Who Is At Risk Of Developing Cough Variant Asthma
· Children, especially during their early childhood, are at a higher risk of developing it.
· Someone with a family history of asthma.
· Associated history of pneumonia or bronchitis increases the risk.
· Person with a weak immune system.
· People exposed to environmental pollution or those living around farms
· Active or passive smokers.
· Obese People
· Presence of any other allergic conditions.
Some other conditions that can cause a cough, but are not necessarily CVA include bronchitis, COPD , blood pressure medication in adults, GERD , post nasal drip, etc.
What Are The Symptoms Of Cva
CVA is only defined by one symptom: a chronic cough that cant be explained by other causes. This cough is usually dry and lasts at least six to eight weeks. It doesnt include some of the other defining symptoms of asthma, such as:
- chest tightness
indicated that CVA is one of the most common causes of coughing worldwide.
Another study from Japan noted that in 42 percent of people, an unexplained, persistent cough was attributed to CVA. About 28 percent could be explained by cough-predominant asthma, which is closely related to CVA. Persistent coughing can also indicate other conditions such as postnasal drip and GERD.
When To Seek Medical Help
Often, a rescue inhaler is enough to treat an asthma attack.
If youre unable to get your asthma attack under control, you may need to seek emergency medical attention. Go to the nearest ER if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- extreme shortness of breath or wheezing, especially in the morning or at night
- needing to strain your chest muscles to breathe
- symptoms not subsiding after youve used a rescue inhaler
- having difficulty speaking
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Coccus Cacti Natural Treatment For Cough Variant Asthma With Suffocating Cough
Coccus Cacti one of the top homeopathic medicines for cough variant asthma. The main characteristic that indicates the need for this remedy is a tickling sensation in the larynx which wakes up a person at night. This is followed by an incessant cough ending in vomiting of profuse mucous or food.A cough after rising in the morning or early morning cough which leads to vomiting of a lot of mucus also indicates the need for Coccus Cacti. It is also helpful in suffocative coughs, where there is an accumulation of mucus in the chest which is difficult to expel. A cough is at times triggered after dinner or due to overeating. Overfilling of the stomach may bring on paroxysms of a cough. There may also be a sense of discomfort or pressure in the chest due to the accumulation of excessive mucus. The cough episodes of CVA are triggered by brushing teeth or rinsing the mouth, clearing the throat, exposure to a warm room, or by consuming alcoholic beverages.
Key Indications for the use of Coccus Cacti for CVA:
Tickling Sensation Suffocative Cough
How Is An Asthma Cough Diagnosed
It is quite difficult to understand when you need to seek medical opinion for your asthma cough. In most cases, because the only symptom is a chronic cough, people tend to ignore the problem and continue on with their lives. However, if your cough has lasted for more than 8 weeks and you cannot clearly identify any reason behind it, then you should consult your doctor.
Your doctor will begin by prescribing breathing tests that measure your lung capacity and lung function. You will probably be made to have these tests from time to time so that your doctor can understand the effectiveness of your medications. In some cases, allergy testing is also prescribed, particularly if the doctor suspects an allergen trigger behind your asthma cough.
Some doctors may also suggest a methacholine challenge test. In this test, when you inhale methacholine, it triggers a bout of coughing and bronchial spasms. While this trigger is observed in everyone, a person suffering from asthma will have an increased sensitivity to the test.
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What Is A Cough
Although folk wisdom views coughing as a grave portent of illness What did one casket say to the other? “I hear you coffin” the cough is actually a vital player in the body’s defense against disease. Coughing expels mucus, microbes, and foreign particles from the respiratory tract, protecting the lungs from infection and inflammation.
The cough begins with an initial gasp that draws air deep into the lungs. Next, the glottis snaps shut, putting a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. The third step is the forceful contraction of the muscles of the chest cage, abdomen, and diaphragm . In normal breathing, these muscles push air gently from the lungs up through the nose and mouth. But when the glottis is closed, the air can’t move out, so tremendous pressure builds up in the air passages. Finally, the glottis swings open and the air rushes out. And it is quite a rush in a vigorous cough, the air travels out at nearly the speed of sound, creating the barking or whooping noise that we call a cough.
Treating Cough Variant Asthma
CVA is treated in the same way as regular asthma, given both of them engender the same effect on the airways and the lungs, only differing in severity. There are a number of treatment options, and the doctor may prescribe any or a combination of the following:
- Rescue inhalers that work to provide instant relief by bringing down airway inflammation quickly in the case of an asthma attack
- Inhaled corticosteroids or inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs that alleviate and prevent swelling in the bronchial tubes
- Allergy medications such as antihistamines and a mix of inhalers that include both preventive medicines and fast-responding medicines
- Preventive oral medications that work to keep the airways open
Some options might give you better results than others, and thus the treatment strategy can vary from person to person. You will have to work closely with your doctor to come up with one that suits you best.
