Sneezing and coughing help us expel irritants, allergens, or pathogens from the respiratory system. Coughs release thousands of droplets that can travel over 20 feet, enabling the virus and illness to spread. We can prevent the spread by covering the mouth and the nose with a tissue or elbow and frequent handwashing. To calm a cough, stay hydrated, use lozenges or honey, and use a steam inhaler or humidifier to moisten the air. Drink warm liquids (water, tea, soup) to keep the throat moist. Use nasal drops for a blocked nose, salt water gargle for a sore throat, and avoid irritants like dust by using a mask. Over-the-counter drugs include antihistamines for allergies, decongestants, and pain relievers for cold symptoms, and cough suppressants or expectorants. Most colds and coughs resolve within 3 weeks. Consult a doctor if coughing or sneezing lasts longer than 10 days, causes severe fatigue, or interferes with daily life. Antibiotics should be used only for bacterial infections. Wear a mask to prevent infections and block allergens, dust, and other irritants, and help reduce the spread of respiratory infections in the community.
sneeZe A few times a day is considered normal. •Allergen (pollen, mould, pet dander, dust mites) and irritants (pepper, strong odours, dust, smoke, air pollutants, dry air, sudden cold air) related sneezes often occur in quick succession, are chronic or seasonal in the morning, accompanied by an itchy or runny nose, thin, clear mucus, itchy or watery eyes, and nasal congestion. •Illness-related sneezes associated with cold or flu are accompanied by mucus, congestion, or fever. Colds typically last 1–2 weeks, accompanied by thick mucus, sore throat, fever, and fatigue. •Psychogenic sneezing is stimulated by stress or strong emotions like fear, anxiety, or frustration. •Safe sneezing involves covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your inner elbow to prevent spreading cold/flu viruses. •Avoid allergens like pollen and irritants by using masks outdoors and air purifiers indoors. Use nasal sprays, saline washes, a humidifier, and antihistamines for allergies. If a sneeze is starting, try pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth or pinching your nose to stall the sneeze reflex through stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, but it is dangerous to hold a sneeze by blocking your nose and mouth. •Seek medical advice if constant, uncontrollable sneezing is accompanied by symptoms like fever, fatigue, or severe congestion.
CoUghs A cough is a protective reflex that clears the airways of mucus, irritants, or foreign particles. Acute coughs last under 3 weeks, subacute coughs last 3 to 8 weeks, and chronic coughs exceed 8 weeks. Cough may be wet/productive (due to infection- colds, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, or whooping cough), dry (caused by allergies or irritants-smoke, dust, etc.), barking (often associated with croup, a common childhood viral upper airway infection), or paroxysmal (primarily associated with whooping cough-pertussis infection).
CoUgh Types and CaUses Can Be many •An acute cough is commonly caused by viral infections like the common cold, influenza, or acute bronchitis. •A foreign body can be suspected as the cause of cough if the cough started suddenly when eating or grasping a small object between the teeth. •A subacute cough often lingers after a viral infection (post-infectious /post-viral) or is caused by postnasal drip (mucus from the nose or sinuses dripping down the throat, often due to allergies), asthma (often triggered by colds or allergies), or acid reflux (acid from the stomach irritating the throat). •A nagging or chronic cough is often caused by postnasal drip, asthma, GERD (acid reflux), chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, or ACE inhibitors (used for blood pressure). Cough may also be caused by conditions affecting the lung, such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases, sarcoidosis, lung tumours, or mediastinal (chest partition) masses. Wax or diseases of the external ear can cause a cough by nerve irritation. Rarely, a cough may be due to a pulmonary infarction or an aortic aneurysm (swelling). •A habit cough (coughing tic) responds to behavioural or psychiatric therapy. Absence of cough during sleep is common, but not diagnostic. •Nocturnal cough is related to the supine (lying flat) position and is associated with recurrent aspiration (of saliva, water, and food), post-nasal drip, GERD, and heart failure (with fluid accumulation in the lungs). •Neurogenic cough is attributed to a sensory nerve disorder.
