With what to do inhalation with a dry cough?

All of us have suffered from coughs at least once. He does not allow him to sleep well, work, coughing fits make it difficult to breathe normally, and his throat begins to hurt. Coping with the symptom is quite simple using an integrated approach to treatment. Inhalation is especially useful for dry cough in combination with other techniques.

The cause of the appearance of a cough can be an allergic factor, viral, bacterial infection with the development of sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea, bronchi. For preventive purposes, steam procedures are used in chronic bronchitis to prevent exacerbation, as well as with prolonged immobilization due to an operation, trauma, and neurological pathology.

At home, you can perform both conventional steam inhalation and procedures using a nebulizer. The use of this device is indicated in pediatrics, otolaryngology, pulmonology. In the absence of a device at home, procedures are carried out in a polyclinic, hospital, since almost all medical institutions are equipped with nebulizers.

Traditional recipes for steam treatments

With what to do inhalation if there is no nebulizer? Having somewhat lost their position, steam inhalation is still used at home. We emphasize that water vapor contains drug particles with a diameter of about 20 microns, which makes it impossible to penetrate the respiratory tract beyond the trachea. In connection with these steam inhalations are not considered effective for bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia.

Note also that inhalation of hot steam causes a burn of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, larynx, trachea. Many drugs are not allowed to be used for steam inhalation, since after heating they lose their therapeutic activity.

After inhalation of warm steam, a short-term effect is observed in the form of increased local blood flow, dilatation of blood vessels. As a result, soreness decreases, the mucous membrane is moistened.

For inhalations, decoctions, herbal infusions, soda, essential oils and other medicines are used.

Of the essential oils shown are eucalyptus, fir, ginger, tea tree, cypress. It is enough to add a couple of drops of oil to 2 cups of boiling water, breathe in steam for 5 minutes.
After boiling potatoes, you can inhale the steam by covering your head with a towel. Also used potato broth, its boiled peel.
Dried pine buds in a volume of 10 g, you need to pour 180 ml of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Breathe over steam for 10 minutes.
30 g of honey is poured into 180 ml of boiling water, dissolves thoroughly, after which the steam is inhaled for 10 minutes. Inhalation will not only reduce coughing, but it will also calm the nerves, which is especially helpful before bed.
Of the herbs, thyme, sage, St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula are widely used. It is enough to pour 15 g of 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, use for inhalation.
An infusion of eucalyptus leaves is prepared by brewing 25 g of herb with boiling water (400 ml).
To combat microbes (with tonsillitis, pharyngitis), the use of garlic is indicated. For a liter of boiling water, 30 g of mint, chopped clove of garlic are taken.

Inhalations are carried out with drugs that do not cause allergic reactions in order to avoid the development of respiratory failure against the background of bronchospasm.

Soda inhalation

To prepare a dry cough medicine, it is enough to have soda at home. In the absence of the ability to cough up phlegm, the use of baking soda is indicated, which has a mild mucolytic effect, which helps to remove phlegm.

For cooking, you need to dissolve 15 g of soda in a liter of boiling water. Inhalation with soda is carried out as follows. A funnel made of cardboard is inserted into the spout of the teapot: you should bend over it, covering your head with a towel. You need to inhale for 10 minutes.

Inhalation is recommended for:

reducing swelling of the mucous membrane in the respiratory organs;
fight microbes;
anti-inflammatory action;
reducing pain;
activation of sputum excretion after reducing its viscosity.

Soda inhalation is prohibited for children under 2 years of age.

Is it possible to do inhalation with buffer baking soda using a nebulizer? This universal remedy is easy to use and has a powerful antimicrobial and moisturizing effect. 1 ml of the drug contains 42 mg of sodium bicarbonate.

If a dry cough is caused by difficulties in excretion of sputum, the use of soda-buffer provides an increase in bronchial secretion, a decrease in the viscosity of sputum, alkalization of bronchial mucus, which in combination facilitates the excretion of sputum.

Alkaline inhalations have the same effect for dry coughs using alkaline mineral water. Its use is permitted only after degassing.

Inhalation rules

To protect yourself from complications, to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect, you must follow some rules:

The procedure is carried out an hour after physical activity, food intake in order to avoid stimulation of the gag reflex.
After inhalation, it is forbidden to go out into the cold for an hour, drink liquid, smoke.
The duration of the procedure is up to 10 minutes.
Breathing is carried out through the oral cavity.
For the nebulizer, only saline is used.
The procedure is carried out in a sitting position, while the person should not talk.
Inhale is slow, deep with a delay at the end for 2 seconds.

If a dry cough is caused by an increased viscosity of sputum, bronchospasm, which does not allow you to cough up your throat, you need to adhere to the following scheme.

