HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR SMOKER'S COUGH

Coughing is a protective reaction of the body to the toxins in cigarette smoke, which irritate the respiratory tract and lungs. A dry, irritated cough can occur when inhaling smoke but it stops shortly after the smoke has been coughed out of the lungs.

If you smoke a few cigarettes each day, your lungs and air passages are contaminated by foreign, unwanted chemicals. When you inhale these chemicals, your body tries to eject them by coughing. The infamous "early morning cough" that affect smokers is caused by one unique reason. On normal people, small hair-like formation (cilia) that lines the airways can sweep unwanted materials out of the lungs with outward movements. Unfortunately cigarette smoke decrease the sweeping movement, as the result some of the toxic substances remain in the lungs. When you sleep, cilia regain some of its effectiveness and it begins to work again, this is the reason why you cough in the morning. Your body is trying to clear away toxic materials that are accumulated the previous day.

Complications

Unfortunately decades of heavy smoking can permanently impair cilia’s ability to clean your respiratory system. As the result, you’ll be more vulnerable than before to other contaminants, such as bacteria, virus and other pollutants. This will make infection and irritation more likely to happen.

At this stage, the noxious chemicals will accumulate steadily, causing some serious conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer.

Emphysema

Emphysema happens when many alveoli (air sacs), where carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged, in the lungs are destroyed. Prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke can cause the alveoli wall to become fragile and thin. This is an irreversible damage and if the person continues to smoke, many alveoli will be punctured and completely lose their function. This will result in less efficient lungs, due to lower oxygen/carbon dioxide transfer rate, which can cause shortness of breath. Because the lungs are also less elastic, heavy smokers often find it more difficult to exhale.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the bronchi inflammation, which causes swelling of the bronchial walls and excessive mucus production. On people with constant, instead of occasional, smoker coughs, it is likely that the mucus layer has thickened to the point where the airways are narrowing noticeably and normal breathing is difficult or impossible to do. Because at this stage, the cilia are likely to be already damaged permanently, the thick mucus layer becomes a fertile breeding ground for bacteria, making infection happens easily.

Pneumonia

When left untreated, the infection on your bronchial wall can cause additional damages to respiratory tract. In this case complications such as pneumonia or even total respiratory failure can happen.

Lung cancer

Smokers are continuously exposed to toxic substances, which make viral infections more likely to happen. Both are common causes of lung cancer.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

This term is often used to describe both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In the United States alone, more than seven millions people have COPD and it is fourth leading cause of death. Although, smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD and many men smoke, more women died from this disease. On the most severe case of chronic lung disease, patients continuously gasp for breath, causing a drowning sensation.

In women, smoker’s cough can trigger stress urinary incontinence. Chronic cough can weaken the structure that supports both the vagina and urethra, causing both overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Smoker’s cough can be treated effectively by homoeopathic medicines. Well selected medicines not only cure the cough but also removes the craving for tobacco smoke.Some of the important remedies are given below.

CAPSICUM 30-Capsicum is one of the best remedies for smoker's cough. It is prescribed for sore throat of smokers and drinkers. There is a dry hawking cough , expelling an offensive breath from the lungs. Pain in distinct parts on coughing -bladder, lungs, ears etc.

NUX VOMICA 30--  Nux Vomica is  one of the top medicines for smoker’s cough and it is prescribed when  cough with oppressed breathing is present. The person feels suffocation during the night time. The cough may be dry or rattling. Sometimes bloody expectoration is also observed

CALADIUM 30-Caladium is an excellent remedy for smoker’s cough. It is prescribed  where cough, with difficulty in raising expectoration, occurs . Caladium is also helpful in decreasing the craving for tobacco smoking, making it an effective antidote.

LOBELIA INFLATA 30--Lobelia Inflata is prescribed where the cough is attended with chest constriction and suffocation. Dyspnea and laboured breathing are accompanying symptoms. Heaviness or feeling of weight may be felt in the chest. Intense nausea and vomiting may be present.

DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA 30- Drosera is another best medicine for smoker’s cough  where the cough is dry and irritating. The cough may also be deep and barking in such cases and appears in frequent attacks. Retching and vomiting may be observed. The fauces and throat may feel rough from coughing. People with this condition complain of a constricted feeling in the larynx as well.

BRYONI ALB 30-Bryonia is effective  for smoker’s cough where chest pain accompanies the cough. Pain in the chest is of sharp, stitching nature. The cough is dry, hacking and hard. Chest pain usually arises with every coughing episode.  Deep breathing also leads to chest pain.

HEPAR SULPH. 30-Hepar Sulph is another  effective medicine for smoker’s cough, especially in cases where the cough is loose or rattling. The cough gets worse during the morning. The phlegm expectoration is yellow or pus like and may be blood stained. Suffocative attacks, wheezing and breathing difficulty may also accompany loose cough.