Cough, Cough Trivia Quiz

Answer: A symptom

There are dozens of medical conditions that cause coughs. Any time a cough persists for a couple days or longer, it is nearly always a symptom of some other problem. Bacterial or viral infections, allergies, and environmental irritants are common causes of coughs, but they can also be symptoms of a variety of apparently unrelated conditions like heart disease and even Parkinsonism.

Answer: Yes

There are a number of different kinds of coughs-dry, hacking, wet, productive, unproductive-and those are just a few. The type of cough your doctor identifies can be a valuable clue to what illness or condition is causing the cough.

Answer: Abnormal lung sounds you can hear through a stethoscope

Through a stethoscope, rales sound like clicks or rattles. They're an indication of abnormal conditions present in the lungs; for example, pulmonary edema, fluid in the lungs, or even heart failure.

Answer: One that helps expel phlegm from the body

A productive cough a good thing, as it helps the person expel mucus from the lungs. Mucus residing in the lungs is a breeding ground for the growth of harmful bacteria.

Answer: Suppressant

Suppressants are intended to reduce the frequency of coughing. A common ingredient in cough suppressants is dextromethorphan. There is some conflicting evidence in cough research as to whether cough suppressants are truly effective.

Answer: Yes

You should make an effort to spit out phlegm whenever it is coughed into your mouth. Phlegm is dangerous to your lungs. Even though it isn't pretty, you should find a private place to spit out any phlegm that comes into your mouth. It will help you get over your cough. You can swallow phlegm, but it can cause stomach upset in some individuals. Any bacteria contained in phlegm that is swallowed is killed by stomach acids.

Answer: Preventing infections

Coughing is first of all a means of defending against infection. It expels bacteria from your body. It also defends against environmental irritants and pollens.

Answer: Smokers

Chronic bronchitis is most often caused by smoking, although there are a number of other possible causes. It is irreversible and progressive, but if diagnosed early, and if care is taken to eliminate the factors contributing to the condition (like quitting smoking), a person can live a reasonably normal life with chronic bronchitis for years.

Answer: Whooping cough

Whooping cough, or pertussis, has historically been a significant threat to children's health. It's a bacterial infection that often starts out like a cold, but develops into a dry cough that causes difficulty breathing, and produces a "whoop" sound as the person gasps for air. In very young children the condition can be fatal, so it's important to seek medical help promptly.

Answer: Gastrointestinal reflux disease

If you suffer from GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease), generally you will have heartburn, but not always. It is thought that reflux (partial regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus) of non-acidic stomach contents can cause a chronic cough.

Answer: Pulmonary

Pulmonary refers to the lungs. COPD is a major health concern throughout the world. A study published in the December 2015 edition of the Journal of Global Health estimated that there may be over 300 million cases of COPD worldwide.

Answer: Emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Both these conditions are progressive, in that they will worsen, albeit often gradually, over time. The best that can be done for them is to eliminate as much as possible the elements in the environment that are causing irritation and inflammation of the lungs - primarily, stopping smoking or avoiding secondhand smoke. If environmental irritants are controlled, the progression of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema can be slowed dramatically.

There are also medications and in some cases, surgeries, that can help a person with COPD function more comfortably.

Answer: A medication to aid in removing phlegm from the body

"Expectorating" is simply a fancy synonym for "spitting". In the US, the primary ingredient in expectorant cough preparations is guaifenesin. Expectorants are thought to work by thinning out the mucus present in the bronchial tubes, making it easier to cough it up.

There is some disagreement in medical circles, however, as to whether expectorants are truly effective in treating coughs.

Answer: The lungs develop a reduced ability to expel air

In the lungs are tiny elastic air sacs called alveoli. They are separated from red blood cells by the thinnest of membranes. This is where the exchange of gases takes place in respiration; where carbon dioxide from the body is transferred back to the lungs from the blood to be exhaled, and oxygen from the lungs is transferred into the blood for circulation to the body's cells.

In emphysema, the alveoli are damaged. Their walls break down, causing them to be fewer but also enlarged, and they lose elasticity, which makes it difficult to expel air from the lungs.

In addition to the breakdown of the alveoli, the bronchial tubes (which alveoli support) collapse, causing obstruction in the airway. This damage effectively reduces the functional capacity of the lungs, causing shortness of breath and poor oxygenation of the cells throughout the body.

Answer: A physical therapy to loosen mucus in the lungs

Percussions can be performed in a number of ways, but the treatment involves tapping briskly and rapidly on the back and sides of the person who has the cough, with the goal of loosening up the mucus responsible so it can be expelled from the body. There are mechanical devices available to perform percussions, but the procedure can also be performed by another person.

In general, percussions should be done at least daily and often more frequently, after training by a medical professional and as ordered by a qualified physician or therapist.