Shallow breathing in a child and cough: you should consult a doctor. I can not clear my throat: what to do if sputum is not expectorated

Many people know that bronchospasm is a sign of the presence in the body of harmful substances and a way to get rid of them through airways. But what to do if it is difficult to inhale and exhale, there is a feeling of lack of air? Such a suffocating cough in an adult and in a child may indicate not only a problem with the upper respiratory tract, but also other disturbances in the functioning of the body. Consider what you should prepare for and how you can alleviate the symptoms.

  What is the cause of the disease

We are talking about possible factors that have led to the appearance of coughing with asthma. Perhaps, the first many will call smoking, because such a symptom often develops in heavy smokers. Due to the penetration into the airways of caustic tar, irritation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and bronchi occurs, and if the seizures recur in the morning, we can talk about the development of bronchitis. This disease does not disappear on its own, but the prolonged inflammatory process  leads to tuberculosis.

However, the causes of this combination of symptoms may be hidden in a number of diseases. So, a choking cough appears when:

  • infectious or allergic asthma;
  • bronchitis;
  • tracheitis;
  • laryngitis;
  • pulmonary edema;
  • tumor (benign / malignant) respiratory tract;
  • heart failure;
  • hypertension;
  • emotional overstrain.

The same reasons provoke the occurrence of cough with signs of suffocation in children. In addition, the child may suffocate from cough due to rickets, an acute shortage of calcium salts in the body or as a result of postpartum injury.

A cough with suffocation may appear at any time, but, as a rule, bouts of anxiety are disturbed at night. Such a bronchospasm either begins with snoring or occurs abruptly. It is provoked by allergens, harmful substances in the air, a strong odor, as well as cold air, cold. Other symptoms may be present depending on the underlying disease. So, if bronchial asthma develops, then there are:

By the way, it is this disease that is detected during the examination of a person who complains: “Tortured coughing  and just suffocate. "

Dry choking cough with a slight sputum often indicates laryngitis, which develops as a result of influenza, ARVI, scarlet fever, whooping cough. During his illness, the patient suffers from:

  • tingling throat;
  • sudden loss of voice;
  • swelling of the vocal cords.

This disease is also characterized by fever. It is possible to get rid of the heat and bronchospasms only after taking anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs.

Note that the pain and sore throat, turning into a choking cough, can sometimes be a side reaction of some drugs.

Most of all frightens, when the person starts to cough and choke suddenly. You should know that this is sometimes due to the development of one of the types of asthma, cardiovascular problems. These symptoms may be a manifestation allergic reaction. Sudden bronchospasm often becomes a consequence of severe nervous shock, excessive exercise, and even overeating. The appearance of a spasm in the throat, heavy breathing with unpleasant whistling sounds may indicate a malfunction of the thyroid gland, as well as the pathology of the heart, larynx. It is possible to confirm or refute the assumptions regarding any of these diseases only as a result of examination in a medical institution.

  Before treatment - diagnosis

A visit to a doctor and an examination are necessary not only in order to take off on the basis of their results. unpleasant symptoms. If the correct therapy is not prescribed in a timely manner, complications are possible. So, when suffocating coughing in the lungs, air is retained, and this entails a change in the rhythm of breathing. Then a chain of pathologies arises: lack of oxygen leads to an increase in the blood level of carbon dioxide, as a result, the brain is not able to function fully, and the person loses consciousness. In this case, complications can affect various organs and systems.

To prevent such phenomena, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are needed. It is possible to establish why a cough is stifled after blood tests, sputum, feces, allergy tests are taken. To get a more complete picture of the changes and make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor gives you a referral for x-rays, fluorography, tomography, bronchoscopy or an electrocardiogram.

Differential diagnosis provides an opportunity to get answers to all possible questions, to establish the true cause of seizures. The diagnosis takes into account the symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, asthma attacks) characteristic of various diseases.

The doctor draws attention to how often, long, painful, which leads to its strengthening. Based on all data, treatment is prescribed.

  Reduce and relieve symptoms

Depending on what disease has provoked coughing and suffocation, the doctor may prescribe drugs that will relieve inflammation, will have an antiseptic, enveloping effect. To reduce inflammation and prevent the development of asphyxiation, use drugs from the group of glucocorticosteroid hormones. The most popular are Benacort, Pulmicort, Aldetsin, Eco Light Breath.