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How To Prevent Cough Variant Asthma
- It may also be useful to jot down any known or potential triggers and actively avoid exposure to them.
- Keeping your weight in check can also work to take the load of your respiratory responses. Being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms, and it puts you at higher risk of other health problems.
- Try to steer clear of secondhand smoke and other environmental and occupational irritants.
- Be mindful of your personal risk factors.
- Effectively manage your allergies, if you have any.
- Quit or avoid smoking.
- Do breathing exercises to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
- Cover your nose and mouth before going outside when the pollen count is high.
- If youâre allergic to dander, avoid pets with fur or feathers.
- If you have pets, regularly bathe or groom them to reduce the amount of dander in your surroundings.
- Drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
Treatment for CVA is not difficult if the problem is diagnosed early. Many simple and effective home remedies can provide relief from the CVA-related dry cough and help you get better, faster.
Is Magnesium Sulfate Effective
The scientific evidence supporting the use of magnesium sulfate in the treatment of severe asthma is mixed.
Authors of a 2013 study recruited 508 children from British hospitals who had severe flare-ups of asthma that had not responded to standard inhaled treatment.
The researchers randomly assigned the children to receive either nebulized magnesium sulfate or a placebo, in addition to standard asthma medications.
They concluded that nebulized magnesium sulfate in combination with standard treatment did not produce a clinically significant improvement in the childrens asthma symptoms.
However, the authors noted that children with more severe asthma symptoms showed the most significant response to magnesium treatment.
In 2014, another large British trial set out to establish how effectively magnesium sulfate could reduce asthma symptoms.
The authors recruited 1,109 adults with severe acute asthma and randomly assigned participants to receive either IV magnesium, nebulized magnesium, or standard therapy alone.
The researchers were reportedly unable to demonstrate a clinically worthwhile benefit of magnesium sulfate treatment. However, they found some weak evidence that IV magnesium sulfate could reduce the number of hospitalizations due to asthma attacks.
The findings of a systematic review, published in the same year, were more positive. The researchers analyzed data from 14 trials that had compared IV magnesium sulfate treatment to placebos in adults with acute asthma.
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Symptoms Of Cough Variant Asthma
- The only characteristic feature of a case of CVA is an unexplained chronic cough that doesnât seem to be rooted in any other condition or cause.
- This cough is usually dry, which means it is not accompanied by phlegm or mucus expulsion and lasts at least six to eight weeks.
- Although CVA does not present any of the other symptoms typically associated with asthma, such as fluid in the lungs, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing, it affects the airways in the same way as its more traditional counterpart does. To expand further, the bronchial tubes tend to become hyper-responsive and tighten up, making breathing increasingly difficult. Thus, itâs essential to manage CVA properly to avoid grave complications.
Exercise Tips For People With Allergic Asthma
Engaging in regular physical activity is important for your health, even if you have allergic asthma. Here are some tips to help you exercise and engage in sports more safely:
Some mild symptoms of allergic asthma that occur while exercising may resolve on their own. More severe reactions could require medical attention. Seek emergency medical help right away if you experience:
- an asthma attack that doesnt improve after using your rescue inhaler
- rapidly increasing shortness of breath
- wheezing that makes breathing a challenge
- chest muscles that strain in an effort to breathe
- an inability to say more than a few words at a time due to shortness of breath
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Cough Variant Asthma Can Be Hidden
The problem with cough variant asthma is that it is easy to miss. It usually develops simultaneously with, or at the tail-end of, some other medical issue like a cold or an upper bronchial infection. It also hides from tests that would normally detect classic asthma. And finally, many people just arent aware of it.
It is important to recognize the telltale symptom of cough variant asthma: a chronic, nonproductive cough, and that there are natural tools to help relieve some of the symptoms and issues that come with it. If you can effectively manage cough variant asthma, it is less likely to turn into classic asthma.
Severity Of An Asthma Attack
Mild asthma is fairly common and usually can be addressed with natural remedies. Its good to know the symptoms of each stage though, so you know when to seek a doctors care.
- Mild slight wheezing and difficulty breathing but adequate air intake. This can be intermittent or persistent .
- Moderate conspicuous wheezing, respiratory distress at rest, use of abdominal muscles to breathe. These flare-ups can make regular activities and sleeping difficulty.
