Chronic cough
Chronic cough creates more problems than simple discomfort Coughing can cause insomnia and fatigue Severe cases of chronic cough can cause vomiting, dizziness, depression, and sometimes even broken ribs.
Chronic cough is defined as a cough that lasts 8 weeks or more in adults or 4 weeks in children
Sometimes it is difficult to find the cause of the cough, but the most common causes are tobacco use, excess mucus from the nasal cavity, asthma, and acid regurgitation—acid coming up from the stomach that irritates the throat. Chronic cough usually goes away when the problem is resolved
Rarely, coughing is normal Coughing helps to remove secretions and substances from the head, which prevents infection A cough that lasts for several weeks is usually related to another problem Often, such a cough has more than one cause
Main, frequent causes - Mucus discharge from the nasal cavity When the nasal cavity or sinuses produce excess mucus, it drains into the back of the throat and triggers the cough reflex. This condition is also known as upper respiratory tract cough syndrome
- Asthma A cough associated with asthma may come and go seasonally, be triggered by an infection, or aggravated by exposure to cold air or other substances. In one type of asthma, cough is the main symptom
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease In this common condition, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and irritates the esophagus This causes a cough reflex Coughing worsens reflux, thus creating a vicious circle
- Studies have shown that the above causes are found in 90% of cases of chronic cough. A cough can persist long after the symptoms of a cold, flu, or pneumonia have passed Whooping cough is a not uncommon cause of chronic cough in adults
- Medications to control blood pressure Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, often used for hypertension or heart failure, cause chronic cough in some patients
- Chronic bronchitis This long-term inflammatory condition in the main airways (bronchi) causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing accompanied by discolored sputum. Most patients are ex-smokers or current smokers
Relatively rare causes - Aspiration
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchiolitis
- Chronic bronchitis due to infection
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic cough may be accompanied by other symptoms and signs:
- nasal congestion or discharge
- sensation that fluid moves in the throat
- throat pain, inflammation
- hoarseness
- wheezing and shortness of breath
