During common flu, you are often afflicted with painful cough and sore throat. These symptoms should not be ignored and one should seek medical advice immediately and get these treated accordingly.
The defence mechanism of the body causes coughs to clear the passage of air in the throat which prevents appropriate flow of air to the lungs. They are not just an outcome of physiological problems but can also be triggered by psychological reasons. Cough due to bodily ailments happens normally when external agents and pollutants like dust, pollen, smoke etc invade the body or if you are suffering from some disease. As for the coughs triggered by psychological reasons, it is generally a habitual problem known as Streruphilia, which is totally mental and not triggered by any physical disorders.
Cough can many times be acute or chronic, based on its typical characteristics and on the basis of the span for which it continues and its intensity. Acute coughing which goes on for not more than 3 weeks can be a symptom of either infectious or non-infectious ailments. While conditions like sinusitis or pneumonia lead to acute cough, chronic coughs are normally a result of problems such as asthma and bronchitis.
In order to make sure that you get appropriate treatment for your coughing problem, you have to consult a doctor to find out the nature and cause of the complication. Physicians prescribe several kinds of medicines to suppress the symptoms of cough and pain like antibiotics, antihistamines and other suppressants. In a few cases, particularly chronic ailments, the cough treatment can last for prolonged periods, even months, to fully alleviate or control the problem.
Like with all physical ailments, it is always better to take precautionary measures to avoid cough rather than having to bear the pain and undergo prolonged treatment later. A healthy lifestyle can protect you from cough problems and for that you should give up smoking and intake a proper, balanced diet.