Happy Holidays!

Happening NOW: Seems Like Everyone in Tampa Bay Area is Sick

Seems like everyone in Tampa Bay area is sick now.  Cold, Flu, Cough – oh no!  According to an app,”Sickweather,” there is lots of respiratory illness in Tampa Bay area now.   “Sickweather” tracks illnesses, compares symptoms, and sees which viruses are going around in an area.  According to the developers of Sickweather, “Just as Doppler radar scans the skies for indicators of bad weather, Sickweather scans social networks for indicators of illness, allowing you to check for the chance of sickness as easily as you can check for the chance of rain.”

But maybe you’re not sick.  Maybe your symptoms are related to a Chronic condition.  Chronic and Acute Conditions (like cold and flu virus) can have similar symptoms, but they have different causes and need different treatment to be effective.  Don’t let a Cough or Runny Nose ruin another holiday season.  Find out what’s causing your symptoms.  

Know What Condition You Have Before You Begin Treating.  Self-Medicating May be Mismatched for Your Ailment Resulting in Prolonged Illness, Medication Side Effects, and Wasted Money. 

Dr. Mandel Sher knows the difference.  Contact Dr. Sher:   727-393-8067. www.centerforcough.com.

How do you know if you have a cold, flu, allergies, or cough?  Knowing what you have is the first step toward effective treatment and a solution.  There are three factors that help differentiate which ailment you may be suffering from:

  1. Sudden or gradual onset
  2. Fever
  3. Body aches

Cold and allergies may have similar symptoms such as runny nose and watery eyes, but a cold is caused by a family of viruses while allergies are associated with the immune system.  Cold symptoms may be able to be managed, but the underlying Cold virus generally resolves effectively only with time.  Unlike a Cold, Allergies do not generally cause body aches or fever and may persist a while or follow a pattern.  Your Allergist can advise you on medications that will relieve the discomfort associated with allergies.  Flu is generally characterized by sudden onset, high fever, and body aches.  Similar to Colds, Flu is caused by virus and while supportive therapy helps relieve Flu symptoms, time is the best determination of resolution.

Cough associated with Cold or Flu is generally acute.  But an acute cough can become a Cough that lasts for eight weeks or longer, also known as a Chronic Cough.  Chronic Cough can be triggered by many respiratory and other factors such as: virus, residual post nasal drip, allergies, reflux, medications, and more.  But Chronic Cough is generally caused by hypersensitive nerve endings at the back of the throat that are easily irritated by triggers and produce Cough.  You may be Hard-Wired and Hot-Wired to Cough.  And Cough begets more Cough…

Dr. Mandel Sher will offer a solution for both the trigger(s) and cause of your Chronic Cough.  Chronic Cough is different than acute cough associated with virus and requires a different approach to treatment.  Contact Dr. Mandel Sher Today at Center for Cough:  727-393-8067. www.centerforcough.com

Stop Throat Tickle, Reduce Urge to Cough, and Relieve Cough

Our friends “across the pond” published a simple to understand article on Chronic Cough.  The article emphasizes the important role of Throat Tickle and Urge to Cough in producing Cough.   It also includes helpful hints on Chronic Cough’s  management especially during the winter months.  Righto! (Learn more by clicking on link at bottom of page.)

The article supports Dr. Mandel Sher‘s mantra:  “Stop Throat Tickle, Reduce Urge to Cough, and Relieve Cough.”  Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough team work with Cough patients to recognize the early warning signs of Throat Tickle and Urge to Cough, nip it in the bud, and avoid or minimize a Cough episode.  Call Center for Cough to learn how Dr. Sher WILL help you do the same:  727-393-8067. 

“A tickly cough produces no mucus and can be difficult to shake.”

Sometimes, Cough is productive.  It is a defense mechanism that prevents foreign objects from entering the airway.  Cough can also be productive when Cough is associated with a cold or flu and mucus has to be coughed-up.

Chronic Cough is often associated with Throat Tickle and Urge to Cough.  Stop the Tickle, Reduce the Urge, and Relieve Cough.

Dry, nagging Cough that persists for a long time generally has no purpose, but it does have consequences:  Social isolation, Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety, Urinary Incontinence, Hoarseness, Disrupted Personal and Professional Relationships and more.  Chronic Cough is an Overarching Mood Buster! But, it Doesn’t Have to Be That Way.

The triggers that contribute to stimulating or exaggerating the tickle and cough response include:  dust, allergies, air pollution, smoke, and cold air.  Here are some DIY tips on managing the Throat Tickle and Urge to Cough:

  • Silence is Golden:  A Tickly Cough stresses your throat and vocal chords.  So, give it a rest!  Minimize talking.
  • Scarf to Look Good and Cough Less:  Cover Your Mouth with a Scarf to warm-up the air you breathe.   Breathing warm air reduces your Urge to Cough.
  • Herbal Tea:  Lubricates and soothes a dry throat.
  • Gargle:  Warm water reduces throat inflammation and Urge to Cough.
  • Hydrate:  Sip, sip, sip…Don’t let your throat become dry.  A lubricated throat reduces throat itch and reduces Throat Tickle and the Urge to Cough.
  • Sweeten Tea:  Sweetening your tea with honey coats your throat, reduces throat irritation, and relieves Cough.
  • Lozenges:  Treat your throat to hard, sweet, and lubricating lozenges.

Contact Dr. Mandel Sher WILL Help You Relieve Your Cough:  727-393-8067.  www.centerforcough.com.  #stopticklereduceurgerelievecough

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5071756/wear-scarf-stop-talking-gargle-vinegar-banish-tickly-cough/