Coughing Tips

A cough is probably one of the most common respiratory diseases that people suffer from. In most cases, it is nothing to worry about and can be cured with cough suppressants and salt water gargles. However, coughing of blood is a serious problem. The coughing up of blood that originates from below the level of the larynx is known as hemoptysis. This can vary in terms of severity depending on the amount of blood being expelled. This disease is a common condition, but on average, less than 5% of hemoptysis cases are life-threatening.

Hemoptysis rarely affects children. The symptoms of this condition include:
Sudden onset of a cough with bloody phlegm

1. Fever
2. Anorexia and weight loss
3. Dyspnoea
4. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
5. Fatigue

Chest pain: Medical attention should be sought in cases where this condition recurs often, if it lasts for longer than a fortnight or if the volume of blood expectorated is more than 30ml per day. The various tools that help in the diagnosis of this condition are:
Chest radiography: This imaging modality helps lateralize bleeding and understand the amount of lung involvement. It is quick, inexpensive and can also help detect other underlying abnormalities.
Bronchoscopy: This involves the insertions of a rigid or flexible endoscope into the bronchial passages to check the airways and determine active bleeding sites.
MDCT: A multidetector CT is a non-invasive imaging tool that provides a comprehensive evaluation of airways, lung parenchyma, and thoracic vessels. It can also be used to uncover potential causes of bleeding such as bronchiectasis, pulmonary infections and lung cancer. In some cases, a multidetector CT angiography may also be used.

Oral antibiotics are usually the first stage of treatment for this condition. Smokers will also be urged to quit cigarettes as this can worsen their condition. Treatment for minor hemoptysis may also include:

1. Oral hemostatics
2. Cough suppressants
3. Anticoagulants
4. Radiation of laser treatment
5. Therapeutic bronchoscopy

In its later stages, hemoptysis can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure known as endovascular embolization or with surgery. In some cases, endovascular embolization may also be sued to stabilise the patient before surgery. This procedure reduces the pressure in the hypertrophic arterial blood vessels and decreases the risk of perioperative bleeding.

Hemoptysis is also one of the most common complaints of lung cancer patients. Depending on the stage of cancer and the amount of blood expectorated, treatment in some cases may not be possible. In such cases, a parenteral opioid and fast-acting benzodiazepine may be administered.

चीन के शहर में फैले कोरोनोवायरस (coronavirus) आज दुनिया के आधे हिस्से में फैल गया है, जो लगभग आधी आबादी को संक्रमित करता है। यह घातक वायरस तेजी से फैल रहा है और सिवियर एक्यूट रेस्पिरेटरी सिंड्रोम (एसएआरएस) और मध्य पूर्वी श्वसन सिंड्रोम (एमईआरएस) पैदा कर रहा है।

यहां तक ​​कि वायरस गंभीर परिस्थितियों में ऑर्गन फेलियर का कारण बन रहा है जिससे मृत्यु हो रही है और उपचार उपलब्ध नहीं है। ऐसे में इसका एक ही इलाज है सावधानी बरतना। इस लेख में, हम कोरोनोवायरस के बारे में चर्चा करेंगे कि यह कैसे फैलता है, कोरोनोवायरस के लक्षण और कारण क्या है और इसे कैसे रोका जा सकता है।

कोरोनावायरस क्या है?

आइए, सबसे पहले जानते हैं कोरोना वायरस क्या है । यह सबके दिमाग में आता होगा कि कहां से आया नया कोरोना वायरस। यह नोवेल कोरोना वायरस के रूप में भी जाना जाता है, जो वायरस के समूह से आता है जिसे कोरोना वायरस के रूप में जाना जाता है, वर्ष 1960 के दशक में इसे पहचाना गया था।

इस वायरस का नाम इसके आकार से मिला जो एक मुकुट की तरह होता है। यह जानवरों और मनुष्यों दोनों में फैल सकता है जो मनुष्यों में सांस की बीमारिययां, गायों और सूअरों में डायरिया और मुर्गियों में ऊपरी श्वसन रोग जैसी स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का कारण बन सकता है। इसमें संक्रमित व्यक्ति या उनके द्वारा छुई गई चीजों को छूने से लोग संक्रमित हो सकते हैं।

कोरोना वायरस कैसे फैलता है?

