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About Coughs:
What is a Cough?
A cough is a natural physiological reflex that helps clear the airways of accumulated mucus, foreign particles, or irritants. It involves a sudden expulsion of air from the lungs through the mouth. Coughing is a common symptom of various health conditions including common cold or flu caused by viral infections.
Why our bodies cough up mucus?
In our daily lives, we are exposed to various external factors such as dust, smoking, or viral infections like the common cold, flu or bronchitis. These can lead to increased secretion and accumulation of mucus in the alveoli (tiny air sacs in your lungs), reducing their elasticity and preventing them from performing their vital function. In response, our bodies resort to coughing. When we cough, our respiratory system works to expel excess mucus, allowing the alveoli to resume their vital function again.
How long does a cough last?
Coughing is a common symptom of a cold, just like a runny nose. However, it usually reaches its peak only when the other symptoms have subsided and coughing may sometimes last longer than the rest of the symptoms. Most coughs will clear up on their own within 2 weeks without the need for medication. However, in some cases, a persistent cough can lead to a secondary bacterial infection if it becomes severe.
While most cough and colds in young children are usually not serious, they can cause discomfort for the little ones and worry for their parents. Parents often seek medical advice from the doctors or use over-the counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines to alleviate their children’s discomfort.
However, there have been concerns about the safety of these medicines. Health Sciences Authority (HSA) recommends that parents should seek advice from healthcare professionals before using these OTC cough and cold medicines, especially for children under the age of 2 years. It is recommended to consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for young children.
An acute cough can last about two weeks or longer and is usually caused by respiratory infections such as cold or bronchitis. Clinical studies have shown that cough treatments can help shorten the cough duration and reduces the chances of it becoming more severe when used correctly. Treatments include cough suppressants (dry coughs), Mucolytics (wet coughs), Antihistamines, Herbal medicines.
Cough suppressants are generally intended for dry coughs and are not recommended for wet (productive) coughs, as they can prevent body from clearing mucus properly, causing it to build up in the airways. Codeine-containing cough suppressants are often used for dry coughs, but are only recommended for children aged 12 and above due to the risk of serious breathing problems in young children. For children under 2, cough suppressants should only be given if prescribed by a doctor who has carefully considered the benefits and risks.
Mucolytics are medications that help with a productive (chesty) cough by thinning and loosening the mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough up. By breaking down the mucus, they help clear the airways and relieve chest congestion, making breathing easier. However, mucolytics are not suitable for everyone, particularly young children under 2 years of age, as they may cause respiratory obstruction. This is because of the physiological characteristics of the airways in this age group which limit their ability to cough up mucous. Therefore, mucolytics should not be used in children under 2 years old.
Antihistamines are commonly used to treat cold symptoms and are often combined with decongestants to relieve blocked or stuffy nose. Some antihistamines can make you feel drowsy (sedating), while others don’t (non-sedating). Although they aren’t recommended for children under 2 years as over-the-counter medicine, may be given to those over 6 months old if prescribed and supervised by a doctor.
Herbal cough medicines are recommended for the treatment of coughs caused by cold and flu. In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers reviewed several studies on herbal medicines. They found five commonly used herbs (ivy, marshmallow, myrrh tree, liquorice, and black elderberry) were generally safe and beneficial for treating early cold or flu symptoms.
When choosing herbal medicines, it’s essential to take caution. International guidelines state that herbal remedies contain several potential active ingredients extracted from plants. The active ingredient content and the effectiveness of the extract can vary based on many factors such as the plant sources, extraction method, and manufacturing process. For example, for ivy leaf extract, the excellent results of ivy leaf extract EA 575® from clinical trials cannot be extended to other ivy leaf extracts.
In Singapore, ivy leaf extracts are classified as traditional medicines, so they don’t require approval from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). This explains why there are many different ivy leaf brands available, but not all are equally effective or safe. Laboratory analyses have found some to contain little or no active ingredients. This is why it’s important to choose a proven brand that has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in multiple clinical trials¹. One such extensively studied ivy leaves extract is EA575®⁵.
Prospan® Special Ivy Leaf Extract EA 575®⁵ is the World’s #1 Phyto cough medicine worldwide and is the only ivy leaf extract that has been proven effective and safe in numerous clinical studies with over 65,000 patients², comprising infants and adults from less than 1 year old to 98 years old³. It is trusted by generations worldwide for over 70 years. With its 4-Fold powerful actions: dissolves mucus, relaxes airways, relieves cough, and reduces inflammation, patients experienced significant reduction of cough severity within 48 hours⁴ and recovered from cough and bronchitis up to 7 days faster with EA 575® than with a placebo⁵.
Non-clinically tested herbal remedies are generally safe, as long as they are made under good manufacturing practices. While coughs from viral infections typically resolve on their own, do not compromise on safety and efficacy, use the clinically tested ivy leaf extract EA575® to provide:
Coughing can be unpleasant, uncomfortable and frustrating, no matter where or when it happens. When it comes to choosing the right medicine, understanding what kind of cough you have is important. Whether you’re dealing with a dry, tickly throat or a chesty cough with excess mucus or phlegm, Prospan® with Special Ivy Leaf Extract EA 575® which is clinically proven and trusted by generations worldwide can offer the support that you need. With its 4-fold power, Prospan® has a noticeably strong effect on coughs and bronchitis and is suitable for the whole family.
Here’s a comparison of herbal cough remedies available in Singapore for the treatment of coughs including Prospan® Special Ivy Extract EA 575® and other untested ivy leaf extracts
(Please refer to the attached word comparison file here).
To read about clinical studies, please click this link.
Dry Cough:
Wet Cough: