One of the most common symptoms of respiratory illnesses, coughing is an involuntary reflex that helps protect our airways from irritants and foreign substances.

Though the act of it may be far from pleasant, it is a vital bodily function that plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy.^[1]

Here are eight interesting facts about coughing that you may not know:

1. Coughing can be a side effect of medication. Certain medications like ACE inhibitors, used to treat high blood pressure, can cause a persistent cough.^[2]

2. Coughs can be categorized as ‘productive’ and ‘non-productive’. Productive coughs are those that produce phlegm and mucus, while non-productive coughs are those that don’t. While productive coughs are caused by respiratory infections, non-productive coughs can be caused by allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions.^[3]

3. Suppressing a cough can be harmful.^[4] Yep, that’s right. So, the next time you try not to cough out of politeness think about the effect it may be having on your body. It’s important to remember that coughing is a necessary bodily function that helps protect our airways.

4. A cough can be treated with natural remedies.^[5] While cough medicine is the best option to treat your cough, there are also several natural remedies that can help relieve cough symptoms like ginger, honey, steam inhalation, and saline nasal irrigation.

5. Some people are more prone to coughing than others. Women, older adults, and people with asthma or allergies are more likely to experience a chronic cough.^[6]

6. Laughing and coughing have similar effects on the body. Both actions involve the rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, and both can help loosen mucus and clear the airways.^[7]

7. There is a certain type of cough called ‘psychogenic cough’. This is a rare case where people may develop a chronic cough that has no physical cause. Usually, the case for such a cough are psychological factors such as anxiety or stress.^[8]

8. Forceful coughing can cause injuries. Make sure you’re not trying to force yourself to cough, trust your body to act out the reflex action when required. A forceful cough may lead to pulled muscles, dizziness, headaches, or even cracked ribs.^[9]

While suffering from a cough, it is important to understand the cause of the cough and treat it right away. Though coughing is not usually a condition that causes alarm, persistent coughing should be followed by medical intervention.

One of the simplest ways of treating your cough is through OTC medication like the Helixia® product range, suitable for the following different age groups:

- Helixia^® Kids Natural Defense^®
This is for kids aged 3-10. This daily preventive and keeps coughs, colds, and ear infections at bay.

- Prospan^® by Helixia^® Kids
For kids aged 1-11. It’s naturally sourced from premium dry ivy leaf extract and clinically proven to be effective.

- Prospan^® by Helixia^®
Provides effective relief for people aged 12 and up. Also naturally sourced from dry ivy leaf and has been clinically proven effective.

Helixia^® is a registered trademark of Norwell Consumer Healthcare Inc.

This product may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label.

REFERENCES

^[1]Anatomy and neuro-pathophysiology of the cough reflex arc. NIH:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415124/

^[2]Which blood pressure medications cause coughing? Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/blood-pressure-medications-coughing-3566306/#:~:text=One%20way%20ACE%20inhibitors%20may,lungs%2C%20which%20leads%20to%20coughing

^[3]Non-Productive Cough: What Is It, Causes, Diagnosis, and More. By Lily Guo,
https://www.osmosis.org/answers/non-productive-cough

^[4]Recommendations for the management of cough in adults. NIH
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080754/

^[5]A cough can be treated with natural remedies. By Jayne Leonard and Jenna Fletcher MNT:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322394

^[6]Which blood pressure medications cause coughing?. Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/blood-pressure-medications-coughing-3566306/#:~:text=One%20way%20ACE%20inhibitors%20may,lungs%2C%20which%20leads%20to%20coughing .

^[7]Is Laughter Good for Lung Health? ALA:
https://www.lung.org/blog/laughter-for-lungs

^[8]Somatic cough syndrome or psychogenic cough—what is the difference? NIH:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5394006/#:~:text=The%20term%20psychogenic
%20cough%20has,a%20psychiatric%20or%20psychological%20basis .

^[9]Cough. Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/basics/definition/sym-20050846#:~:text=Prolonged%2C%20vigorous%20coughing%20can%20irritate,vomiting%2C%20and%20even%20broken%20ribs .