कोरोना वायरस एक घातक वायरस है और यह संक्रमित व्यक्ति को छूने या संक्रमित व्यक्ति द्वारा उपयोग की जा रही चीजों को छूने से फैल सकता है। यह छींकने या खांसने के कारण भी हो सकता है। यदि कोई उस जीव को खाता हैं जो कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित है तो भी लोग इस वायरस से संक्रमित हो सकते हैं।

कोरोना वायरस लक्षण क्या हैं?

कोरोना वायरस के लक्षण निम्नलिखित है जिनके माध्यम से आप कोरोनावायरस की पहचान कर सकते हैं:

1. खांसी, बहती नाक और गले में खराश
2. इंक्यूबेशन की अज्ञात अवधि
3. उच्च बुखार
4. ठीक से साँस न ले पाना या साँस लेने में कठिनाई होना
5. किडनी और लीवर खराब फंक्शन करना
6. किडनी फेल्योर
7. गंभीर और लाइलाज खांसी और कफ
8. निमोनिया
9. ब्रोंकाइटिस
10. ऊपरी श्वसन संक्रमण

कोरोना वायरस का निदान कैसे किया जाता है?

यदि आपको कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित होने का संदेह है तो आपको अपने डॉक्टर को जल्द से जल्द दिखाना चाहिए। डॉक्टर कुछ लेबोरेटरी टेस्ट करते हैं और आगे के टेस्ट के लिए आपके सैम्पल को लेते हैं ताकि यह सुनिश्चित किया जा सके कि आप कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित हैं या नहीं।

यदि कोई व्यक्ति एमईआरएस से पीड़ित है जो मध्य पूर्वी श्वसन सिंड्रोम होते हैं तो ज्यादातर, लेबोरेटरी टेस्ट किया जाता है। आपको अपने डॉक्टर को उन सभी लक्षणों के बारे में बताना चाहिए जिनका आप सामना कर रहे हैं, साथ ही आपकी हाल की यात्राओं और जानवरों या पालतू जानवरों के साथ किसी भी संपर्क के बारे में भी बताना चाहिए।

कोरोना वायरस का इलाज कैसे किया जाता है?

कोरोना वायरस ने तीसरी बार दुनिया की आबादी को प्रभावित किया है लेकिन अभी तक इस बीमारी का कोई खास इलाज नहीं मिला है। वैज्ञानिक अपने प्रयोगों से तेजी से फैल रहे इस वायरस को कंट्रोल करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं लेकिन अभी भी कोई निष्कर्ष नहीं निकला है। डॉक्टरों के अनुसार, यदि बीमारी घातक चरण तक नहीं गई है, जिससे मृत्यु होती है तो कोरोन वायरस के मरीज अपने आप ठीक हो जाते हैं।

यदि आप कोरोना वायरस के लक्षण से पीड़ित हैं तो इसका सबसे अच्छा उपचार दर्द और बुखार की दवाएँ लेना है या आप ह्यूमिडिफायर का भी उपयोग कर सकते हैं जो खांसी, गले में खराश और सर्दी से राहत प्रदान करता है। बहुत सारा पानी या तरल पीने से भी बीमारी के समय मदद मिल सकती है।

कोरोना वायरस के रोकथाम के उपाय

कोरोना वायरस तेजी से फैल रहा है और इसका कोई इलाज नहीं होने से यह लोगों को बुरी तरह प्रभावित कर रहा है। कोरोना वायरस का अब तक कोई टीका उपलब्ध नहीं है और चीजें खराब हो रही हैं। कोरोनावायरस के हमले को रोकने का पहला तरीका ठंड से दूर रहना है। कोरोना वायरस के रोकथाम के उपाय में निम्नलिखित चीजें शामिल हैं:

• अपने हाथों को नियमित रूप से साबुन और गर्म पानी से धोना चाहिए
• अल्कोहल आधारित सैनिटाइजर लगाना
• अपनी उंगलियों को अपनी आंखों, नाक या मुंह के पास न लें क्योंकि ये सबसे संवेदनशील क्षेत्र होते हैं
• संक्रमित लोगों के संपर्क में न आएं

भारत में कोरोना वायरस के निशान:

