Coughing is a reflex reaction for clearing the throat and lungs of irritants or phlegm. There are two types of cough: productive and non-productive. A productive cough produces phlegm. A dry cough is a cough that does not bring up any phlegm. In chronic smokers, dry cough is manifested. Dry coughs may cause a tickling sensation and are often due to irritation in the throat.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- CAUSES
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
- DIAGNOSIS
- TREATMENTS
- PROGNOSIS
- COMPLICATIONS
- SMOKER’S COUGH AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES
- HOME REMEDIES
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR
- YOGA
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Tickling sensation of the throat
- Cough without phlegm
- Chest pain due to chronic cough
CAUSES
- Chronic smoking
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Due to chronic smoking inflammation occurs in the respiratory tract. The body tries to remove the substances through coughing. Smoker’s cough worse upon waking because the cilia were unaffected by tobacco smoke during sleep and so were more able to catch and expel the chemicals.
DIAGNOSIS
- Proper history taking
- CT scan
- X-ray
- Lung function test
- Lab tests
- Bronchoscopy
TREATMENTS
- Stop smoking
- Cough suppressants are not very effective
PROGNOSIS
- The prognosis is based on the duration of the disease and the condition of the patient
COMPLICATIONS
- Lung cancer
SMOKER’S COUGH AND AYURVEDA
A smoker’s cough is generally dry. In Ayurveda, dry cough refers to vatika kasa roga.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES
- Excess consumption of cold, dry, ununctuous food
- Vata dosha vitiation
- Excessive physical strain
- Suppression of natural urges
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS
- A feeling of congestion in the throat
- Itching sensation in the throat
- Obstruction in swallowing
- Hoarseness of voice
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS
- Due to the causative factors, vata dosha becomes vitiated and moves upwards leading to aggravation prana and udana vayu located in the chest region. Further vata brings contraction of the chest and its sides producing dry cough with a loud sound.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness of voice
- Dryness of mouth and throat
- Horripilation
- Coughing with a loud sound
- Difficulty in expectoration of sputum
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS
- Sadhya – curable with proper treatments at the early stage
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT
- Kantakari ghrita
- Pippalyadi ghrita
- Rasna ghrita
- Vidangadi churna
- Agastya hareetaki
- Dasamoola rasayana
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT
- ANUVASANA VASTHI – pippalyadi tailam
- DHUPANA – Manashiladi dhuma varti
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR SMOKER’S COUGH
Internal administration
- Swasanandam Gulika
- Kantakari ghrita
- Pippalyadi ghrita
- Rasna ghrita
- Vidangadi churna
- Agastya hareetaki
- Dasamoola rasayana
HOME REMEDIES FOR SMOKER’S COUGH
- Intake of warm water frequently
- Intake of water boiled with dry ginger
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR
- Avoid food items which produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items
- Avoid smoking
- Daily exercise
- Intake of gruel mixed with ghee and salt
YOGA
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – cleans the respiratory passage
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT
- Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics Agastya Haritaki Rasayana: A Critical Review