Why Does It Hurt When I Cough?

Should I be worried if it hurts when I cough?

Why Does It Hurt When I Cough? – A cough can be caused by many health conditions, including the common cold and flu. The type of cough you have depends on its underlying cause. For instance, a wet cough may be caused by a sinus infection, while allergies may cause a dry cough. Some coughs can cause pain in your chest, back, stomach or rib pain. If you have a painful cough, it’s important to see a doctor immediately, A cough that causes pain anywhere in your body could indicate a serious infection requiring prompt treatment.

Why does it hurt when I cough in my chest?

5. Pleural effusion – Pleural effusion is unusual fluid in the space between your lungs and ribs. Symptoms

Difficulty breathing Chest pain

Treatment: Your doctor will drain the fluid with a needle placed in your chest or with medications to help you urinate out the fluid. In severe cases, there may be a tube placed in your chest to relieve the fluid.

How long does a painful cough last?

Allergies – When someone has an allergy, they may cough when exposed to the allergen. Allergens are different for everyone but common ones include smoke, pollen, dust, and pet dander. Allergy-related coughs will usually go away once the person has cleared their airways and is no longer in contact with the allergen.

asthmachronic bronchitisGERDpostnasal dripsmoking

Sometimes, a chronic cough might be a sign of something more serious, such as:

cystic fibrosis sarcoidosis COPD lung cancer

Coughing persistently can cause a variety of problems, including:

headachedizzinesssleep disruptionloss of bladder controlfractured ribsfainting, or passing out

When a common illness is the cause of a lingering cough, people can try:

over-the-counter cough medicines and cough dropseating a teaspoon of honeyusing a humidifier or taking a steamy shower to moisturize the airdrinking plenty of fluidsavoiding allergens such as smoke, pollen, or dustquitting smoking

In most cases, a cough will go away by itself, or when the underlying common illness has cleared up. Sometimes, a cough can be a sign of a more serious or underlying condition. It is a good idea to see a health care provider if someone:

has a persistent cough that lasts longer than 8 weeks after the initial illness has a persistent cough that keeps coming backhas a persistent cough with no other symptomshas a persistent cough that brings up blood or red phlegm

A cough is a common illness symptom. Coughing is the body’s way of getting irritants out of the lungs, where they could lead to an infection. In most cases, a cough will go away when the illness gets better. It might take a week or even a month or so. Sometimes, a cough might last for longer than 8 weeks.

Does it hurt your lungs to cough?

A cough is your body’s way of responding when something irritates your throat or airways. An irritant stimulates nerves that send a message to your brain. The brain then tells muscles in your chest and abdomen to push air out of your lungs to force out the irritant.

• An occasional cough is normal and healthy.
• A cough that persists for several weeks or one that brings up discolored or bloody mucus may indicate a condition that needs medical attention.
• At times, coughing can be very forceful.
• Prolonged, vigorous coughing can irritate the lungs and cause even more coughing.

It is also exhausting and can cause sleeplessness, dizziness or fainting, headaches, urinary incontinence, vomiting, and even broken ribs.

How do you know if a cough is getting better?

Acute coughs are often caused by a minor illness and go away within a few weeks, while chronic coughs may be a symptom of something more serious. A cough is a reflex that your body uses to clear your airways and protect your lungs from foreign materials and infection. You may cough in response to many different irritants. Some common examples include:

pollensmokeinfections

While occasional coughing is normal, sometimes it can be caused by a more serious condition that needs medical attention. That’s why it’s important to know when to see a doctor or healthcare professional for a cough. There are different classifications of coughs. These are based on the length of time the cough has been present.

Acute cough: Acute coughs last less than 3 weeks, In some cases, such as after a respiratory infection, a cough can linger between 3 and 8 weeks. This is called a subacute cough. Chronic cough: A cough is considered chronic when it lasts longer than 8 weeks in adults and more than 4 weeks in children.

Coughs can also be classified as productive or nonproductive.

Productive cough: Also called a wet cough, it brings up mucus or phlegm. Nonproductive cough: Also called a dry cough, it doesn’t produce any mucus.

