Autumn Approaches Quickly, Suspect 'This' If Cough Persists

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that after rain this weekend, genuine autumn weather will begin next week. Autumn is a period when respiratory diseases such as bronchial illnesses increase due to large temperature differences and cold winds, so caution is necessary.

Breathing is the most fundamental activity for sustaining life. The bronchi, closely related to respiration, are air passages that inhale external air into the lungs and exhale air out.

The inner walls of the bronchi are covered with mucus. Bacteria, dust, and other particles contained in the inhaled external air attach to the mucus and are expelled in the form of phlegm through cilia.

If the cilia fail to function properly due to various causes, mucus discharge becomes inefficient, increasing the likelihood of bacterial growth. When bacteria proliferate and cause chronic inflammation in the bronchi, the bronchi become pathologically dilated, a condition known as bronchiectasis.

When the bronchi are dilated, the number of blood vessels increases and they become fragile, which can cause hemoptysis symptoms where blood is mixed with sputum during coughing. Thick phlegm and chronic cough are also typical symptoms. Depending on the cause, the phlegm may have an unpleasant odor, and symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, and weight loss may accompany.

The most common cause of bronchiectasis is repeated or severe airway infections. These include bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus, mycobacterial infections like tuberculosis, and viral infections such as adenovirus or influenza.

Additionally, bronchiectasis can occur in people who inhale foreign substances, have lung tumors, enlarged lymph nodes blocking the bronchi, immune deficiency diseases, or ciliary motility disorders.

Cough image. [Image source=Clipart Korea]

For diagnosis, symptoms should be confirmed through consultation with a specialist, and respiratory changes should be evaluated. To check the progression, chest X-rays, CT scans, pulmonary function tests, sputum tests, and blood tests may be performed.

The dilated bronchi do not easily return to normal. In severe cases, lung function may deteriorate, leading to chronic respiratory failure requiring oxygen therapy, so prompt treatment is necessary.

To improve symptoms, drug treatments such as antibiotics, antitussives and expectorants, and bronchodilators should be administered. If symptoms like lung infections persist despite medication, surgical treatment may be combined.

Dr. Lee Gyu-min, head of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Daedong Hospital, said, “As the season when respiratory diseases frequently occur approaches, activities to prevent viral infections should be undertaken.”

He added, “Since respiratory diseases often have similar symptoms that are difficult for the general public to distinguish, if symptoms such as cough and phlegm do not improve, it is essential to visit a medical institution for diagnosis.”

To prevent bronchiectasis, it is important to maintain appropriate temperature and humidity in the living environment. Special care should be taken to avoid sudden temperature changes.

For chronic patients with weakened immunity, infants, and elderly patients, wearing masks when going outside is recommended to protect the respiratory system. Also, when there are people with colds or respiratory diseases nearby, or on days with severe yellow dust or fine dust, mask-wearing is recommended for the general public as well.

Thorough personal hygiene such as hand washing, sufficient hydration, quality meals, and appropriate exercise should be maintained to keep the body healthy, and smokers are advised to quit smoking.

Receiving vaccinations for influenza, measles, pneumococcus, and other diseases before the onset of winter also helps prevent respiratory diseases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.