Cronic Cough Due To Quitting Smoking And Lung Irratation

Brief Answer:
Smoker's cough likely

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to 'Ask a Doctor' service.
I am Dr. Ajeet XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and here is my opinion.

You seem to be suffering from 'smoker's cough'.
This is due to hampered ciliary movement (due to smoking)which are responsible for the removal of chemicals and toxins from the respiratory tract.

The first step is to quit smoking which you have already done.
Use cough drops, lozenges or saltwater gargle for soothing of the throat.
Avoid coffee (if at all drink).
Keep yourself well hydrated for thinning of mucus.
Raise the head end of the bed to prevent postnatal drip and accumulation of secretions.
Have ginger and honey.
Steam inhalation and use of humidifiers would help.
Do regular exercise. Exercise loosens up your mucus and makes it easier to cough up phlegm.

If the symptoms do not improve, see your doctor who would prescribe you drugs like bronchodilators and corticosteroids.
Bronchodilators help to relax and open the airways.
Corticosteroids help to relieve inflammation in airways.

Hope that I have answered your query.
If you have any doubts, please let me know.

Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards

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Brief Answer:
Smoker's cough likely

Detailed Answer:
Hi...
Welcome back.

As early as after a single day of quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in blood returns to normal and oxygen levels start rising.
According to medical studies,after one year of quitting,the lungs have significantly healed themselves.
The ciliary function which has been lost due to smoking, gets restored.
Cilia are the structures which help to push mucus out of the lungs and help fight infections.

After a few months,you would notice a decrease in the intensity of cough and frequency of lung infections.

Long term smoking cause the airways of the lungs to become abnormally widened. There is loss of cilia movement so build-up of excess mucus.
This make the lungs more vulnerable to infection.
This is called bronchiectasis and the most common symptom of bronchiectasis is persistent cough that usually brings up phlegm (sputum)

The other symptoms include shortness of breath,wheezing,fever,inter current infections and coughing up blood or mucus mixed with blood,a condition called hemoptysis.

You can use humidifiers or get periodical nebulization for thinning of mucus.
Keep yourself well hydrated.
Airway clearance techniques like huffing,postural drainage and applying vibration devices to the chest to help mobilize phlegm that can build up in the lungs.
Physical Therapy restores muscle strength and function through exercise.
Pulmonary rehabilitation in the form of
respiratory muscle exercise and nutritional counseling(restricted carb diet), can help.

Regards.

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Brief Answer:
Smoker's cough

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Do gargle with lukewarm water,take honey with warm water,stay hydrated,do steam inhalation and practice deep breathing exercises.

You can suck multiple cough lozenges available commercially.

As far as expectorants are concerned,the only OTC product available is Guaifenesin.

Coffee and alcohol induce diuresis and lead to intracellular dehydration.
This negative water balance thickens the secretions and make them difficult to remove.
Stagnant phlegm gets infected secondarily.
Due to this cascade,cough worsens.

Regards.

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