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by ChandaDiane - est. 1975 on April 24th, 2009

ChandaDiane - est. 1975

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Coughing serves an important purpose. So, when a child (or you) has a cough, why do we give them medication to stop it? Don't we want them to have their bodies help them expel whatever is irritating their lungs/trach? Why stop the cough?

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Answers. 6 helpful answers below.

  • by Im Alec has abandoned this account on April 24th, 2009

    Im Alec has abandoned this account

    Because a health reflex can be over-stimulated, particularly by a virus which wants to use it to spread itself around. A high temperature can "cook" viruses - but it can also cook the human. Diarrhoea is intended to expel invading pathogens - but it can cause you expel everything else as well, and die of cholera. Nature does a good first approximation - moderate coughing can indeed be beneficial - but modern medicine allows a second order correction of mistakes, particularly mistakes exploited by pathogens.

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  • by Mr. Bean is a superhero on April 24th, 2009

    Mr. Bean is a superhero

    Because for others,cough is a nuisance.

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  • by Robster on April 24th, 2009

    Robster

    Because its likely that you cough die people have always used medication since 13,000-25,000 BC. Over the ages we have become pretty good at it. We have become complacent.

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  • by XpawZ on April 24th, 2009

    XpawZ

    Coughing serves a purpose that is to expel foreign substance or objects in our respiratory system. However, when the coughing just keeps going, it actually starts to hurt, or your breathing becomes labored, and both of that would cause other problems. That is why medications are given to stop coughs.

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  • by anddeb on April 24th, 2009

    anddeb

    To keep the irritation from spreading.

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  • by Scifisuz on April 24th, 2009

    Scifisuz

    Coughing DOES serve an important purpose, just like pain does. It alerts us that something is wrong. But the body doesn't have a kill switch, once we're aware, so the coughing or other symptom goes on and on sometimes. Coughing can do damage by irritating related areas, i.e. lungs, throat, even muscles in the rib cage....

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