A cough is a common symptom of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The incubation period for COVID-19 can be between 2 to 14 days with an average of 5 to 6 days,

fever chills fatigue body aches and pains sore throat shortness of breath runny or stuffy nosedigestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea loss of smell or taste

When to get emergency care for COVID-19 Some people may develop severe disease due to COVID-19. This typically happens 2 to 14 days after symptoms begin. Symptoms of serious COVID-19 illness that you should get immediate medical attention for include:

difficulty breathing pain or pressure in your chest that’s persistentyour lips or face appear blue in color (those with lighter skin tones)your lips face appear white or gray (those with darker skin tones)mental confusiontrouble staying awake or difficulty waking

If you have a mild cough, there are some things that you can do at home to help ease your symptoms. Some remedies include the following:

Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medications: If you have a wet cough, an OTC expectorant such as guaifenesin ( Mucinex ) may help loosen up mucus from your lungs. Another option is an antitussive medication such as dextromethorphan ( Robitussin ), which suppresses your cough reflex. Avoid giving these medications to children under 6 years of age. Cough drops or throat lozenges: Sucking on a cough drop or a throat lozenge can help ease a cough or irritated throat. But don’t give these to young children, as they can be a choking hazard. Warm drinks: Teas or broths can thin your mucus and reduce irritation. Warm water or tea with lemon and honey may also help. Honey shouldn’t be given to children under 1 year old due to the risk of infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness. Extra moisture: Adding additional humidity to the air may help soothe your throat when it becomes irritated from coughing. Try using a humidifier or standing in a warm, steamy shower. Avoid environmental irritants: Try to stay away from things that could lead to further irritation. Examples include cigarette smoke, dust, and chemical fumes.

These home remedies should only be used for mild coughs. If you have a cough that’s persistent or happens with other concerning symptoms, get medical attention. If you have an acute cough, it should improve within a few weeks. But if your cough is due to an underlying chronic condition, it may take longer to see improvements. The following are some symptoms your cough may be getting better:

mucus that’s thinner and less frequentcoughing fits that are shorter and less severeless of a need for cough suppressantsno fever or other concerning symptoms

If your cough is due to an infection, you may also notice that other symptoms such as congestion or a runny nose have improved. Below are some frequently asked questions about when to see a doctor for your cough.

Does bronchitis go away?

Acute bronchitis is swelling and inflamed tissue in the main passages that carry air to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, which makes it harder to breathe. Other symptoms of bronchitis are a cough and coughing up mucus. Acute means the symptoms have been present only for a short time. The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi, the main air passages to the lungs. It often results from a respiratory infection caused by a virus or bacteria. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and fatigue. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the part of the respiratory system that leads into the lungs. Acute bronchitis has a sudden onset and usually appears after a respiratory infection, such as a cold, and can be caused by either a virus or bacteria.

• The infection inflames the bronchial tubes, which causes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, wheezing, and the production of thick yellow mucus.
• If acute bronchitis occurs because of a bacterial infection antibiotics are given for the treatment.
• Otherwise if the infection is viral medications can only be given to alleviate the symptoms.

Although acute bronchitis is relatively common, some people are more prone to it than others. When air is inhaled through the nose or mouth, it travels down the trachea to the bronchus, where it first enters the lung. From the bronchus, air goes through the bronchi, into the even smaller bronchioles and lastly into the alveoli. Chronic bronchitis is most frequently caused by long term irritation of the bronchial tubes. Bronchitis is considered chronic if symptoms continue for three months or longer. Bronchitis caused by allergies can also be classified as chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is caused most often by exposure to airborne pollutants such as cigarette smoke, excessive dust in the air, or chemicals. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic lung disorders that result in blocked air flow in the lungs. The two main COPD disorders are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the most common causes of respiratory failure. Emphysema occurs when the walls between the lung’s air sacs become weakened and collapse.

Damage from COPD is usually permanent and irreversible. A lot of things can make you cough. Breathing in cigarette smoke, smelling a coworkers flowery perfume, or being sick with an infection can all leave you hacking. One of the infections that causes coughing is called bronchitis. Bronchitis is inflammation in the airways that lead to the lung.

If you’ve got bronchitis, there’s a good chance you started out with a respiratory infection like a cold, and it spread to your lungs. Either a virus or bacteria can cause this infection. The cough may clear up within a few days, but if it lingers for at least 3 months it’s called chronic bronchitis.

1. Chronic bronchitis is part of a group of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short.
2. Smoking is one of the biggest causes of bronchitis and COPD.
3. If you have bronchitis, you’ll cough, and cough, and cough.
4. In fact, the cough can stick with you for weeks.
5. When you cough, you may bring up a sticky goo called mucus.

If the mucus is yellow-green in color, that makes us think it might be a bacterial infection. Other symptoms of bronchitis include chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. To find out if you have bronchitis, your doctor will listen for crackly sounds in your chest when you breathe.

1. You may also need a chest x-ray or other tests to see how well your lungs are working.
2. So, how is bronchitis treated? Antibiotics won’t treat bronchitis if a virus caused it, because they only kill bacteria.
3. If you have a bacterial infection, you can take an antibiotic.
4. The best way to get over bronchitis are with rest and time.

While your lungs are healing, drink plenty of fluids and perhaps use a humidifier to loosen up mucus. Whatever else you do, don’t smoke or be around anyone who is smoking or smells like smoke. The smoke will only make your cough worse. Bronchitis often clears up within a week or so, but the cough can stick around for weeks, or even months later, especially if you have a lung problem.

While you’re sick, call your doctor if you start to run a high fever, you feel short of breath or have chest pain, or your cough just won’t go away. You can help protect yourself against bronchitis by washing your hands often, getting a pneumonia vaccine, and getting a flu vaccine each year to prevent some of the diseases that cause it.

Be kind to your lungs by staying far away from cigarettes. If you need help kicking the habit, see your doctor.

Why is coughing worse at night?

8. Raise the head of the bed – Coughing often worsens at night because a person is lying flat in bed. Mucus can pool in the back of the throat and cause coughing. Sleeping with the head elevated can reduce the symptoms of postnasal drip and GERD. Both can cause coughing at night.

• an adjustable bed
• additional pillows
• blocks under the legs of the bed
• a back wedge

A change in sleep position can allow mucus to flow without causing coughing. There are many herbal and natural remedies for a cough. Always check first with a doctor, as there is not enough scientific research to confirm that many natural remedies are effective and safe, and they may interact with other therapies.

How do you sleep with a cough?

Tips for Sleeping with a Cough Key Takeaways

• If your cold or cough gets worse at night, it can be beneficial to use cough medicine or a humidifier and elevate your head and neck.
• You may experience a cough that gets worse at night due to postnasal drip, which often accompanies a cold.
• Getting plenty of sleep can help you recover from a cold as well as prevent you from catching a cold.

Each year, up to 30 million doctor’s visits National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. occur to address coughing.

• Many people also likely experience coughing without seeking treatment, as it is a symptom of both the common cold and the flu,
• When you have a cough, you might notice it interfering with your sleep.
• Thankfully, there are actions you can take to help yourself obtain the sleep you need to feel better.
• Before reaching for cold medication, experts recommend parents give children over 12 months of age honey National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

as a safer treatment for upper respiratory infections like the cold. For non-infant children, consuming honey before bedtime has been shown to reduce how often and how severely a child coughs at night. Children and parents alike may enjoy improved sleep when a sick child takes honey before sleeping.

Researchers focus their honey studies on children in particular because over-the-counter cough medicines pose more risks to children than they do to adults, so finding an alternative treatment is more important for this age group. However, adults can also try honey to treat a cough. Honey is known to have multiple protective effects, including being antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

As part of the body’s immune response, coughing serves a purpose. Some medical experts caution that overusing medication that suppresses coughing could impact how long a person takes to recover from their illness. If you find that cough medicine helps you sleep, then it may be worthwhile to use it in moderation, keeping in mind the potential side effects.

1. For a dry cough, a lozenge may be sufficient to calm the cough reflex so you can fall asleep.
2. Research studies demonstrate mixed results when it comes to the effectiveness of cough medicines National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

Many studies have found that cough medicines do not provide any more of a benefit than a placebo does, and many cough medicines are associated with unpleasant side effects. Nasal decongestants National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

1. Contain substances that target the blood vessels in order to open up the nasal passages and decrease postnasal drip, which indirectly helps reduce coughing at night.
2. Most nasal decongestants are available over-the-counter in the form of tablets, drops, or nasal sprays.
3. Like cough medicine research, studies on using nasal decongestants to treat the common cold have produced mixed results.

Although they may work for some people, they can also bring side effects such as high blood pressure, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia. They should not be used for longer than five days, and they should not be used by children younger than six years old.

1. Hot tea and chicken soup are popular home remedies often said to relieve cold symptoms, though the effect of hot liquids on a cold has not been widely studied.
2. One study from the 1970s found that ingesting hot liquids, such as hot water or chicken soup, reduced nasal congestion National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

A more recent study found that a hot drink National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. did not have any objective effect on the ability to breathe easily through the nose, but it did lead to people reporting that they could breathe more easily.

Additionally, people who drank the hot drink reported that they felt less chilly and tired, and their throats were not as sore. In conclusion, having a warm cup of tea or bowl of soup when you are feeling under the weather is worth a try. Coughs related to postnasal drip can become a greater problem once a person lies down, due to gravity.

If your cough seems to worsen once you lie flat, try propping up your head and neck. Use a wedge pillow or multiple bed pillows to make yourself comfortable while lying in a position that keeps your head elevated above the rest of your body. While this may help adults, it is not a recommended therapy for young children.

Some studies have found that higher humidity levels National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. are more favorable for clearing the nasal passages, though other studies have found a lack of evidence on whether using a humidifier affects nasal symptoms.

If your bedroom is excessively dry, you may want to consider investing in a humidifier to keep humidity levels between the recommended 30% to 50% United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

1. Eeping humidity levels above 40% also makes the influenza virus less infectious National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
2. Which may help protect others in your household.

That said, a house that is too humid can also aggravate airway symptoms National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. People may experience coughing at night — called a nocturnal cough National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

— for multiple reasons. Our bodies naturally cough to protect us by removing mucus and foreign objects from the windpipe, voice box, and lungs. Generally, coughing serves the same function whether it happens at night or during the daytime. When you are sick, your cough might worsen at night due to postnasal drip.

Postnasal drip refers to secretions that run down the back of the throat instead of coming out of the nose. This symptom often accompanies a cold, as well as the flu, allergies, and sinus infections. Lying on your back can worsen postnasal drip, which may be why you notice worse coughing at night.

Over 40% of people report that sleeping more than normal SpringerLink SpringerLink provides researchers with access to millions of scientific documents from journals, books, series, protocols, reference works, and proceedings. helps as they deal with a cold, yet it is natural to have trouble sleeping when you have a cold.

In a survey conducted across several countries, 46% of people reported that having a cold or the flu disrupts their ability to receive good sleep. Additionally, 94% reported that when sick with a cold or flu, symptoms wake them up at night. Although a cough is the symptom that is most likely to wake you up at night when you have a cold, other cold symptoms such as aches and, a sore throat, runny nose, and the need to sneeze might also disturb your sleep.

1. People experiencing a fever may have,
2. These unusual, negative dreams National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
3. Could also make sleeping more difficult while you are sick.

Medical professionals have not yet found a cure to the common cold, but they recommend obtaining plenty of rest as you recover. Sleep and the immune system National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

1. Are closely linked, so receiving adequate sleep generally promotes healing.
2. Research suggests because of its effects on hormones in the body and the inflammation response.
3. People who are sleep deprived National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

in the week before being exposed to the cold virus are more likely to develop symptoms than people who receive adequate sleep. Studies suggest that those who sleep less than five hours per night are more than twice as likely to become symptomatic than those who sleep more than seven hours per night.

Those who sleep less than seven hours per night are almost three times more likely to develop a cold than those who sleep at least eight hours National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

The common cold and its associated symptoms, such as a cough, typically last for about seven to 10 days. If your cough or cold symptoms persist beyond this timeframe or feel particularly severe, make an appointment with your doctor. Although many people recover from a cold easily, those with a compromised immune system or certain illnesses are at risk of the cold developing into a more serious infection, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

