Your cough won't go away? Let's talk about this chronic cough.

Do you still have a cough after recovering from a cold? Do you sometimes wake up at night with a cough that gets worse when you go to sleep? This is not just your problem, it's a problem for many people. Some coughs subside in a few days, while others last for weeks or months. So today, let's talk about why this cough persists, what causes it, and what we can do about it.

What is Chronic Cough?

Simply put, if you have a cough that lasts for more than 8 weeks , in medical terms we call it a “Chronic Cough.” This means that the cause of your cough is not something as simple as a common cold. So it’s not a good idea to ignore it and say, “It’s okay.”

What could be causing this cough?

There can be several causes for this chronic cough . Some are simple things that can be treated, but others can be a little more serious. The treatment you receive will depend on the underlying cause.

Postnasal drip

This is the main cause of a persistent cough. Simply put, the lining of our nose becomes inflamed due to allergies , viruses, and dust, and produces more mucus. This mucus flows out of our nose and down our throat. This is especially common when we lie down at night. This mucus is what causes the cough. Your doctor may prescribe a decongestant, antihistamine , or nasal spray for this.

Asthma

If you have asthma, the muscles around your airways tighten, the walls of your airways swell, and thick mucus is produced. A cough caused by asthma is your body's attempt to get air into these narrowed airways. Asthma can be aggravated by weather changes, allergies, infections, smoke, certain medications, exercise, and even stress. For this, your doctor will usually prescribe an inhaler, especially an inhaled glucocorticoid that reduces swelling in your airways. If you have wheezing, you may also be prescribed a bronchodilator inhaler that opens up your airways.

Infections

A cough can persist even after you've recovered from a cold, flu, COVID-19 infection, or pneumonia. Pertussis is also a common cause of persistent cough. Although it 's a vaccine given to children, adults are also recommended to get a booster shot. Your doctor can test your immunity with a blood test. Most of the time, these infections just need time to heal. It takes time for our lungs to recover. But sometimes, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Gastritis and acid reflux (GERD)

Many people know this as gastritis. To be precise, it is `(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – GERD)`. What happens here is that the muscular ring at the bottom of our esophagus (oesophagus) becomes weak, and the acid in the stomach comes back up, that is, into the esophagus. This acid vapor goes to our lungs and irritates them, causing a cough. Although chest pain and pain are the main symptoms of this, some people may only have a cough as a symptom.

This requires some lifestyle changes. You have to stop eating fatty foods, chocolate, cola drinks, acidic drinks, and alcohol. The doctor also tells you to lose weight and stop smoking. You can also be given medications that reduce the production of stomach acid (`(Proton Pump Inhibitor)`). However, these treatments can take several weeks to show results.

High blood pressure medications

Some high blood pressure medications, especially those in the class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, can cause a dry cough as a side effect in about 20% of people. This is not a big problem, and after talking to your doctor and changing your medication a little, this cough will go away.

Smoking

It goes without saying that smoking is bad for your lungs (and your entire body). Your lungs produce more mucus in an attempt to get rid of the chemicals in smoke. This is called a “smoker’s cough.” It can also be an early sign of a serious condition like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

COPD disease

COPD is a group of diseases that make it difficult for the lungs to breathe in and out. The body produces too much mucus, which the body constantly coughs to clear. Difficulty breathing is another symptom. Most COPD patients are smokers or former smokers. However, it can also develop in non-smokers. There are treatments for this, such as inhalers and steroid tablets.

Lung Cancer

Don't worry about this. The chances of this happening are low. But this is one reason why you should definitely get a medical checkup for a persistent cough. If you are a non-smoker and don't have a family history of cancer, there is nothing to worry about.

How does the doctor find the cause?

When you go to see your doctor, he or she will ask about your medical history and perform a physical examination. He or she may ask questions like:

• When did the cough start?
• Is there a particular time, food, or thing that makes your cough worse?
• Is there mucus coming out? What color is the mucus? Is there blood?
• Does anyone close to you have these symptoms?
• Do you smoke ? Or have you smoked in the past?
• Do you have chest pain or gastritis?
• Do you have any allergies?
• Are there any new medications that you have started recently?

Depending on the answers to these questions, the doctor may start with some treatments first. If these help reduce the cough, no further tests are needed. However, if the cough persists and the cause is unclear, more tests may be needed.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

If your cough has been going on for more than 8 weeks , definitely see a doctor. Sometimes, even a cough caused by allergies can last for months, but don't ignore it.

Also, if you have these symptoms along with your cough, seek medical advice immediately:

• Difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Coughing up blood (This is an emergency. Go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.)

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