Our Services / Chronic Cough

What is a chronic cough?

A chronic cough is an ongoing cough and your body’s response to irritation of your airways and throat. These irritants stimulate nerves that send messages to your brain, telling muscles in your abdomen and chest to push air out of your lungs. 

Coughing occasionally is normal, but an ongoing cough that persists for several weeks or produces blood and discolored mucus can indicate a medical problem requiring treatment.
 

What are common causes of chronic coughing?

Common causes and risk factors for developing a chronic cough include:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Bronchitis 
• Post-nasal drip
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Lung cancer
• Heart failure
• Cystic fibrosis
• Laryngitis 
• Medications
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot)
• Tuberculosis
• Neuromuscular diseases

Chronic coughs can cause difficulty sleeping, fainting, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, or even urinary incontinence when left untreated.

Acute coughs, which usually last just a week or two, are also common. Acute coughs could be caused by exposure to pollen or other allergens, the flu, a cold, COVID-19 or pneumonia as well as irritants like smoke, dust, or chemicals. 

How does my provider diagnose the cause of my cough?

To find out what’s causing a chronic cough, the experts at Allergy, Asthma, Bronchitis, and Immunology Associates discuss your symptoms and medical history with you. They check your vital signs, listen to your breathing, and complete a physical exam.

Dr. Friedman may recommend completing a blood test, nasal or throat swab, breathing tests, allergy testing, chest X-ray, CT scan, or other imaging procedures to find the root cause of a chronic cough. From there, Dr. Friedman can develop an effective treatment plan. 

What are common treatments for chronic coughs?

Depending on the cause your ongoing cough, providers at Allergy, Asthma, Bronchitis, and Immunology Associates might recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Lifestyle changes

Making healthy lifestyle changes at home can help reduce a chronic cough. Avoid smoking and workplace irritants, drink plenty of fluids, get regular exercise, maintain a healthy body weight, and eat nutritious foods.

Oral medications

Taking oral medications can reduce unpleasant symptoms or the underlying cause of a chronic cough. 

Inhalers

Using an inhaler can diminish symptoms of asthma, COPD, or other causes of breathing difficulties. 

Allergy treatments

Getting treated for allergies could mean taking oral medications, receiving allergy shots, or using nasal sprays to reduce the risk of ongoing coughing.

Don’t live with a chronic cough when simple treatments can alleviate this often-unpleasant symptom. Call the Allergy, Asthma, Bronchitis, and Immunology Associates office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.