The pain relief medication can take up an hour to work its magic, and is suitable for most people – except those who have an allergic reaction. What are the signs you’re not suited for paracetamol? The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) warn of bronchospasm as a possible side effect of taking the painkiller. Experts at Winchester Hospital explained: “Bronchospasm is a reversible narrowing of the airways in response to a stimulus.”
Paracetamol can act as a trigger, causing sensitive airways to tighten, swell and produce excess mucus.
Signs of bronchospasm can include:
- Coughing
- Tightness in the chest
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
Factors for increasing your risk of bronchospasm include having a family history of asthma.
Occupational exposure to chemicals, smoke, fumes or vapours could cause a heightened chance of developing bronchospasm.
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This includes those with liver or kidney problems, those who drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and those who take medication for epilepsy.
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Furthermore, anybody taking the blood-thinner warfarin also needs to speak to a pharmacist before taking paracetamol.
Other causes of frequent coughing
As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, one of the main symptoms of a Covid infection includes frequent coughing.
The NHS describes “a new, continuous cough means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)”.
However, if you suffer from a chronic cough, smoking is the leading cause.
Sooner or later, most smokers develop a chronic “smoker’s cough” as the body is irritated by the chemicals breathed in through smoking.
Those dangerous chemicals can lead to bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and lung cancer.
For non-smokers, there are five main reasons why you might have a chronic cough, which are:
- Postnasal drip
- Asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Treatment with ACE inhibitors.
Source: Daily Express
