A cough is a reflex phenomenon due to irritation, by which the air in the lungs is suddenly expulsed. A cough can be dry or productive according to whether it is accompanied or not by the expulsion of any mucus that is blocking the airways. A cough is a sudden spasmodic contraction, often repetitive, of the thoracic cavity, which results in a violent expulsion of air by the lungs, and ordinarily it is accompanied by a distinctive sound. A cough is usually triggered by the need to get rid of an accumulation of phlegm in the back of the throat; the air can move through this passage up to a speed of 480 km/h.
A cough can also be induced by a piece of food entering the trachea instead of the oesophagus due to a defect of the epiglottis. But a frequent or chronic cough generally indicates the presence of an illness. By obstructing the lungs, tobacco very often provokes violent productive coughs, a warning sign of a more developed pathology.
The European HELP programme for fighting against tobacco can bring you a lot of information and support for giving up smoking.
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