Cough

What causes it?

Cough is usually caused by an irritation or inflammation of the air passages from the windpipe to the lungs. These passages are called the trachea and bronchi. Persistent cough may be due to an infection, either viral or bacterial, of these passages – a variety of viruses and bacterias can cause these infections. Persistent cough may also be caused by an allergic reaction which induces spasm and inflammation of the bronchi (such as asthma).

Persistent cough is sometimes caused by an infection of the lungs themselves – this is called pneumonitis or pneumonia.

Inhaling tobacco smoke can cause cough in itself and my eventually lead to lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema which can cause cough.

A cough may be dry or productive or mucus, blood-tinged mucus, or blood depending upon the cause.

What should you do about it?

• Drink plenty of fluids – this keeps you hydrated and enables mucus to stay thin and easily coughed up.
• Get a lot of rest and eat as well as possible.
• Don’t do a lot of running around, especially outside in the cold or dry air.
• Use a humidifier or breathe in vapor for the shower as frequently as possible.
• Use an over-the-counter expectorant cough syrup.
• If you have been previously diagnosed with asthma, start taking your regular asthma medication.

Remember…

• A cough frequently accompanies other infections of the respiratory tract, such as the common cold, influenza, or sinusitis.
• A cough is a symptom of many conditions, not a disease in itself.
• Antibiotics do not improve coughs due to viruses or allergic conditions.