Coughing is the body’s defense mechanism to get rid of foreign particles that enter the respiratory system. In some cases it is due to more complex problems, such as infections and other pathologies.
Have you ever wondered why the cough occurs? This symptom is present in all mammals and, of course, in humans. We have all coughed at times. In fact, 23% of people are known to have coughing episodes when they wake up in the morning, with or without sputum, even if they are non-smokers.
Likewise, it is known that adults have between two and three colds per year and that in 75% of cases they include coughs among their manifestations. It is estimated that 13% of people have a chronic cough, which means that they cough regularly, even if they do not have a cold.
Coughing is a reflex action that is sometimes due to illness, but most of the time it is not. In principle, it is simply a mechanism to expel irritants from the respiratory tract. Only on some occasions is it due to a pathology.
What is cough?
The first thing to clarify is that coughing is a defense mechanism of the body, against external agents that can be harmful. We cough to clear the airways , expelling foreign particles or bodies to the outside.
The act of coughing is defined as a sudden and explosive maneuver. This maneuver is carried out in three stages. In the first, the glottis is opened by inspiration; in the second, there is a contraction of the respiratory muscles; and in the third, the air retained in the lungs is expelled, with a sudden opening of the glottis.
Cough receptors are located mainly in the lower airway. This includes the larynx, trachea and bronchi. They are also located in the nose, sinuses, ear canal, pleura, diaphragm, and even in the pericardium and stomach.
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