Coughing And Sneezing - Defense Mechanisms

Coughing and sneezing are our body's natural defense mechanisms that help clear the airways and protect the lungs from various harmful substances.

Cough is the body's reaction to irritation of the respiratory tract. It begins with a deep breath, after which the diaphragm and muscles of the chest cavity begin to contract, pressing on the air in the lungs. This creates pressure that causes the epiglottis to open and air to quickly escape from the lungs, carrying with it any particles in the bronchi or trachea. This could be dust, smoking smoke, germs and other harmful substances.

The cough may be dry or mucous. A dry cough occurs when the airways are irritated but there is no mucus in them, while a mucus cough occurs when mucus builds up in the airways and the body is trying to get rid of it. It can be a sign of various diseases, such as ARVI, influenza, bronchitis and other lung diseases.

Sneezing is another effective respiratory defense mechanism. It helps cleanse the nasal passages and get rid of dust particles, germs and other harmful substances. When we sneeze, we take a sharp breath of air and then exhale it almost instantly. This creates high pressure, which pushes nasal secretions and other particles out of the nasal passages.

Sneezing can also be a sign of various diseases such as allergies, runny nose, flu and other infectious diseases.

Coughing and sneezing are the body's natural defense mechanisms that help clear the airways and protect the lungs from various harmful substances. However, if coughing and sneezing do not stop for a long time, you should consult a doctor for professional advice and treatment.