Coughing is an effort to protect the lungs from physiological stimuli and helps protect the lungs from mechanical, chemical, and temperature trauma. Coughing becomes pathological if it is felt to be a disturbance that inhibits activity. Such a cough is usually a sign of disease in or outside the lungs and is sometimes an early symptom of the disease. Coughing is a common symptom of diseases that interfere with breathing.

In medical terms, a persistent cough that lasts more than 2 months in adults or 1 month in children can be called a chronic cough. Chronic cough itself is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying health disorder or disease.

Chronic cough can interfere with daily activities and make it difficult for sufferers to sleep. Depending on the cause, chronic cough can be accompanied by phlegm and sore throat. In adults, chronic cough is most often caused by smoking and tuberculosis. While in children, this condition is most often caused by asthma. There are also causes of a long cough that doesn't go away, including air pollution, infection, postnasal drip, acid reflux disease (GERD), blood pressure medication, especially the ACE inhibitor group, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis.

Next, to confirm the cause, the doctor will perform several further examinations, namely:

Pulmonary function test, to measure lung capacity
Sputum test, to check for possible bacterial infection
Scanning with chest X-ray and CT scan, to see the condition of the lungs
Endoscopy, to see the condition of the esophagus and stomach
Bronchoscopy, to see the condition of the bronchi
Biopsy, or taking tissue samples from the respiratory tract, to be examined in the laboratory
Blood Test, one of which is the TB Igra Test if indicated for Bacterial Infection and can also do a Specific Allergy test for those with a History of Allergies

In addition to taking medication as recommended by a doctor, PRAMITA friends can take the following independent treatment measures:

Increase fluid intake, especially warm water to help soothe the throat and prevent dehydration, so that the throat is not too itchy and helps make mucus thinner.

Limit food intake that can make coughs worse. If necessary, avoid consuming them. For example, oily foods, high in fat, spicy foods, and sour foods that can make the throat feel itchy and uncomfortable. Do not smoke and avoid exposure to cigarette smoke as much as possible. Both can make coughs worse.
Keep the air in your home humid. PRAMITA friends can use a humidifier, take a warm bath, or use steam from essential oils to help relieve the throat and breathing.
Undergo neti pot therapy or nasal irrigation using a saline solution. This can help remove mucus and clean the nose.
Do a regular Medical Check Up to find out your respiratory health condition.

Author: dr. Melynda Elka Putri (Doctor of Medical Laboratory Services and Pramita Clinic Pekanbaru)