Obsessive cough in children and adults, treatment

The nervous system controls the entire human body. There is a separate category of diseases that arise due to psychological disorders. They are provoked by disturbances in the transmission of nerve impulses or distorted perception of them by individual brain structures. As a result, the main management center sends incorrect commands to the authorities, and they begin to malfunction. Such pathologies are called psychosomatic. These include a cough that occurs due to nervousness. It is not associated with inflammatory changes in the respiratory system, but is extremely difficult to treat.

Main causes of nervous cough

Reflex cleansing of the lungs is controlled by a special center located in the medulla oblongata of the brain. It triggers contraction of the muscles of the bronchi and diaphragm. The urge to cough occurs, and the respiratory organs are cleared of dust, mucus and bacteria.

Neurogenic cough occurs with increased excitability of the cough center. Psychoneurotic diseases can provoke its activity. The most common reasons are stress and shock. Children and adolescents are predisposed to the development of pathology. This is due to the instability of their psyche and the incomplete formation of neuroregulatory mechanisms.

A nervous cough can occur in a child due to:

unfavorable psychological situation in the family or educational team;
severe puberty (due to hormonal fluctuations);
increased stress before important events (exams, admission to university);
severe shock or fright.

The disorder occurs with equal frequency among adult women and men. The main provocateur is prolonged psycho-emotional stress. Doctors associate cough with:

nervous work;
problems with loved ones;
loneliness;
prolonged depression;
heightened sense of duty and responsibility.

The phenomenon of mirror neurosis is widespread among the adult population. At the same time, a healthy person experiences symptoms of pathologies from which his sick loved one suffers.

Coughing can become a “bad” habit if a person regularly feigns health problems. Less commonly, it appears after prolonged infectious and inflammatory diseases of the lungs.

Children's nervous cough

A nervous cough in a child is not uncommon. The child's psyche is being formed, it has not yet settled down, it remains mobile. Children are emotional, react violently to events, dramatize, have a hard time withstanding criticism and stress, so they may develop a cough due to nervousness.

intense study;
conflicts in the family and with peers;
upcoming public speaking (matinees, educational conferences);
exams;
sudden fear (watching a horror movie).

Psychosomatic symptoms are expressed during puberty, when a serious restructuring of the child’s body and psyche occurs. When the psyche is formed, they disappear on their own.

During coughing attacks in children, it is important to correctly determine the cause of the disease so as not to miss a developing infection or nervous disorder.

Careful observation of the child and identification of the situations in which they arise will help diagnose nervous cough attacks. If there are no other symptoms of respiratory diseases and a restful night's sleep is not interrupted by attacks, this indicates a nervous cause.

Treatment of a neurotic cough in a child includes a visit to a child psychologist who will help cope with the problems. It is these problems that require the close attention of parents, and coughing attacks are a desperate signal for help.

You should not scold your child if he continues to cough. It is better not to focus on this fact.
Children with nervous system disorders (and healthy children too) benefit from moderate intensity physical activity - a sports section.
Reduce the time your child spends watching TV and in front of the computer.
Eliminate foods containing caffeine (chocolate, tea) from your diet. They will be replaced by magnesium-containing products - nuts, green vegetables.

You can alleviate the manifestation of nervous disorders in a child with soothing herbal preparations, herbal teas, and massage.

The human psyche and body are closely connected and influence each other. In the light of the development of psychosomatics, the Soviet slogan “A healthy mind in a healthy body” is being revived again, and vice versa, accordingly.

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Symptoms of cough neurosis

The insidiousness of psychoneurotic disorders lies in the totality of seemingly unrelated symptoms. Sometimes breathing problems are the only problem visible to the patient and his relatives. Hence the difficulties of diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

A nervous cough is difficult to distinguish from signs of pathologies of the upper or lower respiratory tract. To do this, you need to analyze the characteristics of the reflex itself and objectively evaluate the accompanying symptoms.

A neurogenic origin of the disorder can be suspected if:

before his appearance the patient had a nervous breakdown;
the reflex occurs only in a state of tension (during quarrels, increased stress);
the cough has a paroxysmal character;
sounds reminiscent of the “cry of a goose” or “barking of a dog” (several loud pushing acts end with a short breath and are repeated);
the condition improves while sleeping or doing enjoyable activities.

Accompanying signs of neurosis may be irritability, apathetic mood, tearfulness, depression, aggressive behavior or hysterics.

A characteristic feature of the nervous origin of cough is the absence of objective signs of diseases of the respiratory system, such as:

sputum discharge;
increased body temperature;
a sore throat;
runny nose;
muscle weakness.

At the same time, the patient himself can look for and invent cold symptoms for himself in order to evoke pity or sympathy from others. Only a doctor can distinguish a nervous type of cough from an inflammatory one in such patients.

Dry cough in an adult - treatment with folk remedies

Infections and allergic reactions are often accompanied by attacks of an obsessive, raw cough. To speed up recovery, it is important to achieve liquefaction and normal removal of mucus from the lungs and bronchi. It doesn’t matter whether a child suffers from an unpleasant symptom or an adult has a dry cough - treatment with folk remedies is effective at any age. Natural preparations help normalize the thickness and removal of mucus along with irritants of the respiratory system.

