What Causes Cough?

Causes Cough

Do you have a complaint of a cough? Are you feeling frustrated because of a prolonged cough? It can happen due to various reasons. When you visit the healthcare provider with a complaint of cough, the first thing they will do is to know about its cause.

Cough can occur due to various causes. Therefore knowing the exact cause is a must. Then your healthcare provider can treat it. For that, your doctor will perform investigational tests.

If you have a complaint of a cough, you should visit the healthcare provider soon. Sometimes a cough can occur due to some serious underlying health condition. Therefore do not take it lightly. You should consult a healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, you can visit the Best Pulmonologist in Karachi.

What Causes Cough?

Cough occurs as a protective mechanism. When there is something foreign in your windpipe or respiratory tract, your body tries to get rid of it through coughing. Here we will tell you some common reasons for a cough.

Viruses

Getting a cold or the flu is a common reason for coughing. It may also annoy you a lot. When you get a sore throat, it is common to get a cough with it. It happens because the germs may irritate your respiratory tract. Along with that, you may also have a cough due to increased inflammation with infection.

Allergies And Asthma

Allergies and asthma occur due to hyperactivity of your immune system. If you are diagnosed with an allergy or asthma, it can get triggered by an allergen. Your respiratory tract tries to get rid of that allergen by coughing. You might need to take inhalers and medications to subsidize allergy or asthma-induced cough. If you have severe asthma or allergy, you must seek professional help.If left untreated, they can become a life-threatening condition.

Irritants

Not always allergy, but some things can also irritate your respiratory tract that causes coughing. It can happen due to smoke, strong scents, cigarette smoking, or cold air. To get relief, you should avoid exposure to the trigger. It is a good idea to drink some hot drinks to feel better.

Postnasal Drip

Postnasal drip occurs due to an allergic response. When you are congested, the mucus trickles down from your sinuses to your throat triggering a cough response. You can also get a post nasal drip from cold, flu, sore throat, viral or bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, sinusitis, and allergies.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a common reason for cough, especially, when it occurs at night. The acid regurgitates towards your esophagus, to the windpipe, throat, or vocal cord. Therefore it can irritate your respiratory tract and cause coughing.

COPD

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It includes emphysema, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Smoking cigarettes is the most common cause of COPD.

Other Causes

The causes we have discussed for causing cough are not exhaustive. It can occur due to various other reasons such as sleep apnea, heart failure, kidney disease that leads to heart issues, lung inflammation, and many others.

What Can You Do To Treat It?

To treat a cough, you can try home remedies and medicines. Your healthcare provider will perform various tests to know the cause of your cough. Sometimes they might prescribe over-the-counter cough relievers or antacids. While sometimes, when it occurs due to some serious underlying cause, they may order to get more tests done and prescribe accordingly.

If you are diagnosed with asthma or allergy, you should avoid exposure to the triggers. Along with that, take medicines and inhalers on time. Never leave-taking medications without the consent of your healthcare provider, even if you feel better. When you stop medications on your own, the chances are great that asthma exacerbations may occur. Your healthcare provider will decide based on the risk versus benefit ratio to stop medicines or not.

If you have a complaint of cough due to acidity, you should take the antacids or other medications that your healthcare provider has prescribed. Moreover, stop eating at least two hours before going to bed. When you eat late at night, the chances of acidity increases many times. Therefore you should abstain from it.

The Bottom Line

If a cough remains for a long time, it can occur due to various reasons. Sometimes it can be due to serious underlying health conditions. Therefore you should not take it lightly. If you have a complaint of a long-lasting cough, you should seek professional help. To get an expert opinion, you can visit Hashmanis Hospital.

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