Vitamins are also needed to strengthen the immune system and eliminate symptoms. So, it has been established that it is precisely the lack of ascorbic acid that causes the appearance of suffocation, and to prevent this from happening, people with bronchial asthma, heart disease and blood vessels, allergies should take this vitamin 1-4 g daily.

The diet should contain foods in which it is contained in large quantities. Therefore, the menu is better to replenish citrus different types, strawberries and currants, rosehips, red and green peppers, cabbage.

Vitamin B6 helps to reduce the risk of bronchospasm; to relieve shortness of breath, it is enough to administer it in an amount of 50 mg during the day. Replenish the supply of vitamin B6 with nuts, beans, chicken, fish of any kind, pomegranate. Vitamin B12 is also prescribed, but not more than 1 mg per week and only under medical supervision. This vitamin can enter our body with meat, chicken eggs, sour cream, liver, fish, hard cheese. To prevent attacks, it is also recommended that vitamin E contained in beef liver, chicken eggs, cereal grains. In addition, Omega 3 and 9, as well as magnesium and selenium, help relieve inflammation.

In order not to provoke bronchospasms, you should limit the consumption of products with a high content of oxalic acid (spinach, rhubarb, beets, coffee, green tea), Omega 6 (vegetable oil). These foods can cause cramps and increase inflammation.

In many diseases of the respiratory tract physiotherapy is recommended. Faster recovery is possible using electrophoresis, ultrasound, phonophoresis, magnetic therapy.

Speleotherapy gives good results - air treatment in salt mines, where there are a lot of salts of calcium, sodium, magnesium. Acupuncture, massage, swimming, exercise therapy are useful.

  What you can do yourself

Help to remove the attack warm foot bath. For the procedure will need water 45 ° C and mustard (2 tablespoons). In such a bath feet should be up to 15 minutes. During strong attack ethnoscience  recommends using only hot water (without additives), and keep both feet and hands in it.

Traditional healers widely use decoctions and tinctures based on healing herbs. So, peppermint is rich in menthol, so it supports the respiratory system, especially during asphyxiation. At the root of elecampane contains a large number of substances necessary to improve the patency of the bronchi, separation and removal of sputum. These plants can be used to make tea.

More time should be spent outdoors. It is better to do this even before a small sore throat leads to serious illness. In any case, with properly selected treatment and the implementation of medical recommendations, the prognosis is always positive.

Some patients often complain that with bronchospasms they breathe heavily. “I cough, I already suffocate” - with these words they describe their condition. If a person does not exaggerate (and this happens to particularly suspicious people), then such symptoms can be a signal of the course of quite serious diseases.

   Cough, difficult to breathe in bronchial asthma

Chronic respiratory disease - bronchial asthma - ailment is quite unpleasant. It occurs in people of different ages, but most often occurs in children.

Coughing when coughing in patients is explained by the features of the course of the disease:

  • Sensitive airways exposed to irritant.
  • There is swelling of the bronchi, their spasm.
  • The mucus produced in the respiratory organs begins to increase in volume.
  • A cough appears.
  • Difficult to normal hit and the discharge of air in the respiratory tract, making it difficult to breathe.

There are a large number of substances provoking the onset of attacks. bronchial asthma. Among them, those that cause harsh smells and force them to breathe are considered the strongest:

  • Cigarette smoke.
  • Perfume and eau de toilette.
  • Traffic fumes.
  • Household chemicals.

A patient with bronchial asthma can say: “I have a cough, I suffocate” a few minutes after heavy physical exertion. Especially if it was accompanied by inhalation of cold or very dry air.

Coughing and breathing may cause aspirin in asthmatics. Often severe symptoms occur after drinking beer, wine or food additives.

Shortness of breath and cough in bronchial asthma can be accompanied by:

  • Shortness of breath.
  • By fear.
  • Loud wheezing with a whistle.
  • Suffocation.

If the attack is hard enough, then the person begins to breathe through his mouth. Special inhalers with medicinal preparations help to stop the attacks. After their use, unpleasant symptoms most often disappear in a few minutes.

   Cough difficult to breathe with emphysema

Breathing problems and bronchospasms are frequent companions of patients with severe lung disease, characterized by:

  • The destruction of the alveoli.
  • Increased airiness of the lungs.


Emphysema, which interferes with breathing, is most often observed in people over 50 years of age. Men suffer from the disease several times more often than women.

