What is a chronic cough, Causes of chronic cough, and warning symptoms

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We have all experienced a cough at some point. it’s one of the reasons we go to the doctor more often. Although it usually lasts for a short time and without any complications, it can be a health problem and affect the quality of life when it persists.

There are different types of cough, but in particular, chronic cough is one that lasts more than eight weeks. Chronic cough can be due to multiple factors, so for its diagnosis, it is important to take into account the person’s medical history and do a thorough examination to determine what causes it.

so in this article, we will provide you with information on different aspects, such as its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, or advice for day-to-day life.

Coughing is a protective mechanism that helps prevent choking and keep the airways clear. It can occur voluntarily or involuntarily, which is usually more common.

The causes of cough are diverse, some of the most common:

  • Respiratory infections such as a cold, flu, pneumonia, or bronchitis
  • Allergy, which can affect the nose and sinuses
  • Asthma
  • Sinusitis

Other triggers can be:

  • Tobacco smoke (secondhand or secondhand smoke)
  • More serious illnesses, such as lung cancer
  • The intake of some drugs
  • Gastroesophageal reflux

It is one of the reasons why you go to the doctor more frequently. But this symptom, which we have all experienced at some point, the most common is that it lasts a short time and, therefore, disappears in a few days without having any complications. However, when it persists over time, it can be a health problem and affect the person’s quality of life.

Types of cough

Cough can be classified into different types, depending on its duration:

  • Acute cough: is one that persists up to three weeks and, in general, its cause is a cold or other infection such as sinusitis or pneumonia.
  • Subacute cough: lasts between three and eight weeks, continuing after the cold or respiratory infection has been cured.
  • Chronic cough: lasts more than eight weeks and in turn distinguishes between:
    • Refractory chronic cough: it is the one that does not respond to conventional treatments. This type of cough, which does not improve despite the correct diagnosis, is suffered by around 40% of people with chronic cough.
    • Unexplained chronic cough: It does not have any associated disease or cause that justifies the one that occurs after being studied. Its prevalence reaches up to 42% of cases of chronic cough.

Causes of chronic cough and warning symptoms

The cough responds to different chemical and mechanical stimuli. And while many diseases can be associated with chronic cough, most people who suffer from it have in common that they are very sensitive to inhaling environmental irritants such as perfumes, bleach, or cold air. These cause a tickling or sore throat sensation that makes you want to cough.

In the case of people with chronic coughs, they are even more sensitive to inhaling irritants, so that the cough reflex is activated by breathing in much lower levels of them. This is what is known as hypersensitivity to the cough reflex.

Specifically, most chronic respiratory diseases are associated with coughing. This is the case in pathologies such as lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, or asthma.

Other pathologies in which chronic cough also underlies are:

  • Allergies
  • Postnasal drip syndrome (accumulation of secretions or mucus in the nose or throat)
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease

On the other hand, coughing can also be associated with what is known as “cough hypersensitivity syndrome.” This can be caused by some cellular damage or inflammation of the respiratory tract and one of the main reasons for the increase in coughing observed in other pathologies. Likewise, this syndrome may be behind the origin of the cough in people with unexplained chronic cough.

Some drugs can also trigger a chronic cough, such as ACE inhibitors, which are often prescribed to regulate high blood pressure and heart failure. Once the most common causes have been ruled out, chronic cough can be associated with a sensorineural disorder of the superior laryngeal nerve, also known as “irritable larynx.” It entails an alteration of the larynx’s sensitive nerves, making it very sensitive to certain stimuli, leading to coughing. However, it can also present with the frequent clearing of the throat, hoarseness, weak voice, etc.

Alert symptoms

Coughing itself is already a warning sign. You may also notice a constant tickling and irritation of the throat, burning, hoarseness, or a strange taste in the mouth, among other things.

Suppose you notice difficulty breathing or swallowing, involuntary weight loss or cold sweats, cough for more than two weeks, fever, expectoration with blood or phlegm, among other symptoms. In that case, it is important to consult a specialist so that the pertinent tests are carried out. In this way, possible diseases will be ruled out, and the most appropriate treatment will be established.

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