Coughs coughs

Oh man I am having a coughing spell... Somehow I cant get rid of the phlegm in my throat or lungs and it's so irritating!!! That made me go find out more about coughing and below is an extract from http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ just incase there is copyright issue, I hereby proclaim that this is an extract that belongs to netdoctor.co.uk.


Coughing defined.
Reviewed by Dr John Pillinger, GP
Coughing is a reflex action started by stimulation of sensory nerves in the lining of the respiratory passages - the tubes we use to breathe. When a person coughs, there is a short intake of breath and the larynx (the voice box) closes momentarily. The abdominal and chest muscles used for breathing contract, which in turn increases the pressure needed to drive air out the lungs when the larynx re-opens. The resulting blast of air comes out at high speed, scrubbing and clearing the airway of dust, dirt or excessive secretions. Coughing is a common symptom when the airways are 'tight', as in asthma.The cough reflex is a vital part of the body's defence mechanisms. Normally, the lungs and the lower respiratory passages are sterile. If dust or dirt get into the lungs, they could become a breeding ground for bacteria and cause pneumonia or infection in the breathing tubes. What causes coughing?Coughing usually means there is something in the respiratory passages that should not be there. This can be caused by breathing in dust particles in the air or when a piece of food goes down the wrong way. It could also be a sign that an infection in the lungs is making the respiratory passages produce phlegm. Coughing can be provoked by:
the common cold, which is a frequent cause of acute cough that usually settles in less than three weeks.
sucking material into the breathing tubes from your mouth.
more severe illnesses, such as pneumonia, acute heart failure or pulmonary embolism (a clot in the blood vessels of the lung).
smoking, which often causes chronic cough (smoker's lung).
asthma - particularly in children who may only cough and show no wheezing.
stomach acid coming back up the gullet and spilling over into the windpipe (gastro-oesophageal reflux).
medicines used in heart disease called ACE inhibitors.
bacterial or viral infections in the lungs, eg acute bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, croup in children
rarely coughing can be provoked by psychological illness
damage to the nerves that supply the vocal chords (known as vocal chordpalsy) and chronic cough can occur.Coughing is more efficient when preceded by a full intake of air. For this reason, patients with weak muscles, poor coordination of airway closure and re-opening, or who have airflow obstruction (as inCOPD) will have a poor cough and be susceptible to complications including infection in the lower respiratory tract and pneumonia.

This is another good website I found that helps people who are interested in taking care of their own health.

http://www.buteykoscotland.co.uk/healthtips1.htm (Very good site).