The main complaint with emphysema is that the patient says: “I cough and suffocate.” At the beginning of the development of the disease, such symptoms appear only after heavy physical exertion. Then at rest. The following complaints are also observed:

  • Exhale hard and long.
  • Chest pressure.

   Cough, heavy breathing in heart disease

Very often, bronchospasms and unpleasant symptoms associated with the lungs and airways are caused by problems with the cardiovascular system. Severe and rapid breathing, coughing can occur due to:

If it is difficult to breathe, there is not enough air, the cough appears in a horizontal position, then it is useful to consult a cardiologist. Often severe symptoms are accompanied by:

  • Pain in the chest.
  • Fainting
  • Heart palpitations.

Of course, if a cough suddenly appeared, breathing was difficult and sputum appeared, you should not immediately suspect that you have the worst severe illness. However, the doctor should be visited on a mandatory basis. The specialist will help determine why the patient is difficult to breathe and cough. And also will prescribe a course of treatment, having passed which a person can put his health in order and get rid of the illness.

Colds often cause complications that can significantly impair the patient’s quality of life. One of the most dangerous symptoms - shortness of breath, which appears during coughing. Before you begin treatment, you need to understand why it is difficult to breathe, coughing and wheezing appeared. The reasons why a person does not have enough air can be very different - from bronchial asthma to the pathology of the cardiovascular system.

In most cases, shortness of breath occurs from long and agonizing coughing attacks. The mucous membranes of the airways when they are strongly irritated. They consider air to be the same pathogenic environment as bacteria have multiplied, so it is pushed out along with sputum. The person simply does not have time to take a breath before the next attack. Because of hypoxia, the brain releases stress hormones that make dyspnea stronger.

The mechanism of breathing difficulties is as follows:

  • bacteria or mucous membranes attacked the respiratory tract mucous membranes;
  • due to the development of infection, bronchial edema appears, spasms occur;
  • an increase in mucus hampers the bronchi;
  • the body tries to get rid of the mucus that prevents it - a dry cough occurs;
  • these processes prevent a person from breathing, so he suffers a lack of oxygen.

This is exactly how bronchitis, emphysema or asthma occurs. The latter disease is one of the most unpleasant, since it is almost impossible to recover from it.

How to treat respiratory failure

The first thing to do when breathing is difficult is to see a doctor. The second is to remove all irritants from the house that can trigger coughing episodes: allergens, cigarette smoke, perfume, aerosol-scented deodorants, household chemicals. Relieve stress and follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor.

For the treatment of respiratory diseases (emphysema or asthma) it is recommended to use the methods of traditional and auxiliary therapy. Most often, doctors prescribe:

  1. Bronchodilators: Teopek, Eufillin or Theophylline. They improve the patency of the bronchi. In difficult cases, the drugs are injected, and in the lungs prescribe tablets analogs.
  2. To increase the patency of the bronchi and inhalation medications are used: Salbutamol, Ventolin or Berotek. With bronchitis you can use folk remedies, for example, mineral water, saline or decoctions of herbs.
  3. If the patient's condition is running, he is prescribed glucocorticoid hormonal agents: Korifen or Prednisalon.
  4. Dilution of sputum and its removal from the lungs is carried out with expectorants: ACC, Lasolvan, Bromhexin, Flavamed, Prospan or Ambroxol. These funds are prescribed for bronchitis. In parallel, you can use folk remedies.
  5. If unhealed bronchitis has become the cause of shortness of breath and attacks of dry cough, in this case it is a good idea to have antibiotic therapy. Medicines pick up wide spectrum  actions based on penicillin or azithromycin.

If respiratory failure is significant, then doctors resort to oxygen therapy, that is, they prescribe a medicinal composition in a portable balloon for short-term inhalations. Patients in critical conditions are connected to the apparatus for artificial ventilation of the lungs.

Breathing exercises can reduce spasms in the bronchi. It is prescribed for emphysema and asthma. This method of additional therapy does not help immediately; you will notice an improvement in your condition in about two weeks.

The course of treatment with the drugs listed above lasts from two weeks. Some people will need to take asthmatics for life. By unconventional treatment methods can not be fanatical. Use them only for prophylaxis or adjuvant therapy. One of the popular recipes is the use of warm milk with honey or carrot juice. For a glass of milk you need to take a tablespoon of honey or carrot juice. You can also buy in the pharmacy ready pulmonary collection.