CoUgh managemenT chest pain, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or persistent or high fever. Common Cold and flU depends on Type, CaUse, and severiTy •Stay hydrated and use a humidifier or take a steamy shower to thin and loosen the mucus, use honey, lozenges, or saltwater gargle to soothe a sore throat, avoid triggers like smoking and smoke, and use a mask to block irritants and allergens. •Productive (wet) coughs that bring up mucus should be coughed out to clear phlegm or mucus from the airways and lungs. Use a vaporizer or steam inhaler with an inhalant capsule (contains camphor, thymol, eucalyptus oil, etc.), hydration, and OTC mucolytics and expectorants for wet coughs. Non-productive (dry, hacking) coughs that keep you awake or cause throat irritation can be suppressed to ease irritation by sucking on cough drops or honey, gargling with salt water, and with cough suppressants. •Seek medical attention if the cough lasts longer than 3 weeks, or is accompanied by coughing up blood or thick yellow-green mucus, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, wheezing, Common colds and influenza (flu) are viral respiratory infections with different, yet overlapping symptoms. Colds are caused by over 200 different viruses, mostly rhinoviruses, and are mild, developing gradually with a runny nose and sore throat, whereas the flu is caused by influenza A and B viruses, and comes on abruptly with high fever, severe body aches, and exhaustion. Both are spread through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Both are treated with rest and fluids, and over-the-counter medication, but the flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia. Antibiotics do not work on either. The best protection is a yearly flu vaccine. Good hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with sick people help prevent both. Consult a doctor for a fever over 38.8 °C or 102°F, lasting 3-4 days, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or symptoms lasting longer than 10 days.
sore ThroaT A sore throat (pharyngitis) is pain or irritation typically caused by viral infections, though it can also stem from bacteria (strep throat), allergies, dry air, air pollutants and irritants, smoke, prolonged shouting, talking, or singing. Treatments include OTC pain relievers, lozenges, and saltwater gargles. Most cases resolve in 5–7 days. Only bacterial infections like strep throat require antibiotics. Mix a teaspoon of salt in half a glass of warm water and gargle to reduce swelling and irritation. Drink plenty of fluids (warm tea with honey, broth, or soup). Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air. Rest your voice and body. Seek medical attention if symptoms last longer than a week, or if there is high fever, rash, severe pain, or difficulty breathing, swallowing, or drooling.
BloCked nose For a blocked nose, try self-massage with light pressure under the cheekbones to help open nasal passages. Blockage of the eustachian tube (connects the middle ear to the throat) can cause muffled hearing, ear pressure, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, pain, or popping. Long-term blockage can lead to chronic middle ear infections. Use saline or nasal decongestant spray, stay hydrated, take symptomatic treatment for fever or body aches, and seek medical attention for chest congestion, hacking cough, high fever, chills, or extreme fatigue.
BreaThlessness Causes of breathlessness (dyspnoea), chest tightness or rapid breathing, wheezing, fatigue, or decreased exercise tolerance may be: •Lung problems like asthma (chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD is a progressive disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, usually caused by smoking, which limits airflow), pneumonia, pleural effusion (excess fluid buildup around the lungs), pulmonary embolism (blood clot affecting the lungs), Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD is scarring and stiffness of lung tissue), occupational lung diseases (asbestosis or silicosis caused by breathing in harmful substances at work), and lung cancer. •Heart Problems like heart attack, heart failure (especially if accompanied by swelling in the legs or difficulty breathing while lying down). •Lifestyle issues like smoking, poor physical conditioning (stamina), and obesity. •Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It is caused by narrowing of the airway by fat deposits in obesity, large tonsils, a narrow throat, aging, and lifestyle factors. •Anaemia or severe allergies. •Psychological issues like anxiety and panic attacks.
managemenT of BreaThlessness depends on The severiTy •Sudden, severe, or worsening breathlessness, pain when breathing, or when accompanied by chest pain, fainting, or nausea needs emergency medical attention. •For chronic, unexplained breathlessness or if symptoms are worsening, consult your doctor. •For mild breathlessness or feeling suffocated, using a handheld fan, sitting in an upright, supported position, or practicing relaxation techniques may help. Stop smoking or exposure to lung irritants. Airborne infections, allergens, and irritants are best avoided by the use of a mask.
Dr. P.S. Venkatesh Rao is a Consultant Surgeon, Former Faculty CMC (Vellore), AIIMS (New Delhi), and a polymath in Bengaluru, drpsvrao.com
