Causes of Chronic Cough
Words by Katherine Castillo Eustaquio
Published in Action & Fitness Magazine March 2010 issue
In the US, coughing is one of the top five reasons for a medical appointment. In 2006, a study was made on women who had cough for six months straight. The study revealed that 39% of these women—with an average age of 48— had asthma, 11% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 9% had postnasal drip, and another 9% had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). On top of that, most of these women were not aware of their medical conditions prior to the study. Frightening, isn’t it?
Even the simplest of coughs can leave you feeling frustrated, alienated, and physically and mentally drained. But a chronic cough—lasting for eight straight weeks or longer—can be a symptom of something more serious. While only a doctor can determine the causes of your excessive hacking, here are the leading causes of chronic coughs based on clinical studies:
Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
Asthma attacks and allergic rhinitis are sometimes misconstrued as the same. Asthma is a lung ailment that causes the airways in the lungs to swell and inflame, which in turn triggers shortness of breath, wheezing, tightening of the chest, and coughing. On the other hand, allergic rhinitis happens when the nasal passages inflame when you inhale airborne irritants or consume certain foods. Symptoms for allergic rhinitis include sneezing, stuffy nose, and coughing. While most asthmatics are allergic to dust, pollen, and particular foods, allergic rhinitis is not equivalent to asthma.
If your cough worsens on pollen-heavy days or when you get too close to your furry friends, or whenever you consume certain foods like peanuts and shrimps, most likely your chronic cough is allergy-related. Otherwise, it’s best to get a skin or blood test so that your doctor can determine what triggers your allergies and prolongs your cough.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is a stomach and esophagus condition wherein stomach acid flows backward up to the esophagus because of weak valve, thus the term “reflux” which means” backward flow.” This irritates the esophagus, throat and lungs and leads to coughing, killer heartburns, chest pains, and shortness of breath. GERD is the most common cause of chronic cough. Ironically, it goes highly unrecognized.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In the US alone, COPD belongs to the top five leading causes of death.
Chronic bronchitis a condition wherein the lungs’ major airways—bronchial tubes—inflame. This results in congestion, wheezing, and chronic cough with discolored mucus or phlegm. On the other hand, emphysema is a progressive lung disease wherein the tissues called bronchioles, which support the shape and function of the lungs whenever you exhale, are damaged.
COPD causes the lungs to repetitively produce excess mucus and the body expels it by coughing. However, tissue damage makes exhaling excruciating difficult and often results in breathlessness.
Most people with COPD are current or past smokers, which makes smoking one of the primary destroyers of the lungs. Several medical tests can help determine if your chronic cough is COPD-related, especially if you smoke. One particular test is spirometry wherein you are to inhale as deeply as possible and exhale into a tube.
Respiratory Tract Infection
Stuffy nose, fever, and cough are three symptoms of common respiratory tract infections such as colds and flu. Pneumonia is amore serious ailment caused by viruses or bacteria and comes with chills, fever, weakness, chest pains, nausea, and recurring chills. Pneumoia-induced cough produces greenish mucus that the body clears via coughing.
Due to the damage in lung tissues, people with COPD are more prone to respiratory tract infections and even potentially fatal breathlessness when they inhale airborne pollutants.
Postnasal Drip
The glands in your nose, sinuses, and throat produce mucus that cleans and moisturizes the nasal passages everyday. Disgusting as it may sound, you swallow the mucus reflexively and without even knowing it. However, when the glands produce too much mucus as a result from allergies and infections, you may feel a tickling sensation in your throat or notice that you need to clear your throat more than usual.
This condition is called postnasal drip. The excess mucus causes a cough reflex to get rid of it. And since postnasal drip is so common, some people remain unaware that they have the condition. Sometimes, a CT scan of the sinuses is done in order to detect the condition.
Pertussis
Caused by a bacterial infection, pertussis is also known as “whooping cough” because it produces a distinct and high-pitched “whooping” sound whenever a person inhales in between coughs. Its symptoms include runny nose, fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing.
This condition is common among infants. That’s why most infants are given pertussis vaccines early in their development as they are more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. However, the vaccine’s effectiveness is limited to 10 years only. Insufficient pertussis shot is the main reason for recurring bacterial infections in most children and adolescents.
Blood Pressure Drugs
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Studies show that one in every five patients produce a dry cough a week after taking the drug and that women, Asians, and African Americans are more prone to ACE inhibitors-cough compared to other people. Sometimes, this dry cough can develop six months after the therapy and can last for weeks long after the patient has stopped taking the medication.
While ACE inhibitors cause an irritating chronic cough, one shouldn’t stop taking a prescribed drug without talking to his physician first. Keep in mind that a high blood pressure is more serious that a dry cough.
Air Pollution and Mold Spores
Airborne irritants such as dust, pollens, and even fumes can cause chronic cough with phlegm and mucus. Most people remain oblivious that they are breathing in mold spores inside and outside of their homes even when they are sneezing and coughing until, of course, when they become very sick.
Exposure to the extensive growth of stachybotrys spores—molds that grow on moisture-damaged materials—can lead to chronic bronchitis, heart and lung problems, mental deficiencies and more.
In the US, 25 million Americans suffer from mold-related allergic reactions. Ironically, most people remain unaware of the cause. Breathing in airborne toxins produced by molds causes dizziness, flu-like conditions, bleeding in the lungs, and even memory and hearing loss. In 2005, following the destructive Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans complained about chronic cough aptly named Katrina Cough. The massive occurrence of chronic cough was believed to stem from the mold brought about by the flood-damaged materials, construction dust, and dry weather at New Orleans that time.