भारत के विभिन्न हिस्सों से कुछ ऐसे मामले सामने आए हैं, जहां लोगों में कोरोना वायरस के लक्षण देखने को मिल रहें है, जैसे कि कोरोना वायरस के कारण होने वाली बीमारीयां लेकिन अब तक उनमें से कोई भी सकारात्मक नहीं पाया गया है। टेस्ट के बाद सभी रिपोर्ट नकारात्मक पाई गई हैं। लेकिन संदिग्ध रोगियों को निगरानी में रखा गया है और उनकी देखभाल ठीक से की जा रही है। भारत में कोरोना वायरस के निशान को अभी तक सकारात्मक रूप से नहीं पाया गया हैं।

समरी

चीन के वुहान शहर से बाहर निकलते कोरोना वायरस कई लोगों की मौत का कारण बन गया है। कोई विशिष्ट उपचार या वैक्सीन नहीं होने से कोरोना वायरस के कारण होने वाला रोग घातक हो गये हैं और यह जानवरों और मनुष्यों दोनों को प्रभावित कर रहे हैं। वायरस का कोई सटीक ऊष्मायन समय नहीं है और आम तौर पर यह पहली बार सर्दी(कॉल्ड) की तरह लगता है लेकिन यह श्वसन पथ को गंभीर नुकसान पहुंचा सकता है।

हालांकि कोई इलाज नहीं है फिर भी इसकी रोकथाम की जा सकती है ताकि आप वायरस से संक्रमित न हों। यदि आप संक्रमित हैं तो आपको भी सतर्क रहना चाहिए और आराम करना चाहिए और उन लोगों के पास नहीं जाना चाहिए जो वायरस से प्रभावित नहीं हैं। कोरोना वायरस एक नया वायरस है इसलिए हमें इससे संक्रमित नहीं होने के बारे में अधिक सावधान रहने की आवश्यकता है और जैसे ही आप कोई भी लक्षण देखते हैं, अपने डॉक्टर से परामर्श करें।

Outbroken in the city of China, Coronavirus has spread in half of the world today, infecting almost half the population. The deadly virus is spreading rapidly and is causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The virus is even causing organ failure in severe conditions leading to death and with no treatments available. The only thing we can do is take precautions. In this article, we will be discussing Coronavirus, how it spreads, symptoms, causes and how it can be prevented.

What is Coronavirus?

Also known as Novel Coronavirus, which comes from the family of viruses known as Coronavirus was identified in the year 1960s. The virus got the name from its shape which is like a crown. It can spread in both animals and humans causing disastrous health problems like respiratory diseases in humans, diarrhea in cows and pigs and upper respiratory disease in chickens. People can get infected by touching the infected person or the things they have touched.

How Coronavirus Spreads?

Coronavirus is a lethal virus and can spread just by touching the infected person or by touching the things which are being used by the infected person. It can also be caused by sneezing or coughing. People can also get infected by this virus if they eat the animal who is infected by Coronavirus.

What are Coronavirus Symptoms?

These are the symptoms through which you can identify Coronavirus:

1. Cough, runny nose, and sore throat
2. An unknown period of incubation
3. High fever
4. Unable to breathe properly or difficulty in breathing
5. Impaired functioning of kidney and liver
6. Failure of kidney
7. Severe and incurable cough and cough
8. Pneumonia
9. Bronchitis
10. Upper respiratory infection

How To Diagnosis Coronavirus?

If you suspect of having infected by Coronavirus then you should visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible. The healthcare provider will carry out some laboratory tests and will take your specimen for further tests in order to make sure that if you are infected by Coronavirus or not.

Mostly, the laboratory test is done if a person is suffering from MERS that is Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome. You should tell your healthcare provider about the symptoms you are facing, about your recent trips, and any contact with animals or pets.

How Is Coronavirus Treated?

Coronavirus has hit the world’s population for the third time but there is still no specific treatment for the disease. The scientists are trying to handle the rapidly spreading virus with their experiments but there is still no conclusion. According to the doctors, the patients of Coronavirus get well on their own if the disease has not gone up to a fatal stage, which leads to death.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of Coronavirus then the best treatment you can do is taking the medications for pain and fever or you can also use a humidifier that gives relief from cough, sore throat, and cold. Drinking plenty of water or liquid can also help at the time of disease.

How To Prevent Yourself From Coronavirus Outbreak?

