Lately we find ourselves in a situation of many infections, such as the common cold, flu or covid infections , even bronchitis. In fact, this is what has been happening in recent months. These infections can lead to coughing, so that the patient has to expel substances harmful to the body from within. Today we tell you what cough is, what causes it and the effectiveness of a super ingredient to relieve symptoms.
What is cough and what causes it?
Coughing is a voluntary or involuntary act or reflex that clears the throat and respiratory tract to get rid of irritating substances, liquids, mucus or microbes. When it comes to coughing, there are three phases: inhalation, increased pressure in the throat and lungs with the vocal cords closed, and explosive release of air.
Cough can be caused by multiple reasons, but the most common reasons are the following:
- Flu
- Common cold
- Laryngitis
It can extend over time and become chronic; in this case, the causes will be due to:
- Smoke
- Excessive mucus buildup
- Asthma
- Tuberculosis
- Lung cancer
- Some medications
Types of cough
There are several types of cough depending on duration or presence or absence of mucus:
For the duration
- Acute cough: usually lasts no more than 2 or 3 weeks. The cold, flu or bronchitis are the main reasons why this type of cough appears.
- Chronic cough: we speak of chronic cough when it lasts 8 weeks or more in adults and 4 weeks in children. It can disrupt your sleep and leave you exhausted. On occasion it can include vomiting, lightheadedness and even rib fractures.
Existence or not of mucus
- Dry cough: It is a type of cough without production of phlegm or mucus. It is normally caused by an irritation in the throat and can be a symptom of a cold, flu, covid , bronchitis or even pneumonia.
- Productive cough: this is where mucus, also called phlegm or sputum, is expelled.
- Dry cough that evolves into a productive cough: it is usually an evolution from dry cough to productive cough, due to acute and chronic infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. That is, as the infection progresses, the cough changes to a productive one and thus helps to expel the mucus generated.
What is sea buckthorn oil?
Sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides ) is a shrub that is part of the Elaeagnaceae family , which can reach heights of 9 meters, it has a main root that penetrates deeply into the ground and then expands its lateral roots, which will grow plants. It has a penetrating honey aroma and ripens from August to September.
In addition, it is a very resistant and adaptable plant, which can grow in a wide variety of climates and soils. It usually grows in temperate areas of central Asia and over the millennia has spread naturally across the Alps from Central Europe to the coasts of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
Sea buckthorn berries contain an oil very rich in omega 3, 6, 7 and 9, and antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, B-Carotene and lycopene. It is also very rich in folic acid, a great antioxidant, key to the formation of red blood cells and flavonoids, which protect us against ultraviolet radiation. In addition, it is a nutritious, moisturizing, and tissue-repairing ingredient, especially skin and mucous membranes, due to its high omega 7 content.
Scientific study on Sea Buckthorn and Cough
To verify the effect of sea buckthorn on throat irritation and symptoms associated with cough, the effect of a class IIa medical device product , based on sea buckthorn, on relieving cough and improving quality of life.
Objectives and Methodology of the study
The main objective was to study how the use of an antitussive syrup for patients with dry or productive cough symptoms affects quality of life. As secondary objectives, tolerability and adherence to treatment were studied, as well as the relationship with tobacco consumption.
Methodology:
50 patients with symptoms of dry cough and productive cough were selected, of which 41 were finally included, of which 30 had dry cough and 11 had productive cough. The treatment and pharmaceutical follow-up of each patient was 30 days, with 3 visits of clinical pharmaceutical evaluation, on days 0, 15 and 30. All of them were administered an antitussive syrup based on sea buckthorn, marshmallow, elderberry, thyme. and mauve, certified as a class IIa and CE 0477 medical device. A specific questionnaire, validated in Spanish, was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients with both types of cough, chronic and acute (Leicester Cough Questionnaire , LCQ) for the primary objective and doses consumed (reconciliation of containers used), adverse events, relationship with smoking and patient self-assessment were noted as secondary objectives.
Results on the effectiveness of sea buckthorn oil in relieving cough
At the end of the study, of the 41 patients included, 36 completed the study, 5 patients dropped out by their own decision and only 1 patient required additional medication due to symptoms associated with other pathologies. 15 days after starting treatment, 26 patients had already fully recovered and the rest were still receiving treatment.
At the end of the clinical follow-up, of the 36 patients who completed the study, 32 of them presented remission of all symptoms before 30 days and a statistically significant improvement in their quality of life (p<0.001) and 3 patients presented improvement in symptoms, although they required continuing treatment after 30 days.
The relationship between smoking and the final evaluation of the patients according to LCQ was also analyzed, where it was possible to observe how non-smoking patients or ex-smokers (>12 months) had remission of symptoms and a statistical correlation could be established between smokers and improvement. symptoms, being in this group the only case of no improvement.
Finally, the relationship between the type of cough and the final evaluation of the patients according to LCQ was analyzed, where it could be observed that the global LCQ score showed that both patients with dry cough and those with productive cough improved their symptoms significantly. and that the only case of worsening symptoms had a direct correlation with dry cough.
Conclusions from the study on sea buckthorn and cough
The authors’ work demonstrates that pharmaceutical care based on patient monitoring and treatment with a medical product based on sea buckthorn and extracts of marshmallow, elderberry, thyme and mallow is effective in relieving cough symptoms. dry and productive cough.
