Chesty Cough

While irritating and unpleasant, conventional coughing is very rarely a cause for concern. The everyday variety is simply a reflex action stemming from the presence of irritants such as dust or smoke in the body’s airways, and will soon clear up.

A chesty cough is typically characterised by its heavy, ‘hacking’ feel, and the production of mucus or phlegm. These viscous fluids accumulate in the lungs and lower airways, making the cough difficult to clear. This is distinctly different from a dry cough, which is classed as non-productive and usually caused by irritation at the back of the throat.

As for the cause, a chesty cough is most likely to stem from a cold or flu virus, but it can also result from exposure to an atmospheric irritant such as pollution, cigarette smoke, or an allergen. Potential causes of chesty coughs are as follows:

• Secondary infections. Bacterial infections can affect the upper or lower respiratory tract and give rise to conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or chest infections. Coughing up yellow phlegm is a strong sign that your body is fighting off an infection — the colour comes from white blood cells.
• Smoking. Long-term smokers will be familiar with the chesty ‘smoker’s cough’. The harsh chemicals and additives present in tobacco, as well as the physical properties of the smoke itself, serve to irritate the lungs, leading to persistent symptoms. Smoking damages the lining of the lungs and prevents the delicate alveoli from removing excess mucous or debris. Since the smoke itself leaves further debris and chemical waste in the lungs, this can easily lead to the lungs becoming clogged.
• Other medical conditions. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cystic fibrosis, and asthma are all conditions that can give rise to chesty coughs, though they’re usually diagnosed very early in life.

Very rarely, a chesty cough can be an indication of heart failure. When heart failure occurs, fluid may build up in the lungs, causing a persistent productive cough: this is known as a ‘pulmonary edema’. In the typical case, a chesty cough isn’t a major cause for concern and should resolve itself gradually over time. If you have a chesty cough for more than three weeks with no sign of improvement, though, you should visit your GP for advice.

A chesty cough will usually feel ‘weighty’ and involve coughing fits that bring up phlegm or mucus. Other symptoms include the following:

• An aching throat. During coughing, mucus can irritate the lining of your throat, causing inflammation
• A rattling sound while inhaling. Dislodged mucus and phlegm can cause this sound farther down in the chest
• A sensation of breathlessness. Excess phlegm and mucus can cause airway obstruction
• Pain in the abdomen or chest. Prolonged coughing fits can strain the muscles and cause aches and pains that persist even after coughing stops

Chesty coughs are usually the results of viral infections. The typical symptoms of a viral illness include the following:

• Congestion
• A sore throat
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• General aches and pains

Chesty coughs usually won’t require any treatment as the symptoms should pass within three or four weeks. If you have a cough caused by an underlying condition, though, you should focus on treating that root condition. If COPD is the cause, for example, controlling the disease itself through the use of an inhaler and specialised medication is the best way to get relief from the cough.

If your chesty cough was brought on by a cold or flu virus, you should focus on getting rest, keeping warm, and drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. A class of medications known as expectorants can also help to ease the symptoms. Expectorants work by thinning the secretions produced by the lungs, enabling phlegm and mucus to be coughed up more easily. An expectorant will usually have guaifenesin or ipecacuanha as its active ingredient.

Some chesty cough treatments may contain combinations of active ingredients. For example, an expectorant may also contain a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine. Other preparations might instead contain painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Antitussive or ‘cough suppressant’ medication can also prove effective at controlling a chesty cough. These medications work by decreasing activity in the part of the brain that triggers the reflexive impulse to cough. However, antitussives alone won’t treat the root cause of a cough, and thus can only have limited efficacy.

While each of the chesty cough treatments listed above can be easily acquired without a prescription, a homemade remedy of hot water, lemon juice and honey can work well without requiring you to order anything. Just be aware that honey shouldn’t be given to babies under the age of one, as it carries the risk of infant botulism.

While chesty coughs are often caused by infections that are difficult to prevent, the best advice here is to take good care of your general health.

Boosting your immune system with simple steps like eating well and exercising regularly will give you a greater chance of fighting off infections.

Other steps you can take to ensure your immune system remains in good working order include the following:

• Getting plenty of high-quality sleep
• Avoiding stress and anxiety
• Staying hydrated (pure water is ideal)
• Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption
• Quitting (or at least minimising) smoking
• Keeping asthma under control

If you experience a persistent or recurring cough that worries you, visit your GP. They can determine if there is an underlying cause and provide treatment if necessary.