Traditional methods of treating dry cough in adults

All non-traditional recipes can be divided into 3 types:

means for internal reception;
external medications;
solutions for inhalation.

When treating cough, you can use drugs of one type, but it is much better to use an integrated approach.

Folk remedies for oral administration for dry cough for adults

There are many oral medications made from herbal ingredients and natural products. Let's look at the fastest-acting and safest drugs.

Herbal recipe

Ingredients:

coltsfoot - 1 tbsp. spoon;
dried raspberries (berries) – 1 tbsp. spoon;
oregano (leaves and stems) – 1 tbsp. spoon;
licorice (root) – 0.5 tbsp. spoons;
water – 170 ml.

Preparation and use

Mix these components thoroughly. Pour boiling water over 1 tbsp. spoon of the resulting mixture, leave for about 20 minutes. Drink the medicine as tea (hot) throughout the day, making a fresh drink each time.

Milk decoction recipe

External folk remedies against dry cough in adults

You can supplement the above medications with rubbing and compresses on the chest or back. They help make the bronchopulmonary secretion less viscous and facilitate its removal.

Among folk remedies, such a medicine for dry cough for adults as an oil compress is popular. You just need to heat the existing vegetable fat, soak a gauze cloth with it and place such a napkin on your back or chest, without covering the area of the heart. Keep the lotion until it cools down.

A potato compress produces a similar effect. The root vegetable is boiled (in its uniform), after which it is kneaded together with the peel. The hot mass must be wrapped in thick natural fabric and placed in the same way as the oil lotion.

Warming compress recipe

Ingredients:

mustard in the form of dry powder – 1 teaspoon;
liquid fresh honey – 1 teaspoon;
freshly squeezed radish juice – 1 teaspoon.

Preparation and use

Grind the ingredients together. Gently apply the mixture to the chest or back and massage lightly. Cover the treated areas with a clean cotton cloth and rest under a warm blanket or blanket.

Traditional inhalation recipes for dry cough in adults

The described procedures help moisturize the respiratory tract and facilitate expectoration.

For effective steam inhalation the following products should be used:

chamomile flowers;
sea salt;
essential oils of cedar, mint, eucalyptus, lavender;
baking soda;
sage or coltsfoot herb.

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Diagnostics

To determine the nature of the symptom, you need to consult a therapist or pediatrician (if the cough bothers the child). The specialist will interview the patient, conduct an examination (of the upper and lower respiratory tract, listen to the lungs with a phonendoscope).

To accurately assess the patient’s condition, he will prescribe additional diagnostic measures:

fluorography;
general and biochemical blood tests;
bacterioscopy of a throat smear.

If all results are normal, the doctor will suspect a neurological cough. However, only a qualified psychotherapist can make such a diagnosis and begin treatment.

What is the reason?

Cough is one of the most common symptoms with which parents of a baby consult a pediatrician. It happens that the problem is difficult to cope with, and the usual therapy does not produce results. If a child’s cough plagues him for quite a long period, the doctor looks for alternative methods of therapy. However, during the examination, listening, and also on the basis of other examinations, the pediatrician can conclude that there are no abnormalities in the functioning of the little patient’s respiratory organs.

According to recent studies, coughing can be caused by rhythmic contractions of the vocal muscles, that is, it can be a type of tic. In this regard, the second name for neurological cough is vocal tic.

To date, the causes of different types of tics (including vocal ones) have not been thoroughly studied. Experts studying this phenomenon are divided into two camps. One group of scientists believes that tics are caused by genetic mutations, while another group believes that tics are caused by psychological disorders. The second option involves the influence of external traumatic factors on the patient, that is, stress may be the cause of the problem.

To confirm the assumption about the stressful nature of psychogenic cough in children, one can take into account its following manifestations. This theory is supported by a cough that begins:

before a particularly important event in the child’s life: an exam, a concert, a matinee in kindergarten;

Methods to combat the cough reflex

You cannot use any medications or traditional methods of treatment without the consent of your doctor. Therapy for coughs of nervous origin should be comprehensive. At the beginning, a thorough analysis of the patient’s psyche and his individual qualities will be required in order to determine the provocateurs of the symptom. Taking into account its cause, exacerbation activators, habits and psycho-situation in the patient’s life, the psychotherapist will recommend therapeutic measures.

Non-drug treatment

A person with a nervous cough reflex will require oral counseling. Doctors use cognitive behavioral therapy. With its help, you can identify what triggered the disorder and what factors the patient reacts to with a cough. The goal of such treatment is to teach the patient to independently identify provocateurs and resist them using simple manipulations (distraction and self-control).

Meditation helps to cope with neurological coughs. In severe cases, a hypnotherapy session may be prescribed.

