Blocking voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) will prevent action potential initiation and conduction and therefore prevent sensory communication between the airways and brainstem. In so doing, they would be expected to inhibit evoked cough independently of the nature of the stimulus and underlying pathology.

Voltage-gated potassium channels are activated by depolarization, and the outward movement of potassium ions through them repolarizes the membrane potential to end action potentials, hyperpolarizes the membrane potential immediately following action potentials, and plays a key role in setting the resting membrane …

For both types of fibres, the blocked nodal slow potassium channels have a substantially smaller effect on the action potential repolarization. When the suprathreshold depolarizing current intensity is increased, the onset of the spike burst occurs sooner, which is common in the behaviour of the fibres.

What would happen if it stopped working? It maintains the concentration gradients of Na+ and K+, helping to stabilize resting membrane potential. If stopped working, electrochemical grandient would equalize/disappear and actions potentials could not be generated, so the cell would stop working.

Failure of the Na⁺-K⁺ pumps can result in swelling of the cell. A cell’s osmolarity is the sum of the concentrations of the various ion species and many proteins and other organic compounds inside the cell. When this is higher than the osmolarity outside of the cell, water flows into the cell through osmosis.

Sodium-Potassium Pump (PDB entry 2zxe) First, the pump binds ATP and three sodium ions from the cytoplasm. The ATP then phosphorylates the pump and it shifts in shape, creating an opening towards the outside of the cell. The sodium is released and two potassium ions are picked up.

Potassium and sodium are electrolytes that help your body maintain fluid and blood volume so it can function normally. However, consuming too little potassium and too much sodium can raise your blood pressure.

Remember, sodium has a positive charge, so the neuron becomes more positive and becomes depolarized. When they do open, potassium rushes out of the cell, reversing the depolarization. Also at about this time, sodium channels start to close. This causes the action potential to go back toward -70 mV (a repolarization).

Following depolarization, the voltage-gated sodium ion channels that had been open while the cell was undergoing depolarization close again. The increased positive charge within the cell now causes the potassium channels to open. The sodium potassium pump works continuously throughout this process.