Wet Cough/Productive Cough

         A wet cough is a common symptom of respiratory infection, allergies, and heart conditions. The medical term for a wet cough is productive cough. A wet cough results from the presence of mucus within the upper or lower respiratory tract. It may occur in conditions affecting one or both lungs, the bronchi, the larynx, or the pharynx. It may also be associated with more generalized conditions, such as a cold, hay fever, or the flu.

Causes :-

Common Causes :

• Postnasal drip - Perhaps the most common cause of a constant chronic cough, is postnasal drip due to sinusitis or rhinosinusitis (inflammation of the nasal passages.) This cough is often productive of clear to whitish phegm and accompanied by throat clearing.
• Viral infections - Infections such as the common cold and influenza are a common cause of a non-stop cough. The cough may be accompanied by other cold symptoms such as a runny nose, or symptoms of the flu, such as body aches.
• Bronchitis - Both acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis can cause someone to cough constantly.
• Allergies - Environmental allergies such as a mold allergy, as well as food allergies may cause a cough.
• Bronchospasm - Constriction of the airways (bronchospasm) due to an allergic reaction or asthma can cause a cough. The cough is often accompanied by wheezing with expiration (breathing out.) If there is also swelling in the neck or tongue or shortness of breath, this can be a medical emergency (anaphylactic shock.)
• Asthma - Asthma may be a cause of a steady cough. It is often accompanied by wheezing and chest tightness, but in some people a cough is the only symptom.
• Acid reflux - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can result in constant coughing due to the back up of acid from the stomach. A very common cause of coughing, GERD often causes episodes of coughing at night after lying down, and often results in hoarseness the following morning.
• Smoking - A smoker's cough can be non-stop at times. It is usually worst in the morning, and is often productive of phlegm.
• Medications - ACE inhibitors, medications that are used to treat high blood pressure heart failure, may cause someone to cough night and day. Examples of ACE inhibitors include Vasotec (enalapril), Capoten (captopril), Prinivil or Zestril (lisinopril), Lotensin (benazepril), and Altace (ramipril).
• Exposure to irritants - Exposure to secondhand smoke, wood smoke, cooking fumes, dust, and toxic chemicals can cause someone to cough repeatedly.
• Croup - In children, croup can cause a ceaseless barking cough.
• Pneumonia - Both viral and bacteria pneumonia can cause a cough, often accompanied by a fever.
• COPD - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of a continuous cough, often accompanied by shortness of breath.
• Whooping cough - With whooping cough (pertussis) periods of unrelenting coughing are often broken up by a deep breath - the whoop of whooping cough.

Less Common, But Important Causes Include:

• Lung cancer - Lung cancer is a less likely cause of a constant cough, but is important to keep in mind. Lung cancer is most treatable in the early stages.
• Aspiration of a foreign body - Choking on materials such as meat, pills, coins, grapes, or other objects can cause a relentless cough as your body tries to remove the foreign material. A cough related to aspiration usually has a sudden onset.
• Tuberculosis - While tuberculosis is fairly uncommon in the United States, it does occur, especially among immigrants and people who have spent prolonged periods of time abroad. In addition to a cough, people may also experience weight loss and night sweats among other symptoms.
• Bronchiectasis - Bronchiectasis, a condition in which recurrent infections and inflammation cause widening of the airways, can produce a continuous cough that is often worse with lying down.
• Blood clots in the lung - Blood clots in the legs (deep venous thrombosis (dvt)) may break off and travel to the lungs (pulmonary emboli) resulting in an irritating cough and often shortness of breath. Symptoms of blood clots in the legs including redness and swelling may also be present.
• Congestive heart failure - Heart failure can cause an unrelenting cough. This cough may produce pink foamy phlegm and usually worsens with lying down.
• Collapsed lung - A pneumothorax (collapsed lung) can cause a perpetual cough that often begins suddenly.
• Other lung diseases - Diseases such as sarcoidosis and other lung diseases often cause coughing.

Symptoms :-

         A wet cough may accompany some symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the respiratory tract may also involve some body systems.

Respiratory symptoms that may occur along with a wet cough

     A wet cough may accompany other symptoms that affect the respiratory system including:

• Absence of breathing (apnea)
• Chest pain or pressure
• Cough that gets more severe over time
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Coughing up clear, yellow, light brown, or green mucus
• Coughing up pink frothy mucus
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing (whistling sound made with breathing)

Other symptoms that may occur along with a wet cough

      A wet cough may accompany other symptoms that affect other body systems including:

• Fatigue
• Fever and chills
• Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)
• Leg pain and swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise or lethargy
• Night sweats
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
• Unexplained weight loss

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

      In some cases, a wet cough can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

• Bluish coloration of the lips or fingernails
• Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, wheezing, not breathing, or choking.