Published in Action & Fitness Magazine March 2010 issue
In the US, coughing is one of the top five reasons for a medical appointment. In 2006, a study was made on women who had cough for six months straight. The study revealed that 39% of these women—with an average age of 48— had asthma, 11% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 9% had postnasal drip, and another 9% had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). On top of that, most of these women were not aware of their medical conditions prior to the study. Frightening, isn’t it?
Even the simplest of coughs can leave you feeling frustrated, alienated, and physically and mentally drained. But a chronic cough—lasting for eight straight weeks or longer—can be a symptom of something more serious. While only a doctor can determine the causes of your excessive hacking, here are the leading causes of chronic coughs based on clinical studies:
Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
Asthma attacks and allergic rhinitis are sometimes misconstrued as the same. Asthma is a lung ailment that causes the airways in the lungs to swell and inflame, which in turn triggers shortness of breath, wheezing, tightening of the chest, and coughing. On the other hand, allergic rhinitis happens when the nasal passages inflame when you inhale airborne irritants or consume certain foods. Symptoms for allergic rhinitis include sneezing, stuffy nose, and coughing. While most asthmatics are allergic to dust, pollen, and particular foods, allergic rhinitis is not equivalent to asthma.
If your cough worsens on pollen-heavy days or when you get too close to your furry friends, or whenever you consume certain foods like peanuts and shrimps, most likely your chronic cough is allergy-related. Otherwise, it’s best to get a skin or blood test so that your doctor can determine what triggers your allergies and prolongs your cough.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is a stomach and esophagus condition wherein stomach acid flows backward up to the esophagus because of weak valve, thus the term “reflux” which means” backward flow.” This irritates the esophagus, throat and lungs and leads to coughing, killer heartburns, chest pains, and shortness of breath. GERD is the most common cause of chronic cough. Ironically, it goes highly unrecognized.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In the US alone, COPD belongs to the top five leading causes of death.
Chronic bronchitis a condition wherein the lungs’ major airways—bronchial tubes—inflame. This results in congestion, wheezing, and chronic cough with discolored mucus or phlegm. On the other hand, emphysema is a progressive lung disease wherein the tissues called bronchioles, which support the shape and function of the lungs whenever you exhale, are damaged.
COPD causes the lungs to repetitively produce excess mucus and the body expels it by coughing. However, tissue damage makes exhaling excruciating difficult and often results in breathlessness.
Most people with COPD are current or past smokers, which makes smoking one of the primary destroyers of the lungs. Several medical tests can help determine if your chronic cough is COPD-related, especially if you smoke. One particular test is spirometry wherein you are to inhale as deeply as possible and exhale into a tube.
Respiratory Tract Infection
Stuffy nose, fever, and cough are three symptoms of common respiratory tract infections such as colds and flu. Pneumonia is amore serious ailment caused by viruses or bacteria and comes with chills, fever, weakness, chest pains, nausea, and recurring chills. Pneumoia-induced cough produces greenish mucus that the body clears via coughing.
Due to the damage in lung tissues, people with COPD are more prone to respiratory tract infections and even potentially fatal breathlessness when they inhale airborne pollutants.
Postnasal Drip
The glands in your nose, sinuses, and throat produce mucus that cleans and moisturizes the nasal passages everyday. Disgusting as it may sound, you swallow the mucus reflexively and without even knowing it. However, when the glands produce too much mucus as a result from allergies and infections, you may feel a tickling sensation in your throat or notice that you need to clear your throat more than usual.
This condition is called postnasal drip. The excess mucus causes a cough reflex to get rid of it. And since postnasal drip is so common, some people remain unaware that they have the condition. Sometimes, a CT scan of the sinuses is done in order to detect the condition.
Pertussis
Caused by a bacterial infection, pertussis is also known as “whooping cough” because it produces a distinct and high-pitched “whooping” sound whenever a person inhales in between coughs. Its symptoms include runny nose, fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing.
This condition is common among infants. That’s why most infants are given pertussis vaccines early in their development as they are more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. However, the vaccine’s effectiveness is limited to 10 years only. Insufficient pertussis shot is the main reason for recurring bacterial infections in most children and adolescents.
Blood Pressure Drugs
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Studies show that one in every five patients produce a dry cough a week after taking the drug and that women, Asians, and African Americans are more prone to ACE inhibitors-cough compared to other people. Sometimes, this dry cough can develop six months after the therapy and can last for weeks long after the patient has stopped taking the medication.
While ACE inhibitors cause an irritating chronic cough, one shouldn’t stop taking a prescribed drug without talking to his physician first. Keep in mind that a high blood pressure is more serious that a dry cough.
Air Pollution and Mold Spores
Airborne irritants such as dust, pollens, and even fumes can cause chronic cough with phlegm and mucus. Most people remain oblivious that they are breathing in mold spores inside and outside of their homes even when they are sneezing and coughing until, of course, when they become very sick.
Exposure to the extensive growth of stachybotrys spores—molds that grow on moisture-damaged materials—can lead to chronic bronchitis, heart and lung problems, mental deficiencies and more.
In the US, 25 million Americans suffer from mold-related allergic reactions. Ironically, most people remain unaware of the cause. Breathing in airborne toxins produced by molds causes dizziness, flu-like conditions, bleeding in the lungs, and even memory and hearing loss. In 2005, following the destructive Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans complained about chronic cough aptly named Katrina Cough. The massive occurrence of chronic cough was believed to stem from the mold brought about by the flood-damaged materials, construction dust, and dry weather at New Orleans that time.
