Coughing is a defensive reflex that clears the respiratory tract of excess secretions or foreign bodies. After a deep inhalation with an initial short-term closure of the larynx, a rapid exhalation occurs. When the larynx opens, the increased pressure generated in the chest and lungs rapidly ejects air, which carries away particles encountered on its way. It may happen in bronchitis.
Coughs can occur reflexively (involuntarily) or can be induced voluntarily. A reflex cough is triggered by irritation of the cough receptors located in the bronchi. Nerve impulses from these receptors are sent to the cough center in the brain, specifically in the medulla oblongata. That’s where the actions of the muscles involved in coughing – the chest muscles, diaphragm, and larynx – are coordinated. In cases of bronchitis, the cough often starts as dry but later becomes productive and wet.
In conditions with a buildup of secretions in the respiratory tract, a productive cough plays a beneficial role by helping to clear these secretions. Therefore, do not suppress it; efforts should be made to enhance cough effectiveness and increase the amount of expectorated sputum. One of the primary reasons for an ineffective cough is weakened chest and abdominal muscles, which highlights the importance of respiratory rehabilitation (physiotherapy). Such treatments aim to improve cough effectiveness and teach individuals how to cough more effectively.
2.
During a viral infection, such as one caused by the bronchitis, the virus enters the cells of the nasal mucosa and prompts them to produce its proteins, which are essential components of the virus. This process is how the virus replicates. As the infected cells die, they release more viruses into the surrounding area.
The immune system responds to such infections; it detects the virally infected cells and eliminates them. In cases of a cold, this immune response occurs primarily in the nasal mucosa. Sometimes, the immune system’s actions – specifically by white blood cells. Leukocytes are so effective that the symptoms and disease do not manifest.
As cells break down and leukocytes release substances in response to the virus, the permeability of the blood vessel walls in the nasal mucosa increases. As more leukocytes infiltrate the blood vessel walls to combat additional infected cells, the byproducts of this process – including decomposed cells and leukocytes – cause the nasal discharge, or runny nose, to become yellow.
3.
Sputum is a secretion originating mainly from the upper respiratory tract, which consists of:
Under normal conditions, excess phlegm in the respiratory tract is removed through coughing, which leads to the expectoration of sputum. Sputum does not contain saliva from the oropharyngeal cavity; instead it consists of mucus, epithelial cells, granulocytes, and potentially pathological components such as pus or blood. A cough with phlegm may indicate various diseases, including bronchitis.
The expectoration of purulent sputum is associated with an active bacterial infection in the respiratory system. In this case, you should see your family doctor, who will recommend the use of:
Dyspnea is a subjective feeling of lack of air, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath. This symptom can cause most lung diseases (e.g., bronchitis), heart diseases, and some diseases of other organs or poisoning.
Dyspnea in most cases requires contact with a doctor. If dyspnea is so severe that it makes it difficult to speak or is accompanied by chest pain, hemoptysis, or significant weakness, call an ambulance urgently.
5.
Wheezing is a high-pitched sound that occurs when airflow passes through narrowed airways. You can hear it during inhalation (known as inspiratory wheezing) or during exhalation – then it is referred to as expiratory wheezing. It can also be mixed and be heard in both phases of breathing. Wheezing can vary in intensity – from audible only when listening with medical headphones to loud wheezing audible without it.
In the case of wheezing that does not require urgent intervention, diagnostics are performed as planned. The doctor begins by collecting an interview about the symptoms previously experienced by the child, it is significant to determine the duration of wheezing, its intensity, and factors causing and relieving wheezing. The next stage is a medical examination, and auscultation of the lungs is of great importance.
After determining the initial diagnosis, the doctor may order additional tests to confirm it. The range of diagnostic tests includes blood, imaging, and functional tests.
6.
Hoarseness is a rough and dull voice that occurs when the so-called vocal cords, or vocal folds, vibrate abnormally during speaking and cannot touch each other or their elasticity is impaired due to various disease processes.
If short-term hoarseness appears suddenly during an infection, e.g. bronchitis, it does not require detailed diagnostics, but only, in addition to medications to alleviate the condition, vocal cord rest, i.e., limiting the use of the voice to a minimum during illness. You should also avoid factors that irritate the vocal cords, such as dust, tobacco smoke, and alcohol. It is worth using inhalations that moisturize the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and antitussive medications.
Hoarseness that requires evaluation by an ENT specialist: is not related to a common cold or flu, lasts longer than 2 weeks (especially in smokers), or is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, hemoptysis, pain during speech, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or odynophagia (pain during swallowing), a lump in the neck, or severe problems with voice production that last longer than a few days.
7.
Chest pain can vary in intensity and nature. It can be stabbing, pressing, burning, or choking. It occurs, but is often accompanied by other symptoms – it all depends on its cause.
The duration of chest pain also varies. Sometimes the pain goes away on its own (e.g., after stopping physical activity), changing body position, or taking medication prescribed by a doctor. However, it sometimes happens that the symptoms persist all the time or even increase.