If you suffer from coughing, sputum does not cough, it hurts in the chest area, the person cannot concentrate on work and lead a normal life.

When you want to constantly cough, but sputum is not expectorated, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor - the reasons may be the most serious.

Dry, prolonged coughA poorly treatable condition that does not cough up sputum is usually the result of a badly treated cold or flu.

If the patient did not adhere to bed rest or did not take medicines according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor, then it is difficult for him to cough up.

Over time, the phlegm becomes less viscous, the dry cough becomes wet, but it is still hard to cough. The phlegm fills the bronchi and serves as a breeding ground for bacteria, the patient suffers from pain and asphyxiation.

Vomiting gusts can occur, especially a person feels bad at night when he is in a horizontal position.

What to do if exhausted dry, prolonged cough, and sputum does not cough, what doctor to contact and what means to take - about all this below.

Of course, before you start to do something, it does not matter, will be treated with folk remedies or medicines, you need to establish the reason why a dry cough does not cough, and sputum is delayed in the bronchi.

The doctor will do it best - it is important to start treatment as soon as possible with optimal methods and not to postpone the hospital visit.

Most often, dry cough, in which it is difficult to cough up sputum, occurs for such reasons:

  • Inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract. Bacteria or viruses can cause inflammation. They usually provoke diseases such as influenza, whooping cough, diphtheria, tuberculosis, pneumonia. The patient suffers from a dry cough, but sputum often leaves bad. Even with adequate treatment, recovery occurs no earlier than after three weeks;
  • Pleurisy. accompanied by severe fever and shortness of breath;
  • Gastroesophageal reflux. This phenomenon occurs in diseases of the digestive tract, when food trapped in the stomach, goes back into the esophagus. Gastric acid irritates mucous membranes and provokes coughing;
  • Inhalation of air contaminated with dust or toxic fumes is usually such a process due to professional activity;
  • Bronchial asthma or smoker's bronchitis - in such cases, dry cough and poorly flowing sputum can also torment;
  • Foreign objects caught in the respiratory tract;
  • Allergic reactions - usually the patient complains of lacrimation and runny nose.

This is far from the whole list of reasons why a cough with a bad discharge of sputum can occur. To accurately establish it, you need to be examined in a good clinic, get tested and consult with an otolaryngologist, describing in detail all the symptoms.

Dry Cough Treatments

Cough with poor expectoration is not an independent pathology, but only a symptom of one of them. Therefore, complex treatment is usually required to eliminate symptoms and underlying causes. If speak about drug treatment, the most popular are such means:

  1. Ambrobene - tablets or syrup.
  2. ACC - powder for making hot drink.
  3. Bromhexine - also in the form of tablets or syrup.
  4. Lasolvan - syrup.
  5. Ambroxol - syrup.
  6. Herbion - syrup.

Also, the doctor may prescribe a solution of potassium iodide, which should be taken one tablespoon up to six times a day. In order to make sputum less viscous, inhalation can be carried out - the most affordable pharmacy tool  this is normal saline.

It is very effective in painful attacks of quality such an affordable and traditional remedy as mustard plasters. They have a warming, distracting and bactericidal effect. But we must not forget that such a procedure is contraindicated if the patient has a temperature.

What kind folk recipes  I can use when dry cough - also a frequently asked question. Such means will approach:

  • It is necessary to squeeze the juice from one medium lemon, add there as much honey. Then grate the root of one horseradish, combine everything and refrigerate. Take one tablespoon before meals until the symptoms disappear;
  • Boil "in uniform" or bake several potatoes in the oven, mash them and combine with salt or salt. Breathe over the pan until the potato mass is hot, two or three times a day;
  • You can do with iodine, soda and eucalyptus. For a half liter of hot water should take a teaspoon of soda, 3-4 drops of iodine and the same essential oil  eucalyptus. The duration of the procedure is a quarter of an hour. After that, you need to warmly wrap up your throat and lie down under a blanket;
  • Traditional medicine recommends boiling a glass of milk - up to about 50 degrees. Then remove the milk from the heat, dissolve in it a tablespoon of lime or buckwheat honey and a small piece of propolis. Drink before bedtime in small sips;
  • Another recipe with milk: you need to boil three fig fruits on a slow fire in a glass of milk until the milk becomes brown color. Remove figs and eat warm, add some cocoa butter to milk and drink.

