Smoker's cough is often neglected. Meanwhile, coughing after cigarettes or after smoking other tobacco products can indicate serious diseases, even lung cancer. Find out how to recognize smoker's cough and how to treat it.

Contents:

  1. Smoker's cough - where does it come from?
  2. Smoker's cough - how to recognize the symptoms?
  3. What diseases can a smoker's cough be?
  4. Smoker's cough - diagnosis
  5. Smoker's cough - treatment
  6. Smoker's cough after quitting

Smoker's coughis not a normal symptom. It is the result of irritation of the respiratory tract with cigarettes.

When smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products, smoke is released, which contains over 4,000 harmful substances, such as:

  • nicotine
  • carbon monoxide
  • tar
  • benzene compounds and many more

They lead to adverse changes in the respiratory tract, which may result in a smoker's cough, but also other serious diseases, including even lung cancer.

Smoker's cough - where does it come from?

A small amount of mucus is produced in the airways to trap germs, air pollutants, and other harmful substances that enter the lungs with each inhalation.

This mucus is then expelled from the respiratory tract by coughing. However, the toxic compounds in tobacco smoke lead to the gradual disappearance of cells that are responsible for clearing the respiratory tract.

Therefore, mucus, which is additionally produced in excess, is cleansed with more and more difficulty. Some of it, along with microbes and harmful substances, remains in the respiratory tract, leading to the smoker's cough and the development of many diseases.

Smoker's cough - how to recognize the symptoms?

Smoker's cough is a cough:

  • irritating
  • persistent
  • violent
  • it intensifies most in the morning, after waking up
  • with peeling off a sticky, thick secretion, the amount of which gradually increases; initially it is colorless, one becomes purulent over time, and may even be colored with blood
  • the longer the addiction lasts, the more and more troublesome the cough becomes andtiring

What diseases can a smoker's cough be?

Smoker's cough can be a symptom of many serious diseases, such as:

  • chronic bronchitis
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • bronchial asthma
  • emphysema
  • bronchiectasis
  • tuberculosis
  • lung cancer

If the cough lasts longer than 8 weeks, and is accompanied by disturbing symptoms, such as increasing dyspnoea or hemoptysis, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Smoker's cough - diagnosis

If a smoker coughs, perform the following respiratory tests:

  • Chest X-ray - to exclude tuberculosis, pneumonia and other diseases
  • allergy tests and spirometry - to check if the cause of the above-mentioned symptoms may be bronchial asthma
  • examination of the throat, sinuses and nose by an ENT specialist who should rule out chronic infection in the upper respiratory tract
  • in some cases it may be necessary to perform computed tomography of the lungs and / or bronchofiberoscopy.

Smoker's cough - treatment

First of all, stop smoking. You can also reach for home-made cough syrups or cough relievers - from the pharmacy or natural ones, such as herbs such as: hoof herb, marshmallow leaves and root, anise fruit, coltsfoot flower, thyme.

If the cause of the cough is any of the above-mentioned diseases, appropriate treatment should be implemented.

Smoker's cough after quitting

Smoker's cough can also be annoying after quitting smoking. It is the result of the lungs being purged of harmful substances, which can take up to several years. However, to be sure, it is better to check with your doctor that the cough is not a sign of illness.

About the authorMonika Majewska A journalist specializing in he alth issues, especially in the areas of medicine, he alth protection and he althy eating. Author of news, guides, interviews with experts and reports. Participant of the largest Polish National Medical Conference "Polish woman in Europe", organized by the "Journalists for He alth" Association, as well as specialist workshops and seminars for journalists organized by the Association.

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