Coughing up phlegm that is not treated can interfere with your activities and rest, and is at risk of causing serious health problems. But in fact, there are still many people who underestimate cough with phlegm and do not try to treat it properly.
Cough with phlegm that is not treated not only interferes with physical health, but also affects the psychological condition of the person who experiences it. Especially if this condition is allowed to continue for a long time.
Understanding the Various Effects of Untreated Cough with phlegm
Coughing is the body's natural way of clearing the respiratory tract of mucus and foreign matter so that you can breathe easier. In general, coughs can go away on their own within three weeks without special medicines. However, you can't just ignore it if your cough with phlegm doesn't go away.
A persistent, untreated cough with phlegm can cause:
- No appetite and difficulty sleeping.
- Quickly feel tired and powerless when doing activities.
- Headache, nausea, and even vomiting.
- Chest pain and muscle aches.
- Sore throat and hoarseness.
In certain cases, untreated cough with phlegm can cause rib fractures, especially in elderly people who have osteoporosis. In addition, the frequency of coughing up phlegm can increase if not treated. This puts more pressure on your bladder when you cough and makes it difficult to hold your urine (urinary incontinence), and eventually urinate.
Effect of Coughing with phlegm on Social Relations
In addition to affecting health conditions, a study revealed that prolonged and untreated cough with phlegm will also cause a decrease in the quality of life of the sufferer, so that it has an impact on psychological conditions.
In addition, a prolonged, untreated cough can also reduce the patient's quality of life, resulting in psychological conditions such as disturbing other family members, feeling inferior or embarrassed, unable to carry out social activities such as hanging out with friends, and feeling sad because they cannot do other important activities. .
Not only that, untreated cough with phlegm often makes you feel limited in carrying out activities. You may also have difficulty completing work. This condition can trigger stress, so you become more irritable, frustrated, and even depressed.
Therefore, coughing up phlegm that already interferes with your activities and makes you feel uncomfortable should be addressed immediately. You can take over-the-counter cough medicine for phlegm or one that must be purchased with a doctor's prescription. Medicines commonly used for coughing up phlegm are cough medicines that are mucolytic or thinning phlegm, and expectorants that can facilitate the expulsion of phlegm. An example is cough medicine with phlegm that contains bromhexine and guaifenesin.
In taking cough medicine with phlegm, make sure you follow the instructions for use listed on the packaging. Immediately consult a doctor if the cough with phlegm does not improve after one to three weeks of treatment.