It will be right to first inhale, then drink warm milk or a decoction of medicinal herbs. Licorice root, althea or deviacele dilute sputum well.

What else to do with dry cough

What else can I do, how can I improve my condition - a question that interests those patients who for some reason cannot be treated with the use of medications or would like to speed up the healing process. The recommendations in this case are as follows:

  • Massage. You can perform it yourself or invite for this masseur at home, the maximum effect will be achieved if you use a balm or rubbing. After the procedure should not go out for 2-3 hours, because it is recommended to do it at night;
  • Move as much as possible. If not high temperatureat prolonged cough  don't stay in bed. Exercise is contraindicated, but the patient must move to speed up the cleansing of the bronchi and lungs;
  • Do not forget about the daily wet cleaning and ventilation in the room where the patient works and especially sleeps.

It was noted that those who consumed a lot of fluids, for example, heated alkaline, recovered faster. mineral water  or herbal tea. Well soothes the throat, dilutes sputum and increases their discharge of milk with honey or butter.

Using medicines and folk remedies in the complex, you can quickly get rid of dry cough and return to a comfortable, fulfilling life. But it is better to prevent such a condition and analyze suspicious symptoms in a timely manner in order to determine the diagnosis as soon as possible and start treatment. The video in this article will tell you what to do with a strong dry cough.

Most catarrhal diseasesin which the temperature rises, can cause serious complications.

A dangerous signal is shortness of breath when coughing. If the patient complains that it is difficult for him to breathe in, there is a lack of air and appear severe pain  in the chest - it is impossible to ignore this.

Cough for bronchial asthma

When a long-lasting cough rolls in, it is difficult for any patient to breathe. The mucous membrane irritated by the infection pushes the air, trying to get rid of the irritants, and the person simply does not have time to inhale. Not getting the right amount of oxygen, the brain begins to panic, there is even more shortness of breath.

This is not only severe bronchitis, but also asthma. A very unpleasant disease, often incurable, it stays with a person for life. Therefore, you need to carefully treat your health and responsibly approach the treatment of colds, make sure that the temperature is within the normal range.

It is difficult for the patient to breathe when coughing for the following reasons:

  • The mucosa of the respiratory tract was attacked by viruses and pathogenic microbes. They multiply on its surface, causing irritation;
  • The infection spreads very quickly, the bronchi swell, there is a spasm. The temperature may rise;
  • It produces mucus. It increases in volume, and hampers the bronchi;
  • A dry cough occurs - the airways are trying to get rid of mucus;
  • In connection with all the above processes, the normal entry of air into the lungs is impossible. It becomes difficult for a person to breathe in, the body does not have enough air.

Bronchial asthma is a serious disease that cannot be cured.

The patient can only suppress the attacks, which can be caused by many irritants. Among them, the most common:

  1. Smoke. What has not only a cigarette, but also from the fire;
  2. Any fragrances, mostly perfumes, eau de toilette, air fresheners, fragrances;
  3. Traffic fumes;
  4. Cold or too dry air;
  5. Household chemicals.

In addition, patients with asthma can not worry too much, they are contraindicated in any stressful situations. A panic attack can cause another shortness of breath. In some cases, you can use that reduce the frequency of attacks.

Also, a cough may begin during heavy physical exertion, which implies increased respiration.

Emphysema occurs mainly in the elderly. This disease is characterized by the destruction of the alveoli and an increase in the airiness of the lungs.

It becomes difficult for a person to breathe in, the body lacks oxygen. It should be noted that this disease is more susceptible to men.

Its main symptoms are:

  • It is difficult to exhale, it turns out long, lingering;
  • When inhaling, there is pressure in the chest;
  • The temperature may rise.

Cough, heavy breathing in heart disease

Problems in the cardiovascular system can also cause shortness of breath. The patient complains that he does not have enough air at the time of making any loads or even an ordinary walk. The temperature of heart disease is not peculiar, but general weakness, shortness of breath, cough may well be symptoms of such diseases:

  1. Ischemia;
  2. Vices;
  3. Valve malfunction;
  4. Heart failure.
  • Chest pain: constant, aching, stabbing, with a deep breath;
  • Fainting;
  • Heart palpitations.

It should be remembered that only a doctor can diagnose the disease accurately. It is unacceptable to diagnose and self-medicate.