1. Sharma, S., Hashmi, M.F., & Alhajjaj, M.S. (2021, May 19). Cough. In StatPearls,, Retrieved August 9, 2021, from
2. Cohen, H.A., Rozen, J., Kristal, H., Laks, Y., Berkovitch, M., Uziel, Y., Kozer, E., Pomeranz, A., & Efrat, H. (2012). Effect of honey on nocturnal cough and sleep quality: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Pediatrics, 130(3), 465–471.
3. Ahmed, S., Sulaiman, S.A., Baig, A.A., Ibrahim, M., Liaqat, S., Fatima, S., Jabeen, S., Shamim, N., & Othman, N.H. (2018). Honey as a potential natural antioxidant medicine: An insight into its molecular mechanisms of action. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2018, 8367846.
4. Smith, S.M., Schroeder, K., & Fahey, T. (2014). Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(11), CD001831.
5. Deckx, L., De Sutter, A.I., Guo, L., Mir, N.A., & van Driel, M.L. (2016). Nasal decongestants in monotherapy for the common cold. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 10(10), CD009612.
6. Saketkhoo, K., Januszkiewicz, A., & Sackner, M.A. (1978). Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance. Chest, 74(4), 408–410.
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8. Pieterse, A., & Hanekom, S.D. (2018). Criteria for enhancing mucus transport: A systematic scoping review. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 13, 22.
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11. Khosravi, M., Collins, P.B., Lin, R.L., Hayes, D., Jr, Smith, J.A., & Lee, L.Y. (2014). Breathing hot humid air induces airway irritation and cough in patients with allergic rhinitis. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 198, 13–19.
12. Singh, D.P., Jamil, R.T., & Mahajan, K. (2021). Nocturnal Cough. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing., Retrieved August 9, 2021, from
13. Phillipson, G., Aspley, S., & Fietze, I. (2020). Perceptions of the importance of sleep in common cold—Two online questionnaire-based surveys. SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, 2, 596–605.
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: Tips for Sleeping with a Cough

What age is bronchitis for?

Epidemiology – Data collected from the National Ambulatory Care Survey 1991 Summary showed that 2,774,000 office visits by children younger than 15 years resulted in a diagnosis of bronchitis. Although the report did not separate diagnoses into acute and chronic bronchitis, the frequency of visits made bronchitis just slightly less common than otitis media and slightly more common than asthma.

However, in children, asthma is often underdiagnosed and is frequently misdiagnosed as chronic or recurrent bronchitis. Since 1996, 9-14 million Americans have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis annually. Bronchitis, both acute and chronic, is prevalent throughout the world and is one of the top 5 reasons for childhood physician visits in countries that track such data.

The incidence of bronchitis in British schoolchildren is reported to be 20.7%. Weigl et al noted an overall increase in hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infection (laryngotracheobronchitis, bronchitis, wheezing bronchitis, bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia, pneumonia) among German children from 1996 to 2000; this is consistent with observations among children from the United States, United Kingdom, and Sweden.

The incidence rate of bronchitis in children in this German cohort was 28%. A study by Berhane et al indicated that as a result of improvements in ambient air quality in Southern California, bronchitic symptoms decreased in that region’s children between 1993 and 2012. Differences in population prevalences have been identified in patients with chronic bronchitis.

For example, because of the association of chronic bronchitis with asthma and the concentration of asthma risk factors among inner-city populations, this population group is at higher risk. The incidence of acute bronchitis is equal in males and females.

• The incidence of chronic bronchitis is difficult to state precisely because of the lack of definitive diagnostic criteria and the considerable overlap with asthma.
• However, in recent years, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis has been reported to be consistently higher in females than in males.
• Acute (typically wheezy) bronchitis occurs most commonly in children younger than 2 years, with another peak seen in children aged 9-15 years.

Chronic bronchitis affects people of all ages but is more prevalent in persons older than 45 years.

What does bronchitis start like?

Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), causing them to become irritated and inflamed. The main symptom is a cough, which may bring up yellow-grey mucus (phlegm). Bronchitis may also cause a sore throat and wheezing.

What does early bronchitis feel like?

Key points –

Bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes. These airways are called bronchi. There are several different types of bronchitis. The two most common are acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by the same viruses that cause colds and the flu. It may also be caused by a bacterial infection, or by physical or chemical agents that are breathed into the lungs. The most common symptoms for acute bronchitis include cough, chest soreness, runny nose, feeling tired and achy, headache, chills, slight fever, and sore throat. Healthcare providers can often diagnose acute bronchitis by taking a medical history and doing physical exam. Blood tests, breathing tests, and imaging tests may also be used. In most cases, antibiotics are not needed to treat acute bronchitis. If it progresses to pneumonia, then antibiotics may be necessary. Treatment is aimed at managing the symptoms.

Why can’t I stop coughing?

What causes chronic coughing? – Smoking is a leading cause. Sooner or later, most cigarette smokers develop a chronic “smoker’s cough.” Chemical irritation is responsible — but the same noxious chemicals that cause the simple smoker’s cough can lead to far more serious conditions, such as bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

1. The chronic cough is always a cause of concern for smokers.
2. A lingering cough is also a worry for nonsmokers.
3. Fortunately, benign problems are responsible for most chronic coughs in nonsmokers.
4. Benign or not, persistent coughing can cause worry, embarrassment, exhaustion, and more.
5. That’s why chronic coughs should be diagnosed and treated before they linger too long.

Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion’s share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure and heart failure.

1. Many people have several of these conditions, but in nonsmokers, the first three, singly or in combination, account for nearly all chronic coughs.
2. The major causes of long-term coughing are listed below.
3. If you’re like most people with a lingering cough, consider these major causes: 1.
4. Postnasal drip (also called the upper airway cough syndrome).

The human nose is more than the organ of smell. It is also the gateway to the lower respiratory tract. As such, its job is to condition the air passing through en route to the lungs. The nose warms air that is cool, adds moisture to air that is dry, and removes particles from air that is dirty.

• The nasal membranes accomplish all three tasks by producing mucus that is warm, moist, and sticky.
• Although the nose is a guardian of the more delicate lungs, it is subject to problems of its own.
• Viruses, allergies, sinusitis, dust particles, and airborne chemicals can all irritate the nasal membranes.

The membranes respond to injury by producing more mucus — and unlike normal mucus, it’s thin, watery, and runny. All that mucus has to go somewhere. When it drips out the nose, it’s a nuisance. But when it drips down the throat, it tickles the nerves of the nasopharynx, triggering a cough.

In some cases, the nose itself is to blame (rhinitis), but in others, a prolonged postnasal drip lingers after a viral upper respiratory infection; some call this variety a post-infectious cough. In typical cases, patients with postnasal drip cough more at night, and they are often aware of a tickling feeling at the back of their throats.

But they can cough during the day, and their throats may be irritated and sore or perfectly fine. The best way to find out if a chronic cough is the result of postnasal drip is to try treatment. Nonprescription decongestant or antihistamine tablets are the first step.

Most contain a decongestant, an antihistamine, or a combination of the two. In one form or another, these medications are generally effective and safe, but some people complain of a racing heart and souped-up feeling (due to the decongestant), while others feel sleepy (due to the antihistamine). Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may have difficulty passing urine while they’re taking decongestants, and antihistamines can occasionally trigger acute glaucoma.

As with all medications, read the directions carefully. Home remedies can help as well. Inhaling steam from a hot shower or kettle is the simplest. Nasal irrigations may also help by cleaning out irritating secretions. You can purchase saline nose sprays at your drugstore or you can do it yourself.

First, soak a clean washcloth in a basin containing ⅛ teaspoon of table salt for each cup of water. Next, hold the dripping wet cloth up to your nostrils and sniff in the saline solution. If saline irrigations seem to help, repeat them one to three times per day. Postnasal drip is the leading cause of the lingering cough.

But it’s far from the only cause.2. Asthma. Wheezing and breathlessness are the usual symptoms of asthma. But not all patients with asthma wheeze. Indeed, some just cough. Asthma results from bronchospasm, the temporary, reversible narrowing of the medium-sized tubes that carry air into the lungs.

In most cases, that air makes a whistling or wheezing sound as it moves through narrowed passages. Excessive mucus production, shortness of breath, and cough are the other classic symptoms of asthma. But in cough-variant asthma, coughing is the only symptom. In most cases, cough-variant asthma produces a persistent, dry cough that occurs around the clock but may begin at night.

Exposure to allergens, dust, or cold air often triggers coughing, as does exercise. If doctors suspect that asthma is responsible for a chronic cough, they can order pulmonary function tests to confirm the diagnosis; if these tests are inconclusive, patients may be asked to inhale small doses of methacholine, a drug that often triggers wheezing in asthmatics.

Another approach to the diagnosis of cough-variant asthma is to see if the cough responds to anti-asthmatic treatment. Doctors often suggest a bronchodilator spray such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin). It’s short acting. So, in addition your doctor might prescribe an inhaled corticosteroid, such as fluticasone (Flovent), triamcinolone (Azmacort) or budesonide (Pulmicort).

If you have a chronic cough that may be due to asthma, ask your doctor to consider testing or treating. But if asthma is not the answer, ask him to think about the third leading cause of the cough that lingers.3. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Just as people are surprised to learn that asthma can cause coughing without wheezing; many people are shocked to learn that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause coughing without heartburn.

• GERD occurs when stomach contents travel upstream, making their way up into the esophagus instead of down into the intestines.
• Heartburn is the usual symptom; belching, a sour taste in the mouth, and bad breath are common too.
• But acid also irritates nerves in the esophagus, and these nerves can trigger the cough reflex even without the distress signal of pain.

