When you have common flu, you are usually afflicted with painful cough and sore throat. These symptoms must not be neglected and one must seek medical advice without delay and get these properly treated.

Coughs are a defence mechanism adopted by the body to get rid of irritation in the windpipe inhibiting the free flow of air to the lungs. Physiological problems alone do not cause coughs, sometimes psychological discomfort can also trigger them. Cough due to physical problems happens usually when external agents and environmental pollutants like smoke, pollen, dust etc attack the body or if you are down with some disease. As for the coughs triggered by psychological reasons, it is usually a habitual problem called Streruphilia, which is purely mental and not triggered by any physical ailments.

Cough can sometimes be acute or chronic, and can have a typical characteristic which is dependent on the intensity and duration of coughing seizures. Acute coughing which last less than 3 weeks can be an offshoot of either infectious or non-infectious ailments. Conditions such as pneumonia and infections in sinuses cause acute coughing while chronic ailments like asthma cause chronic coughing problems.

It is important that you visit a doctor and get a proper diagnosis of the root cause and severity of your cough diagnosed so that proper treatment can be done. Doctors prescribe various types of medicines to suppress the coughing symptoms and pain such as antihistamines, antibiotics and other suppressants. In some cases, particularly chronic ailments, the treatment for cough can last for long durations, even months, to fully cure or suppress the problem.

As with any other ailment, prevention of cough is always better than having to cure it later when you are badly suffering from it. To stay away from cough, leading a healthy lifestyle is important, for which you must keep away from smoking and consume a healthy and balanced diet.

Learn more about the most effective treatment for your Allergy and Cough problems from qualified and experienced ENT specialist.