In order to properly treat a cough, one must first determine the root cause of his cough. Most often, a person will experience significant coughing when experiencing the common cold, the flu, or bronchitis.

A cough which accompanies the common cold, flu or a sinus infection is categorized as an acute cough. An acute cough is a cough which lasts less than two to three weeks. In this instance, the normal cause of a cough has found to be stimulation of the cough reflex by postnasal drip and/or clearing of the throat. A cough is considered chronic when it persists for longer than two to three weeks.

A cough can be considered wet/chesty or dry. Many times a cough starts out as being dry and then progresses to being considered a wet/chesty cough. A dry cough is mostly considered a bothersome nuisance. It has no real purpose in helping to rid the body of anything.

A wet cough can be beneficial in aiding the body to expel phlegm from the chest. A wet/ chesty cough can be categorized as being productive or non-productive. Wet coughs are considered to be productive when mucous is being moved from the chest. A cough is considered to be non-productive when mucous is not being expelled from the chest regardless of the coughing.

In addition, one should be aware of whether or not the phlegm is green or yellow in color, which may be indicative of a bacterial infection, in which case one should speak with his physician. If blood appears in the mucous that is coughed up, medical attention should be sought immediately as there may be a serious underlying condition causing the cough. Also, if you experience a shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention.

Bronchitis is a condition that exists when an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are the main air passages that bring air to the lung tissue, exists. When these passages become aggravated they produce mucous, which in turn stimulates coughing in an effort to clear the passages.

Bronchitis associated with cigarette smoking will only go away after the smoking has stopped.

Even though coughing may become uncomfortable at times, keep in mind it is your body�s way of trying to heal by ridding itself of the excess mucous in your chest. Being aware of what is causing your cough will allow you to take the proper course of treatment and hopefully shorten the duration of your cough. I have found an effective natural cough remedy that works to fight coughs caused by the common cold, the flu and bronchitis.