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly and with no cure, it is affecting people badly. Till now there is no vaccine available and the things are getting worse. The first way of preventing a Coronavirus attack is staying away from cold. These are the things you can do, which include:

• Washing your hands regularly with soap and warm water
• Applying alcohol-based sanitizer
• Do not take your fingers near your eyes, nose or mouth as these are the most sensitive areas
• Do not come in contact with the people who are infected

Traces of Coronavirus in India:

Few cases have been reported from different parts of India where people are facing symptoms as same as the disease caused by Coronavirus but till now none of them has been found positive. All the reports have been found negative after the test. But the suspected patients have been kept under observation and are properly taken care of.

Synopsis

Coming out of Wuhan city of China, Coronavirus has become a cause of death for many people. With no specific treatment or vaccine, the disease caused by Coronavirus has become fatal and affects both animals and humans. There is no exact incubation time of the virus and generally looks like a basic cold at first but it can cause severe damage to the respiratory tract.

Though there is no treatment still preventions can be taken so that you do not get infected by the virus. If you are infected then also you should be cautious and should take rest and do not go near to the people who are not affected by the virus. The Coronavirus is a new virus, therefore, we need to be more careful about not being infected by it and go to your healthcare professional as soon as you see any of the symptoms.

A cough is not necessarily to be worried about always. It is the natural response of our body to throw out harmful particles which somehow managed to enter our respiratory tract. There is sticky mucus situated in the pathway to lungs which plays a major role in trapping harmful particles. Coughing once or twice is generally a natural phenomenon but if it’s persistent it is called the chronic cough, and there is a reason to worry.

Is your cough chronic?
An acute cough aggravates within a very short span of time, maybe 2-3 days. There are situations when coughing doesn’t hinder your day to day activities and are easily neglected. Sometimes these infrequent bouts of a cough can persist for long and continue for more than 2 months, which has been characterized as a chronic cough.

A chronic cough is sometimes found associated with blocked or running nose. Persons suffering from a chronic cough feel very exhaustive and suffer from a headache, dizziness along with excessive sweating. Under such situations, you must consult a pulmonologist.

Know the causes of a chronic cough-
There are several causes for persistent coughing, and the following are the common causes of a chronic cough and medication is taken in consultation with a trained medical practitioner only.

1. Infections: Bacterial or viral infection in the lungs can be one of the causes of a chronic cough. Tuberculosis is one of them which initiates as a chronic cough and is later characterized by emitting blood after cough bouts.
2. Drug Interactions: Antihypertensive drugs have been found to be responsible for chronic cough in some people. Hypersensitivity to the prescribed drugs is found to responsible for the cough bouts, and change in medication takes care of the issue.
3. Asthma: It’s a situation characterized by blockages in the bronchi which disallows the normal air flow during inhalation and exhalation. Due to inadequate oxygen, the brain assumes that there is a blockage which needs to be expelled and coughing pattern starts. However, asthma has to be treated, and the bronchi have to be brought back to normal with the help of medication by an expert medical practitioner.
4. COPD: The most common cause of a chronic cough nowadays is COPD, better known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This is one of the progressive diseases which means it deteriorates with time. Active smokers are the biggest victims of it. Persons exposed to high degree of pollution or similar occupational hazards are also at high risk. Exposure to these pollutants causes inflammatory responses in lungs resulting in the tapering of the airways and destruction of lung tissues. These can be measured by lung function tests. In asthma, the narrow airways can be broadened by external medication, but in the case of COPD, it’s not possible.

To conclude, chronic cough is a preventable disease by reducing the exposure to risk factors as mentioned above. Quitting smoking, improving the indoor air quality with the use of solar cooking and moving on battery run vehicles can prevent COPD from further worsening. You can also undergo pulmonary rehabilitation program which is being counseled and coordinated by many physicians to benefit the individual suffering from the issue.

Children who suffer from recurring cold and cough usually develop other respiratory infections that can result in fever, dry cough and difficulty in breathing. It can lead to conditions like infantile bronchitis, tonsillitis, adenoids, etc.

Causes-
With more than over 200 different viruses which can cause cold in children, it can be a difficult condition to treat and prevent from recurring. As the immune system in children is comparatively weaker or underdeveloped, changes in weather can make them susceptible to cold and cough.

Symptoms-
A cold usually begins with a sore throat followed by a runny nose and cough. The sore throat is a result of built-up mucus which will then run down to the throat from the nose. As the cold gets worse, the child will start feeling tired, start coughing and experiencing soreness in his throat and muscle pain. It might also cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

The repeated recurrence of cold and cough makes many children dependent on prescription medications, which is detrimental to their health in the long run. Homeopathy is a much more natural alternative that remedies the infections causing the cold and cough and prevents them from recurring.

