bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. Bronchodilators are very effective medicines to counter this cough, because it helps to loosen up the muscles around the bronchial tubes. Those muscles block the air passage and make it almost impossible for the movement of air.

Relaxing these muscles can soothe the spasms and eventually the asthma cough.

The Cough Is Non-Productive

It doesn't bring up any mucus.

The sound of this cough is as if something is rattling, or there’s a wheeze at the end of it.

If your child is coughing up mucus or spit, chances are that it’s not asthma cough. Generally this type of cough is followed by a cold and lasts for a week or two.

The Cough Responds To Natural Remedies

Black or green tea, which contain theophyline and caffeine are known treatments for asthma.

These work for this cough and have the added advantage that they are natural and most people have them in the house.

Honey can also help by soothing the dry irritated throat.

The Cough Is Caused By Bronchial Spasms

It's been discovered that asthma cough is caused by excessive immune action against irritants or allergens or triggers. A histamine gets produced and swell the airways. Then the muscles around the bronchial passages go into spasm and the passages narrow up to attempt to force the irritant up through them.

This narrowing causes symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.

The Cough May Not Stop If Not Controlled

The cough needs to be controlled. This is especially in children as it may continue until the child is out of breathe and chokes or vomits.

Treating the asthma cough is very important because it can lead to a possible mild or severe asthma attack might be on the way.

Check to see what your health insurance covers regarding doctors and drugs.