T.J. Samson | Destination Health

APRIL 2017

THE CAUSE THE COUGH CONNECTION

THE TREATMENT

Allergies

A reaction to allergens (think pol-

len and hay fever in spring) inflames

nasal tissues, triggering postnasal

drip down the back of the throat and

a cough.

Doctors often suggest antihista-

mines, nasal corticosteroids or

other drugs for relief. Also try to

limit exposure to allergens you’re

sensitive to.

Asthma

This chronic lung disease inflames

and constricts the airways, triggering

coughing spells and often wheezing

and other breathing problems.

Asthma attacks may be avoided

by sidestepping your personal

triggers, which can include things

like airborne allergens or strong

fumes. Medicines also help treat

or prevent flare-ups.

Bronchitis

This condition occurs when the

bronchial tubes become inflamed.

Infections (such as from a cold or flu

virus) can cause acute (short-term)

bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is on-

going and happens if the lining of the

bronchial tubes is constantly irritated

and inflamed. Both types of bronchi-

tis can trigger a cough with mucus.

The acute form often clears up

in a week or so. Treatment may

include rest, fluids and cough

medicine. The chronic form is

treated with medicines to help

open the airways and clear mu-

cus. Oxygen therapy also may be

needed.

Chronic

obstructive

pulmonary

disease

(COPD)

In COPD, the airways are often thick

and clogged with mucus, while tis-

sues called air sacs are damaged

or even destroyed. These two

problems—chronic bronchitis and

emphysema—often cause shortness

of breath and a constant cough.

If you smoke, quitting is the

best step. Making other lifestyle

changes, taking medicines and

exercising may help you breathe

and feel better.

Gastro-

esophageal

reflux dis-

ease (GERD)

In this digestive disorder, stomach

acids back up into the throat, igniting

heartburn and sometimes triggering

a dry cough.

Making dietary changes, sleeping

with the head of your bed raised

and taking drugs to reduce stom-

ach acids are some things that

can help ease GERD.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection deep

within the lungs. It causes one or

both lungs to fill with fluid, resulting

in coughing.

Bacterial pneumonia (a common

type) is often treated at home

with antibiotics. But severe cases

may require a hospital stay.

Sources: American College of Chest Physicians; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Many things can

make you cough. Most are minor, like a cold. But if a cough won’t go away, it’s

probably best to check with a doctor to find out what’s going on.

Below are some common causes of coughs that often need a doctor’s attention.

What’s making you cough?

A l ook a t some common c aus e s

Please pass

the potassium

It's hard to overstate all the good

things potassium does for you.

This mineral helps your nerves

work, your muscles contract and

your heartbeat stay regular. It moves

nutrients into cells and waste prod-

ucts out of them. And potassium

helps keep your blood pressure in

a healthy range by blunting the ef-

fects of sodium.

Are you coming up short?

Even though potassium is crucial to

good health, chances are you're not

getting enough of it. The average

adult is encouraged to get 4,700 mil-

ligrams of potassium every day. But

that's almost double what most of us

actually consume, according to the

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The good news: There are plenty

of potassium-packed foods that can

help you meet this daily amount.

Among them: dark green, leafy

vegetables; root vegetables; and

bananas. One cup of cooked spin-

ach, for example, has 839 milligrams

of potassium; a baked potato with

skin, 926 milligrams; and a medium

banana, 422 milligrams.

Consuming these foods and bev-

erages regularly can also up your

intake:

■

Apricots and apricot juice.

■

Broccoli.

■

Cantaloupes.

■

Fat-free or low-fat milk and

yogurt.

■

Grapes.

■

Certain fish, such as salmon,

mackerel and halibut.

■

Many types of beans, including

black turtle, pinto, kidney, navy,

great northern, lima and soybeans.

■

Oranges and orange juice.

■

Prunes, raisins and dates.

■

Tomatoes, tomato juice and to-

mato sauce.

Easy does it

For some people, however, it is possi-

ble to get too much of a good thing.

If you have kidney problems, for

instance, your kidneys may not be

able to remove po-

tassium from your

blood. And it can

build up and be

harmful. As a re-

sult, your doctor

may advise a spe-

cial diet to lower

your potassium.

Additional sources: American Heart

Association; National Institutes of Health; U.S.

Department of Agriculture