Boost Immunity With Medication Of Homeopathy!

Homeopathic Treatments-

1. Homeopathy uses different herbaceous plant extracts to cure colds and coughs that a child might develop after being exposed to cold weather. If the cold causes dryness of mouth and hoarseness, then these extracts will help remedy that.
2. The essential oils derived from certain root vegetables help remedy nasal discharge and violent sneezing. This also helps relieve congestive headaches that occur in the frontal area of the head due to a cold.
3. Certain chemicals are used in diluted concentrations to treat the redness and puffiness of eyes and the frequent sneezing caused by cold. It also helps relieve any fatigue and muscle pain that might be caused by a cold.
4. Plant extracts are also used to treat heavy and constricted breathing that might be caused by a cold.

Benefits of Homeopathy-

Small dosages-
Medicines in homeopathy are prepared from substances derived from minerals and plants and administered in low doses. This makes it much safer for consumption by children compared to other forms of medicine. It also ensures that there are no adverse allergic reactions.

Builds Immunity-
Since homeopathic medicines are sourced from natural ingredients, they counteract any illness at its root level. This helps enhance the body’s resistance and immunity against the disease.

Lifelong viability-
Homeopathy does not carry any risk of side-effects or toxicity, thereby making it suitable for people across all age groups.

Seasonal allergies like rhinitis and hay fever strike lacs worldwide. But what’s worse is that conventional treatments just don’t work on these allergies. So what does? Homeopathy, a complementary system of healing that works on the adage ‘like cures like’, is the perfect remedy for most seasonal allergies.

Homeopathy is also the best medicine for these allergies because it’s inexpensive and it works every time- especially if you have consulted a qualified homeopath who prescribes medicines according to your individual constitution.

The other advantages of homeopathy are that it’s safe, foolproof, and real, apart from being extremely economical.

One of the most common seasonal allergies that people grapple with worldwide is seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever. This allergy occurs when your immune system treats usually harmless substances like pollen and certain grasses as dangerous and releases chemicals to fight them. Hay fever can be triggered by different substances in different seasons and you can experience it in more than one season per year.

Whatever the season, its symptoms remain the same, like-

1. sneezing

2. runny nose

3. watery and itchy eyes

4. itchy throat and sinuses

5. ear congestion

6. headaches

7. coughing

Here are a few common homeopathic remedies for seasonal allergies. Just match your dominant symptoms with the medicine that describes them, and take a low-potency dosage two to three times a day for two weeks. If you feel better, keep up the dosage, if not, it’s time to visit a homeopath for a sure-fire fix.

The homeopathic medicines that are of great help in treating nasal allergies like hay fever are Allium Cepa, Arsenic Album, Arundo Mauri, Kali Bichromicum and Gelsemium.

1. Both Allium Cepa and Arsenic Album are very beneficial for this common allergy and they work when your symptoms are a runny nose with sneezing and burning eyes. If you feel better in open air then Allium Cepa is the better remedy but if you feel better in a warm room as compared to open spaces, then you must take Arsenic Album.

2. Arundo Mauri works best when you are experience itching in nose, eyes, throat and sinuses.

3. Kali Bichromicum is of great help when the dominant symptom is nasal discharge dropping back into the throat called post-nasal drip and sneezing. And Gelsemium should be used prescribed when running nose and sneezing are accompanied by a headache and a feverish feeling.

Homeopathy cures seasonal allergies faster when you are conscious about prevention. Just, take these simple, easy steps to keep allergens out of your system like keep the windows in your room shut, limit time spent outside, wear a mask when you go out to keep dust away and avoid cigarette smoke to live allergy-free.

Rising levels of air pollution are always in the news and it is a legitimate cause of concern. It has a severe toxic effect on us, and our environment. Factories are popping up in greater frequency than ever before, trees are being cut down to make room for ever-expanding cities and with every family owning cars, pollution is becoming a crisis that is hard to contend with. According to the World Health Organisation, the chief pollutants are carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and lead, which are all emitted from factories and car through their exhausts.

What is the impact of air pollution on the human body?

