A cough is a reflex action which allows the airways to rid itself of phlegm, secretions, foreign or irritating objects. As long it fits its definition, and is productive, coughing is something most of us find we can deal with. But when an unproductive cough develops that seems to be also chronic, it can be perplexing, physically exhausting and can seriously affect quality of life.
Possible causes of persistent coughing
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- ACE inhibitors: ACE inhibitors prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart failure can lead to a chronic, dry cough in some people.
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- Allergies: Airborne irritants such as pollen, dust, pet dander and cigarette smoke can trigger allergic rhinitis which can lead to coughing as well as a blocked nose and sneezing.
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- Asthma: Asthmatics’ airways are prone to inflammation and swelling, causing chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing that can intensify at night or in the early morning.
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- Chronic sinusitis and/or post-nasal drip: Sensitive and inflamed airways can result from a cold or flu and can persist when all the other symptoms related to the cold or flu have disappeared.
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- Colds and flu: If coughing is accompanied by a stuffy or runny nose and a fever, this is probably due to a cold or flu.
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- Enlarged adenoids: Adenoids are lymph nodes situated in the throat behind the nose. Enlarged adenoids can inhibit breathing and irritate the airways into coughing, especially in young children.
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- Gastric reflux: A surprising and fairly common cause of coughing, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD) occurs when stomach acid pushes back up into the oesophagus because of a weak valve. Apart from heartburn, GORD can also lead to chest pain, wheezing and coughing.
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- Psychological reasons: Rarely, people can develop recurrent coughing as a nervous habit or because of circumstances such as exam stress. Stress can also exacerbate asthma and lead to a cough.
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- Whooping cough (pertussis) : A bacterial disease that is marked by a runny nose, slight fever and a violent, almost barking cough that makes breathing difficult. A chronic cough can remain for many weeks after.
Be aware…
While most chronic coughs are relatively harmless and go away with time or when infections clear up or irritants are avoided, chronic coughing can be caused by more serious underlying disease such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, or even heart disease and cancer. Getting a medical opinion on the cause of a cough that lasts more than two weeks is preferable to trying to figure and sort it out by oneself.
Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day of you wanted to know more about persistent cough.