Causes of Chronic Cough
Causes of Chronic Cough - Smoking. Smoking is the number one and most preventable cause of chronic cough. Smoking continually causes irritation in the lungs which can produce coughing. Smoking can also lead to other conditions that cause chronic cough such as COPD and its related diseases of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and bronchiectasis.
Asthma Can Cause Persistent Coughing. Certain types of asthma show chronic cough as the only symptom. This cough can happen just at night or may happen in different seasons, when exposed to changes in air temperature or even certain scents or chemicals.
Chronic Cough Can Be a Symptom of Post Nasal Drip and Allergies. There is always a production of mucus to naturally clean the nasal cavities that drains down the back of the throat. In most cases this goes unnoticed. When the mucus becomes excessive a chronic cough can form from the continual tickling in the throat. Post-nasal drip can be a symptom of a condition such as allergies.
Causes of Chronic Cough - Acid Reflux. When stomach acid backs up into the throat it can cause irritation and a chronic cough. In rare cases, a bit of this acid can be breathed into the lungs causing even more irritation.
ACE Inhibitors Can Cause a Chronic Cough. A certain class of medications for high blood pressure is known to cause cough for many patients. It could be that ACE inhibitors may cause an increase in nasal conditions. Another thought is since the special enzymes are inhibited, other chemicals that would have been metabolized by ACE might create the cough, though the actual reasons are not known.
Persistent Cough from Environmental Pollutants. The air you breathe could contain particles that can lead to a chronic cough. Continued exposure to air pollution, mold spores and exposure to asbestos can all cause a persistent cough.
Other Causes of Chronic Cough. There are many other causes of chronic cough. These can include chronic sinusitis, pertussis, lung or throat cancer, a foreign object inhaled into the lung, tuberculosis and even dependence on drugs such as heroin can give a persistent cough.
Although chronic cough is usually defined as a cough lasting more than eight weeks, it is best to see your physician if you have a cough lasting longer than a week or two, if the cough is not related to a cold or flu, if the cough does not seem "normal" to you or if you have other symptoms. Chronic cough is not a solitary problem, but a symptom of an underlying condition.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND SHOULD NOT REPLACE THE ADVICE OF A PHYCISIAN. SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR ADVICE ON COUGHING.
SOURCES REFERENCED:
Mayo Clinic; Chronic Cough
MedicineNet.com; Chronic Cough
Published by Jolynne M Hudnell
Jolynne is a part-time freelance writer and independently-published poet. Jolynne has knowledge and experience in a variety of topics. Jolynne enjoys singing and writing poetry. Her book of poetry an... View profile
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