• Eye irritation
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Skin diseases
• Neuropsychiatric disorders

The organ that is most affected by air pollution is the lungs. With pollution on the rise, more and more people are complaining of respiratory ailments. WHO has already proved that air pollutants are actually a carcinogen.

What are the symptoms of respiratory ailments?

The most common symptoms are-

• Irritated airway
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Dyspnoea or shortness of breath
• Aggravation of asthma or bronchitis
• In extreme cases, cancer of the lungs

Homoeopathy for the treatment of lung diseases-

Homoeopathy is a boon to the field of medicine and has been in practice for several decades now. Homoeopathy believes that lung diseases are a manifestation of an innate problem and if the problem is detected and eradicated, the symptoms will dissipate as well. Homoeopathy cures lung diseases by-

• Preventing further damage to the lungs
• Preventing side-effects from harming the body by adopting a natural and holistic approach
• Reducing reliance on steroids and bronchodilators

There are different types of chronic lung ailments and homoeopathy uses 25 compounds in different combinations to treat each of them. The best part about Homeopathy treatment is that it leaves no adverse effect on your body, unlike conventional methods of treatment.

Surveys reveal that three fourth of India’s population is affected by air pollution. If you feel that you might have contracted a respiratory ailment, consider consulting a homoeopathy doctor.

Coughing is a common problem of the respiratory tract and often indicates a deeper problem. It can be very irritating and can affect eating habits and socialization. A cough which persists for a longer period of time more than 4 weeks in children and 8 weeks or more in adults is believed to be chronic in nature. Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause of chronic cough in India. TB is an airborne bacterial infection caused by the organism, 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis', that primarily affects the lungs, although other organs and tissues may be involved.

Cardinal features are:

• Chronic cough with or without sputum.
• Any cough for more than 2 weeks should get investigated for tuberculosis.
• Fever in night time.
• Poor appetite.
• Unintentional weight loss.

Read on to know about other common causes of chronic cough and how to manage them:

Allergies: People with allergies usually have a chronic cough, which gets aggravated when exposed to the allergens such as pollen or environmental dust. Staying away from allergen provides relief. Antihistamines are also useful, which most people detected with allergies keep in handy. Inhalers might be required if there is associated congestion or shortness of breath.

Asthma: This is a very common chronic condition, caused by inflammation and swelling of the lungs, in addition to wheezing and shortness of breath. Asthma patients often suffer from a chronic cough. An asthma attack usually happens during the night or early morning and is triggered by colds, cigarette smoke, air pollutants or allergens, which can even include certain foods. Most asthmatics usually carry their steroids, inhalers, and bronchodilators, as the onset of attack can be unpredictable.

Bronchitis: This condition of inflammation of the bronchial region is very common among smokers and among the elderly. There is excessive mucus accumulation, which the body tries to clear via coughing. The lungs are weakened and therefore, the coughing is painful.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This is a problem of the digestive system, but a regurgitation of food into the airway induces cough. GERD is a chronic issue and so most people also end up with a chronic cough. It is worse with sitting up than with sitting down. Treatment includes H2 blockers or PPI to suppress acid production and dietary changes including small, frequent meals and avoiding spicy food items.

Upper airway cough syndrome: There could be multiple problems in the upper airway, which leads to a constant postnasal drip. Here, there is constant dripping of the sputum into the air passage, which can lead to a chronic cough whenever there is impaired airflow. This can be caused by various forms of chronic sinusitis and rhinitis. People diagnosed with this condition usually resort to antihistamines and decongestants for relief.

Other causes: There are a number of other causes as noted below. Smoking, tuberculosis, congestive heart failure, pertussis or whooping cough, foreign body in the airway, cancer in the airway passage, chronic aspiration of foods, etc. can all lead to chronic cough.

The key is to identify the reason that is causing a chronic cough. Most people who are diagnosed are educated to handle it and carry the required medications including steroids, bronchodilators, and inhalers. Cough hygiene should be learnt and practised to prevent the spread of infections.

A cough is probably one of the most common respiratory diseases that people suffer from. In most cases, it is nothing to worry about and can be cured with cough suppressants and salt water gargles. However, coughing of blood is a serious problem. The coughing up of blood that originates from below the level of the larynx is known as hemoptysis. This can vary in terms of severity depending on the amount of blood being expelled. This disease is a common condition, but on average, less than 5% of hemoptysis cases are life-threatening.

