Causes

The main cause of smoker’s cough is chronic smoking and nicotine abuse. Also pollutants of the environment and an otherwise unhealthy way of life play a role, are however to be regarded as subordinated factors of risk. Chronic tobacco consumption leads to the destruction and rebuilding of the lung mucosa.

These pollutants cause chronic inflammation in the lungs, which leads to bronchitis and emphysema. Pulmonary emphysema refers to a non-reversible (irreversible) over-inflation of the small lung sections that are essential for oxygen exchange and thus for human respiration. In the course of the inflammation, the mucosa of the lung swells. The fine cilia, which are responsible for cleaning the lungs, can no longer perform their task under constant stress and thus pollutants and infections accumulate, as the immune system is also weakened.Chronic inflammation in the lungs (COPD) leads to an unpleasant cough, which is particularly pronounced at night and in the morning after getting up and is accompanied by sputum.

TreatmentTherapy

Smoker’s cough is usually a symptom of chronic lung disease, namely COPD. The therapy is therefore adapted to the clinical picture. The most important therapeutic step is to stop smoking.

If no chronic lung disease has been diagnosed, the smoker’s cough will regress on its own and no therapy is necessary. In the vast majority of cases, however, the smoker’s cough has existed for several years and is an expression of COPD. Here there are drug and physical therapy approaches.

However, there is no curative therapy. Irreversible changes in the lungs therefore remain despite therapy. To relieve the shortness of breath and coughing, inhaled medication is usually used.

So-called bronchodilators such as beta-2 mimetics (e.g. fenoterol, salmeterol) and anticholinergics (e.g. ipratropium bromide) are mainly used. These help cough up mucus and dilate the airways.

Glucocorticoids are also used, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. In physical therapy, techniques are used that facilitate breathing and promote effective respiration. Using so-called PEP devices, these can also be practiced at home and a better breathing technique can be practiced.

Ultimately, surgical procedures and, as the ultima ratio, a lung transplantation are considered in cases of very advanced COPD. First of all, it is essential to quit smoking in order to bring about lung recovery. If smoking is continued, neither medical therapies nor home remedies will help.

The damage to the lungs then continues to increase. If you have mild symptoms without chronic lung disease, home remedies for coughing can help to relieve the symptoms. These include herbs such as eucalyptus, marshmallow root, sage, peppermint, ribwort plantain, thyme and chamomile blossom, but also honey.

These remedies can be boiled up and drunk as tea, inhaled as an infusion or applied to the neck with compresses, for example. Many doctors recommend accompanying conventional medical therapy with soothing infusions, compresses or teas, which can ease breathing and free the airways. However, it is important to have a medical assessment made of the severity of the smoker’s cough and the disease, so as not to run the risk of treating a serious lung disease too late.

Household remedies can help to improve the symptoms of a serious lung disease either in conjunction with medical therapy or if the symptoms are very mild and there is no structural lung damage. However, if there is no improvement after 3 days at the latest, a doctor should be consulted. The smoker’s cough can be relieved by various exercises, home remedies and medical therapies.

In the following, the main focus will be on how you can relieve the smoker’s cough yourself. However, these exercises and home remedies cannot replace an adequate therapy, if this is necessary. A reduction in the amount of cigarettes, preferably a smoking cessation, is the best way to relieve the symptoms.

Just one cigarette less can make a difference. Furthermore, it is recommended to do endurance sports, as this promotes breathing. There are also special breathing exercises that can make breathing easier. Instructions are best obtained from a physiotherapist or lung specialist. Inhalations and soothing herbal teas, e.g. peppermint or eucalyptus tea, can help to clear the airways and make breathing easier (see the section on home remedies).