First, inhalation must be done with bronchodilators, which allow the bronchi to dilate, to provide a sufficient diameter for the passage of sputum. Then inhalations with mucolytics are carried out, the action of which is aimed at reducing the viscosity of sputum, stimulating its excretion. At the end, procedures with antiseptic solutions to combat microbes are recommended. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also indicated.

Contraindications

Before doing inhalation with a dry cough, you should consider the presence of contraindications. These include:

Hyperthermia above 37.5 degrees. In this case, inhalation can increase the fever and worsen the general condition.
Purulent sputum.
A purulent process in the pharynx, for example, lacunar, follicular tonsillitis, the presence of abscesses.
Bleeding tendency.
Pulmonary, nosebleeds, including hemoptysis.
Allergic reactions to the drug used.
Pneumothorax.
Abnormal heart rhythm.
Severe pathology of the cardiovascular system, severe respiratory failure.

It is not recommended to use oil solutions for the nebulizer, as they contaminate the apparatus, close the lumen of the bronchioles with fatty particles, disrupting the drainage function.

Nebulizer benefits

Today, a nebulizer is widely used for dry cough. Its use is allowed even in newborns, however, this is not the only advantage of the device. Inhalation with a dry cough with a nebulizer is more effective due to the presence of:

the possibility of exact adherence to the dosage of the drug;
temperature control, which prevents burns of the respiratory tract;
convenience for the procedure for children;
the possibility of fine crushing of the drug substance, which ensures the penetration of the drug to a certain level of the respiratory system;
the ability to use medications that, when heated, lose their therapeutic effect.

To dilute the medication, 4 ml of saline is required, with 1 ml being used by the device for operation. The cup with the prepared medicine should be held vertically. For one session you need 3-4 ml of solution.

Given the presence of symptoms, you can independently adjust the size of the particles into which the drug will be crushed. If you are worried about sore throat, perspiration, dry cough due to tracheitis, then it is enough to grind the drug to particles with a diameter of more than 5 microns, which will ensure their penetration only into the upper respiratory tract directly into the inflammatory focus.

When worried about a cough associated with inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, then it is recommended to grind the medicine to a particle size of 2-5 microns. If it is necessary to eliminate the residual effects of inflammation after pneumonia, the diameter of the elements should not exceed 2 microns, this will ensure their delivery to the alveoli.

There are two types of devices:

The ultrasound view provides the transformation of the drug using vibrations of the piezoelectric element. This type of device is distinguished by its noiselessness, compactness, which makes it easy to transport. Among the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting some restrictions on the use of medicines. Given the need to heat the drug during crushing, not all drugs are approved for use. For them, heating leads to the loss of medicinal properties. In most cases, ultrasound is used to moisturize the mucous membrane.
The compressor device is widely used at home, in a hospital. With the help of the device, the administration of antibacterial, mucolytic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, immunomodulating agents, phytopreparations is provided. The noisy operation of the device is due to the crushing of the substance. by supplying air under pressure.

If inhalation is planned for small children, the inhaler can be purchased in the form of a toy, and the procedure can be carried out in a playful way. The child needs to lean the mask tightly against the face, adults can use the mouthpiece tube with their lips around it.

After inhalation, the components of the device should be washed with boiled water. If the device is in public use in medical institutions, then the treatment is carried out with antiseptics, then boiled water.

If the rules for caring for the device are not followed, the nebulizer becomes a source of infection.

Nebulizer medicines

What inhalations are performed with a nebulizer?

Bronchodilators (Berodual, Berotek, Ventolin) cause the expansion of the bronchi, facilitating breathing, excretion of phlegm.
Hormonal drugs (Pulmicort, Dexamethasone) reduce glandular secretion, bronchial reactivity, and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Antiseptics (Miramistin, Gentamicin) ensure the delivery of the antimicrobial substance directly to the inflammatory focus to fight infectious microorganisms.
Immunomodulators (Derinat, Interferon) enhances local immune defense.
Mucolytic, expectorant drugs (ACC, Ambroxol) reduce the viscosity of sputum, stimulates its excretion.
Antitussives (Tussamag) inhibit the cough reflex, reduce the reactivity of the bronchi.
Anti-inflammatory drugs (Rotokan) reduce the severity of inflammation, tissue swelling.

We have analyzed what can be used for inhalations, but you should remember that there are contraindications to each drug. In addition to inhalation, you need to stay in bed, drink plenty of warm liquid to stimulate the elimination of toxins, and reduce fever.

Before starting treatment, it is required to consult a doctor, undergo an examination. This will allow you to select the most effective drugs, prevent the occurrence of severe complications.