Hemoptysis rarely affects children. The symptoms of this condition include:
Sudden onset of a cough with bloody phlegm

1. Fever
2. Anorexia and weight loss
3. Dyspnoea
4. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
5. Fatigue

Chest pain: Medical attention should be sought in cases where this condition recurs often, if it lasts for longer than a fortnight or if the volume of blood expectorated is more than 30ml per day. The various tools that help in the diagnosis of this condition are:

• Chest radiography: This imaging modality helps lateralize bleeding and understand the amount of lung involvement. It is quick, inexpensive and can also help detect other underlying abnormalities.
• Bronchoscopy: This involves the insertions of a rigid or flexible endoscope into the bronchial passages to check the airways and determine active bleeding sites.
• MDCT: A multidetector CT is a non-invasive imaging tool that provides a comprehensive evaluation of airways, lung parenchyma, and thoracic vessels. It can also be used to uncover potential causes of bleeding such as bronchiectasis, pulmonary infections and lung cancer. In some cases, a multidetector CT angiography may also be used.

Oral antibiotics are usually the first stage of treatment for this condition. Smokers will also be urged to quit cigarettes as this can worsen their condition. Treatment for minor hemoptysis may also include:

1. Oral hemostatics
2. Cough suppressants
3. Anticoagulants
4. Radiation of laser treatment
5. Therapeutic bronchoscopy

In its later stages, hemoptysis can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure known as endovascular embolization or with surgery. In some cases, endovascular embolization may also be sued to stabilise the patient before surgery. This procedure reduces the pressure in the hypertrophic arterial blood vessels and decreases the risk of perioperative bleeding.

Hemoptysis is also one of the most common complaints of lung cancer patients. Depending on the stage of cancer and the amount of blood expectorated, treatment in some cases may not be possible. In such cases, a parenteral opioid and fast-acting benzodiazepine may be administered.

When you suffer from dry, chronic cough along with shortness of breath, it is normal to get worried and annoyed. You will want to know the cause and the cure. Note that it might be due to a condition called the interstitial lung disease.

Including almost more than 200 different lung conditions, interstitial lung disease refers to the inflammation and scarring caused in the lungs, which leads to less oxygen entering the blood. Mainly affecting the interstitial part of the anatomic structure of the lungs, which is responsible for the oxygen flow into the blood, interstitial lung disease can damage other parts of the lungs too, such as the lung lining, the airways or the blood vessels. The following is a brief account of the types, causes, symptoms, and treatment of ILD.

Types
Interstitial lung disease can be of various kinds, though all of them leads to the thickening of the lung’s interstitial part. Some of the types of ILD are

1. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis
2. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
3. Acute interstitial pneumonitis
4.  Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
5. Asbestosis
6. Sarcoidosis
7. Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia or COP, etc.

While some of the ILD types are short-lived, some are irreversible and chronic.

The primary causes of interstitial lung disease are viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Regular exposure to inhalable irritants such as talc, silica dust, asbestos, coal dust or any other kind of metal dust, bird proteins of pigeons, chickens or any exotic birds, grain dust, etc. can also cause interstitial lung disease. Though rare, sometimes it is the intake of particular drugs that may cause ILD. For the majority of interstitial lung diseases, the exact cause is not always known.

Both men and women of any age can develop this disease, and it is more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and autoimmune disease. Some of the primary symptoms and signs of interstitial lung disease are nonproductive dry cough, shortness of breath, and considerable weight loss. While for some types of ILDs the symptoms develop slowly and gradually over months, for others, such as the acute interstitial pneumonitis or interstitial pneumonia, the symptoms develop more rapidly, within days or a few hours.

For identifying the presence of ILD, doctors usually rely upon chest X-ray, CT scan or computed tomography, pulmonary function testing, high-resolution CT scan, and lung biopsy. In case no apparent cause behind the disease is found from the tests, a patient's history of being exposed to certain chemical environments is then taken into consideration.

Depending on the type and severity of the disease the treatment options vary from one to another. While for some taking prescribed drugs can offer a solution to prevent the lungs from deteriorating further, for some a complete lung transplant may become the only solution. Treatments like pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy can also be ideal, based on the condition of the lungs.

Thus, if one is constantly exposed to lung irritants and experiences the symptoms of interstitial lung disease for more than eight weeks, he/she must seek the advice of a pulmonologist without delay as the condition may lead to severe complications when left untreated.