How to Deal with a Persistent Cough?

Persistent coughing often has a significant impact on the patient's body, as long-term coughing can easily lead to congestion and swelling of the bronchial mucosa, resulting in throat pain. Furthermore, severe coughing can potentially be accompanied by hemoptysis symptoms. From the perspective of clinical medicine, persistent coughing is closely related to diseases such as bronchitis and laryngopharyngitis. So, how should we address the issue of persistent coughing that does not resolve? Here are some suggestions:

1. Garlic Application

If a patient has a persistent dry cough, a folk remedy may be effective. Specifically, at night before bedtime, after washing the feet, thin slices of garlic can be applied to the Yongquan acupoint and secured for about half an hour. This method can be effective for treating cough, especially for relieving dry cough.

2. Dietary Adjustment

Patients with persistent dry cough should drink plenty of water and consume light, healthy foods. Foods such as radishes, pearl barley porridge, scallion porridge, and bitter melon porridge can be beneficial. Additionally, drinking sweetened egg soup can also be nourishing. It is important to consult a doctor to determine if the cough is due to wind-heat or wind-cold and to use targeted medication for better results.

3. Exercise

Regular exercise, especially in the morning, can be beneficial for patients with persistent coughing. Running and other forms of exercise can help improve overall health and, combined with medical treatment, can accelerate the recovery process. It is also crucial to prevent recurrent coughing, which can lead to complications such as cor pulmonale, acute airway edema, spasms, and obstruction, potentially resulting in sudden cardiac arrest and death.

4. Medication

Persistent dry coughing is often associated with respiratory system diseases such as chronic pharyngitis, chronic bronchitis, cough variant asthma, tuberculosis, chronic pneumonia, and pneumoconiosis. In such cases, it is recommended to undergo a blood test, respiratory secretion culture and drug sensitivity test, chest CT, lung function test, and bronchodilation test. Based on the results, anti-infective agents and inhaled therapy can be prescribed.