Home Treatment :-

• Homemade honey cough “syrup”

         There is scientific evidence that honey can be effective in treating coughs and sore throats. You can take it straight, or mix honey with coconut oil and lemon juice for extra benefits. You can also try many a grandmother's old standby before bedtime: a shot of bourbon mixed with honey.

• Thyme tea

         In Germany, thyme is an officially approved treatment for coughs, upper respiratory infections, bronchitis and whooping cough. The herb’s little leaves pack a potent punch of cough-calming compounds that work to relax tracheal and ileal muscles, and reduce inflammation. You can make a thyme tea by steeping two teaspoons of crushed thyme leaves in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain. Adding honey and lemon rounds out the flavor and adds extra soothing power as well.

• A hot shower

         Crank up the hot water, close the windows and turn off the exhaust fan. Steam can be a cough’s worst enemy, and thus, your best friend. Steam works to soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion and phlegm in your throat and lungs. (Although take note, WebMD warns that steam may exacerbate coughs caused by asthma.)

• Black pepper and honey tea

         For a wet cough, you can try a black pepper and honey remedy that is said to work because the pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow and the honey is a natural cough reliever. Use one teaspoon of freshly ground pepper and two tablespoon of honey in a mug, and fill with boiling water. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes, strain and sip.

• A lot of liquids

         Drinking a lot of liquids, whether any of the teas listed here or even just an increase in your daily water consumption can be helpful for a cough. Fluids help thin out the mucus in postnasal drip and keeps the membranes moist, which can help to reduce the need to cough.

• Cough drops

         Menthol cough drops work to numb the back of the throat, which can help tame the cough reflex.

• Suck a lemon

         Pucker up and suck a lemon? Indeed, this popular remedy calls for sprinkling a section of lemon with salt and pepper and sucking on it. (If nothing else, you will probably be so distracted by having a mouthful of lemon that you may forget to cough.) And if the idea of sucking on a lemon lacks appeal, you can try a hot-buttered lemonade ... and swap the sugar with honey for good measure.

• Commercial tea blends

         Most health food stores have a wide array of teas to suit your home-remedy needs. The Traditional Medicinals brand offers Gypsy Cold Care Tea, an effective remedy that is made from 92 percent organic pharmacopoeial-grade herbs like elder flower, yarrow flower, peppermint leaf, hyssop herb and other organic herbs and flowers.

• Licorice

         If you think licorice has a medicinal taste … two points for you! Licorice root, the flavor from which licorice candy originated, has long been used to treat coughs. Real licorice — or candy made from it — can help soothe inflamed and irritated throats and help to ease coughing. Slice one ounce of candy licorice (that contains real licorice) and steep it for 24 hours with a quart of boiling water; sip as needed.

• Ginger

         Ginger has a lot of secret powers and it has been used for its medicinal properties since antiquity. Practitioners of Eastern medicine commonly prescribe ginger to treat symptoms of colds and flu because of its antihistamine and decongestant capabilities. You can make ginger tea by adding 12 slices of fresh ginger in a pot with three cups water. Allow it to simmer for 20 minutes and remove from heat. Strain, add 1 tablespoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon, and taste; if it’s too spicy, add more water.

Ayurvedic Treatment :-

Herbs effective in treating respiratory disorders :

         Following are the common Ayurveda herbs that are effective in preventing and healing respiratory disorders and in building immunity

• Vasa – Adathoda vasica
• Thulasi – Ocimum sanctum
• Pippali – Piper longum
• Madhu Yashti – Glycyrrhiza glabra
• Pudina – Mentha Arvensis
• Tagara – Tylophora indica
• Rasna – Alpinia galanga
• Omam – Hyoscyamus niger
• Shunti – Zingiber officinale
• Black pepper – Piper nigrum
• Jatipatri – Myrstica fragrans
• Talisapatra – Abies webbiana
• Katntakari – Solanum xanthocarpum / Indicum

Homeopathic Treatment :-

• Phosphorus (Phos) 
• Rumex crispus (Rumex)
• Bryonia (Bry) 
• Spongia (Spong) 
• Hyoscyamus (Hyos) 
• Sanguinaria (Sang) 
• Antimonium tartaricum (Ant-t) 
• Kali bichromicum (Kali-bi) 
• Sticta pulmonaria (Stict) 
• Lachesis (Lach)
• Antimonium Tartaricum
• Hepar Sulph
• Ipecac
• Pulsatilla
• Kali Carb