- Severe obvious respiratory distress, blue skin , absent breath sounds.
- Respiratory Failure severe respiratory distress, lethargy, confusion, sweating, low blood pressure.
If you or someone you know is having an asthma attack that resembles severe or respiratory failure, call 911 right away.
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What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack
A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.
If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:
- Anxiety or panic.
- Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
- Chest pain or pressure.
Spirometry Helps Diagnose And Manage Asthma
A spirometry test can confirm whether you have asthma or another disease. And it helps your healthcare provider decide on your treatment. A spirometry test can also show how well your treatment is working. If follow-up spirometry tests show that your asthma is well controlled, your treatment is working. If it shows that your asthma is not under control, your doctor may need to change your medicine or give you more medicine.
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How Is Asthma Treated
Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you and stay away from things that can trigger an attack to control your asthma.
Everyone with asthma does not take the same medicine.
You can breathe in some medicines and take other medicines as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two typesquick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, visit your doctor to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they dont help you while you are having an asthma attack.
Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor about the side effects of your medicines.
Remember you can control your asthma. With your doctors help, make your own asthma action plan. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. Take your long-term control medicine even when you dont have symptoms.
Habit Cough Or Cough Variant Asthma
I made this post on a Facebook group called Cough Variant AsthmaHERE.
I have included numerous links and references.
You need to “deep dive” this to understand what is going on with your child’s health or yours. I make every attempt to link only to “peer reviewed and published” documents.
Note: Websites like WebMD.com, KidsHealth.com, Health.com and similar are a great place to start.
They are each peer reviewed, so that you can believe what you see on the website.
Remember that a LOT of medicine is “peer reviewed and published”.
Some information might seem contradictory. This is because everyone is different and outcomes ALWAYS vary.
Deep dive for your child or self. This is how we got this far with Bethany’s Habit Cough cure. Never give up. Never give in. Ask a lot of questions. Show your doctors only peer reviewed and published documentation.
Our daughter’s misdiagnosed mystery cough was cured by a renowned pediatric pulmonologist, allergy and asthma – medical doctor.
My impression of important diagnosis and differences between CVA & Habit Cough: For our daughter, only, I found out that “… Cough absent during sleep would suggest Habit Cough. A trial of an oral corticosteroidwith response might indicate CVA with cough present during sleep …”Bethany’s cough was absent during sleep – it was Habit Cough! Brilliantly researched and cured as you will read below.
Just published, “Cures of the cough without a cause” – HERE
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How Can You Tell If You Have Asthma
It can be hard to tell if someone has asthma, especially in children under age 5. Having a doctor check how well your lungs work and check for allergies can help you find out if you have asthma.
During a checkup, a doctor will ask if you cough a lot, especially at night. He or she will also ask whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or at certain times of year. The doctor will then ask about chest tightness, wheezing, and colds lasting more than 10 days. He or she will ask whether anyone in your family has or has had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. Finally, the doctor will ask questions about your home and whether you have missed school or work or have trouble doing certain things.
The doctor may also do a breathing test, called spirometry, to find out how well your lungs are working by testing how much air you can breathe out after taking a very deep breath before and after you use asthma medicine.
Persistent Cough Common Causes And Cures
What’s that nagging cough, and what can you do to cure it? Cough for a minute or two, and you may think something has “gone down the wrong pipe.” Cough for a day or two, and you may think you’ve picked up a cold or the flu. After a week, bronchitis or allergies may come to mind. But after three or four weeks, your mind starts to race, and the worry begins to mount.
For many people, chronic coughing raises the specter of cancer. But is cancer really a common cause of a cough that lingers? And if it’s not, what is and what can you do to quiet a nagging cough?
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Risk Factors Related To Cough Variant Asthma
People who have another allergic condition, regular asthma, or a relative with asthma are at a higher risk for CVA. Other risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Vomiting
- Urinary leakage and incontinence
All of these together can take a massive toll on you and have damaging consequences for both your personal and professional lives.
Moreover, prolonged negligence of this condition can give rise to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can hamper your lung function to a significant degree. Poorly managed CVA can also lead to other serious complications that may be fatal, such as:
- Pneumonia
- Resistant asthma attacks that donât respond to treatment
- Irredeemable constriction of the airways, which makes it hard to breathe in general, and not just during flare-ups
- Collapsed lung
- Complete lung failure
If CVA is not treated and managed correctly, it may progress into classic asthma. According to a study published in Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews in 2011, 30 percent to 40 percent of CVA cases in adult patients, unless adequately treated, may progress to classic asthma.