An important condition for recovery is the stability of the patient’s psycho-emotional state and the creation of a positive environment around him. Close people and relatives of the patient should help with this. Passion for something helps in the fight against symptoms. To relieve cough, doctors recommend mastering relaxation practices, doing yoga or Pilates.

Drugs

Despite the mechanism of the appearance of nervous (or neurogenic) cough, drugs to reduce the activity of the cough center are not used in its therapy. They are recommended only when a reflex occurs after diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, whooping cough).

To correct cough neurosis, sedative medications, antidepressants or tranquilizers are prescribed. Herbal remedies with a sedative effect are more often recommended. Nootropic substances, as well as amino acids, may be prescribed. All these medications must be prescribed by a specialist. You cannot take medications and dietary supplements on your own, so as not to aggravate the course of the disease.

Folk remedies

Herbs and plant extracts can be used in the treatment of nervous cough. Prescribed teas with the addition of motherwort, valerian, thyme, chamomile, peppermint, hawthorn. Herbs should be used with caution. There is a risk of individual allergic reactions and side effects.

Before taking traditional medicine, you should consult your doctor. Non-traditional techniques can be used as auxiliary measures.

How to treat a severe cough in an adult?

A severe cough in an adult is a serious reason to think about the state of health, as well as a reason to quickly consult a doctor for advice. There can be many reasons for this phenomenon, but even the most insignificant of them should not be ignored. After all, without proper treatment, a severe cough may well lead to complications that will affect not only the respiratory system, but also the body as a whole.

What causes a cough?

The causes of cough are quite varied, so trying to deal with this issue on your own is a thankless process and not always effective. The best solution is to go to the nearest hospital.

At the same time, knowing the main causes of cough is a good help for the sick person. This will allow you to be much more attentive and caring about your health:

Tobacco smoking. Nicotine and tobacco tars have an irritating effect on the bronchi, thereby causing coughing attacks. The problem goes away only after completely giving up the bad habit. Otherwise, the cough will only get worse.
Stress. Strong experiences have different effects on people. Some people begin to have a stomach ache, while others also suffer from coughing attacks. After the anxiety goes away, this unpleasant symptom will also disappear (by the way, it is called psychogenic). However, such a dangerous condition cannot be allowed to happen in the future.
Allergic reaction. A dry cough may well be triggered by exposure to an external irritant to which a person has a persistent negative reaction. In this case, an antihistamine and isolation of the victim from the allergen can be a salvation.
Tuberculosis. A paroxysmal cough that becomes more intense every day may indicate that a person’s tuberculosis is rapidly progressing. This problem can affect a person with absolutely any social status and lifestyle. And to prevent this from happening, you should constantly take care of your health, not forgetting to undergo annual medical examinations.
Foreign body in the respiratory tract. The entry of any, even the smallest, foreign body into the respiratory tract can lead to a debilitating cough. At this moment you should calm down and make every effort to get rid of the irritant. Otherwise, it will make itself felt again and again.

This is not a complete list of problems that can provoke a cough in an adult.

If your cough problem does not resolve within a few days, you should seek medical help. Resolving the issue with the involvement of a specialist will be much faster.

What type of treatment should I choose?

Treatment should be started exclusively on the orders of the attending physician, who has sufficient knowledge and sees the full clinical picture of the disease.
However, it would be useful to help the body in this fight on your own. An important role in reducing cough is played by the degree of air humidity, the lack of which may well provoke the problem. For these purposes, you can use special humidifiers that automatically spray water. By the way, they have a simple, but at the same time worthy alternative.

You should place several bowls of water on the windowsills, which it is recommended to constantly add as it evaporates. The visible results of such activities will become noticeable in about a week.

In the event that a coughing attack is caused by a harmful passion for smoking, it is advisable to completely abandon this bad habit.

The cough will no longer go away on its own and will only gradually progress in the future. Here we are talking about the development of a chronic disease, which can only be avoided by completely quitting smoking and then undergoing preventive treatment.

For those who suffer from a cough due to acute respiratory viral infections or influenza, it is recommended to drink an increased amount of warm drinks. In particular, tea, milk, decoction of medicinal herbs, which not only reduce cough, but also help reduce temperature (if any).

In this case, inhalations will also be effective, which should be performed no more than 1-2 times a day.

If you use these tips, then in just a few days the desired improvement will occur, and the disease will certainly subside.

When a patient has a severe cough to the point of vomiting, stronger methods of combating the disease should be used. This, for example, is the use of special mucolytic drugs, which not only improve sputum discharge, but also relieve irritation of the mucous membrane.

The main thing is to remember that a doctor must prescribe such drugs.

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Prevention

A neurogenic cough that occurs once indicates the patient’s predisposition to neuropsychic dysfunctions. Even after recovery, the symptom may appear again if the patient finds himself in a certain situation or cannot adequately cope with nervous tension.

Prevention of the disorder comes down to avoiding stress and organizing a favorable psychological environment around people at risk. After eliminating the disorder, it is necessary to maintain the patient’s psycho-emotional stability and monitor his condition. Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapeutic practices teach patients to independently overcome provoking factors, which guarantees stable remission.