One of the most common causes of chest pain is a respiratory tract infection (e.g., bronchitis. It is caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, or fungi) into the body. Then an inflammation occurs, which causes pain. Unpleasant symptoms are also the result of muscle strain caused by a persistent cough. Another respiratory disease that causes chest pain is pneumothorax, i.e., air entering the pleural cavity.
8.
A sore throat is a common symptom that can vary in intensity and sometimes be very bothersome. It is usually caused by infections. The pain can involve the entire throat or be more severe on one side. It often gets worse when swallowing. The most common cause of a sore throat is infections, including bronchitis.
A sore throat is a common symptom, which is why many patients try to cope with it on their own. They use over-the-counter medications widely available in pharmacies and stores. Quite often, a pain in the throat is so bothersome that it prompts a visit to a family doctor or an otolaryngologist. Proper treatment depends on the cause of the pain, and a sore throat, especially chronic or very severe, can be a symptom of serious diseases. Therefore, you should not delay seeing a doctor in the case of chronic pain or the sudden onset of severe pain without signs of infection or accompanied by worrying symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or bleeding. One-sided pain, initially of constant intensity, gradually increasing, and troublesome when swallowing, may be a sign of cancer, so do not ignore such pain.
If a sore throat is a symptom of an infection, such as a cold, you can use home remedies to relieve the symptoms. Over-the-counter lozenges are available in pharmacies. Before use, read the leaflet or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
9.
Fever is a widespread symptom. We assume that the starting point is a careful measurement of the temperature under the armpit, and its correct value is 36.6°C. The absolute condition for a “careful” measurement is that the patient squeezes the thermometer firmly under the armpit and the measurement time is long enough – in electronic thermometers, an audible signal can be helpful.
Another issue is the strict definition of fever. Typically, a fever is identified as a body temperature above 38.0°C, while a temperature range of 37.1-38.0°C is a sub-febrile state.
Fever is one of the basic defense mechanisms of the body, which was created as non-specific support for the immune system in response to an attack by infectious agents. However, remember that fever is a very non-specific symptom of disease, which does not so much suggest that the body has been attacked. It does not necessarily indicate an attack on the body but it signifies that the body has recognized an attack.
10.
Cold sweats are a symptom that does not indicate a specific disease. They can result from stress and intense emotions and indicate a serious medical condition. When diagnosing the cause of cold sweats, the time of day or night at which they occur and their type are distinguished. Cold sweats can happen during the day and often indicate viral or infectious diseases. Cold sweats that appear at night can indicate much more serious health problems and such cases should be consulted with a doctor immediately.
The list of causes behind cold sweats is very long. Therefore, the symptom of cold sweats alone does not constitute a basis for diagnosing a specific disease entity. However, cold sweats are accompanied by other symptoms that help determine the correct cause of this condition. Cold sweats from sudden and significant blood loss are typically associated with a drop in blood pressure. In middle-aged women, cold sweats are frequently linked to the cessation of menstruation. Stress or strong emotions that cause cold sweats are accompanied by dizziness, nausea, or diarrhea. Cold sweats can also appear after excessive alcohol consumption, in which case the accompanying symptoms will be identical to those of a hangover.
Before treatment, determine the primary cause. This is relatively easy in the case of bacterial and viral infections, e.g., bronchitis, because they are accompanied by other, more reliable symptoms. Additionally, the time of symptoms is limited.
11.
Fatigue affects almost every one of us from time to time. This symptom can also concern the emotional sphere – then we can also feel helplessness, hypersensitivity, impatience, anxiety, and emotional dullness.
Fatigue reduction methods should be selected individually for each person, depending on the type of fatigue and general preferences.
However, for everybody sleep is one of the most essential elements that ensure the proper functioning of the body. During an infection and the period after the illness, we are weakened – when we sleep, we regenerate our strength. If we feel sleepy, it is a sign that we need to rest. To ensure that our sleep is strong and healthy, before going to bed we should thoroughly ventilate the room and ensure it is at the right temperature. At least 2 hours before going to bed we should give up watching TV, don’t use a computer or mobile phone – blue light stimulates the brain and causes problems with falling asleep. One of the key elements of regeneration after illness is avoiding stressful situations. If this is not possible, in our free time we should focus on activities that will calm us down and relax us.
12.The diagnostic criteria for sleep disorder include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, sleep described as light or alert, and frequent awakenings after which the patient is unable to fall asleep again or does not fall asleep at all until the morning, which increases their irritation and additionally does not help them fall asleep.
The treatment of a sleep disorder such as insomnia is multi-level. If the disorder is caused by a co-occurring somatic or psychiatric disease, the most important step is to treat the underlying disease, e.g., bronchitis. However, in the case of non-organic insomnia, the first step should be to take care of proper sleep hygiene.
If you have trouble sleeping for more than a month, you should see your family doctor (to rule out somatic diseases), a psychiatrist (when pharmacology is needed), or a psychotherapist (to apply appropriate therapy and work on sleep hygiene).