In fact, up to one-third of patients with GERD are pain-free, and they might only complain of cough, voice change from recurrent laryngitis, or unexplained sore throats. GERD can be tricky to diagnose when there’s no pain. Esophageal pH monitoring, in which the patient swallows a probe that remains in the lower esophagus for 24 hours can detect the presence of acid from reflux.

1. It’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds, but it is expensive and inconvenient.
2. As with the other causes of chronic cough, a simpler approach to diagnosis is to try treatment.
3. You can begin on your own.
4. Avoid alcohol and foods that often trigger GERD, including those that contain chocolate, peppermint, caffeine, garlic, onions, citrus fruits, tomato sauce, or lots of fat.

Eat small meals, and never lie down until two hours after you’ve eaten. Take liquid antacids, particularly at bedtime, and consider elevating the head of your bed or sleeping on a wedge-shaped pillow to keep your stomach’s contents flowing down at night.

If you’re constantly coughing after a week or so, you can add an over-the-counter acid suppressor. Today there are many to choose from, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). Less expensive generic versions work just as well. Stronger strength acid blockers are available by prescription.

It may take three or four weeks of gradually escalating therapy to control GERD. But if your program doesn’t work, you are probably coughing for some other reason.4. Chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Chronic bronchitis is persistent inflammation of the bronchial tubes causing airway narrowing and production of excess mucus.

It usually happens from tobacco use or long-term exposure to high levels of industrial air pollutants. Bronchiectasis is also a result of chronic inflammation that damages the walls of the bronchial tubes. In either variant, the inflammation leads to a chronic cough. The most effective treatment is to quit smoking and avoid air pollutants.

In addition, your doctor can prescribe a corticosteroid inhaler, usually with a long-acting bronchodilator. People with chronic bronchitis are prone to flare-ups. Doctors call them COPD exacerbations. The main symptoms are increased coughing, thick dark mucus production, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

The treatment includes antibiotics and an oral corticosteroid, usually prednisone.5. Therapy with angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE inhibitors such as enalapril (Vasotec, generic), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, generic), as well as many others, have assumed a prominent role in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure.

ACE inhibitors are favored by many doctors because they produce good results and have few side effects, with one exception – a persistent cough. It occurs in up to 10% of people taking an ACE inhibitor. The first symptom is often just a throat tickle, followed by a dry cough that can begin as soon as three weeks or as late as one year after the medication is started.

1. Once the cough starts, it lingers and lingers.
2. If the cough is mild, patients may choose to continue their medication, or they may cough less if they change to a different ACE inhibitor.
3. But the only way to eliminate a severe cough induced by an ACE inhibitor is to switch to another type of antihypertensive medication.

Fortunately, many are available, including angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) like losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan) — drugs that act like ACE inhibitors without causing a cough.

What happens if you cough too hard?

A cough in and of itself is not dangerous. In fact, coughing is a natural reflex that helps clear the airways and expels irritants like mucus and dust from the lungs. But, if a coughing fit is severe or lasts for an extended period of time, components of the respiratory system and other areas of the body can be damaged.

Damaged blood vessels – Pressure from an intense cough may cause some of the delicate blood vessels in the eyes, nose or anus to rupture. Chest pain – Coughing exerts muscles in the chest, and an extended period of coughing can leave chest muscles feeling sore and fatigued. Muscle pain – In addition to causing pain around the chest, coughing can strain back and abdominal muscles, causing these areas to feel sore and tender. Damaged throat tissue – A sustained cough can cause uncomfortable inflammation in throat tissues and increase the risk of infection. Cracked ribs – Although rare, pressure from a violent cough can crack one or more ribs. This most often occurs in people with low bone density. A ruptured diaphragm – The action of coughing presses the ribs down and in, while the diaphragm is thrust upward. This opposing combination may result in a ruptured diaphragm. A bloody cough – Persistent coughing can produce blood in the lungs. This blood can be coughed up, either as pink or red mucus or bloody saliva.

Can you cough in your sleep?

Skip to content Serving the Aberdeen, Pinehurst & Sandhills Area & Beyond || (910) 692-4450 Have you woken yourself up with your own coughing? Has someone close to you kicked you to the couch because of nighttime coughing that’s disturbing the whole house? The answer to the question, ” Can you cough in your sleep ?” is very simple; the answer is “Yes!” You can cough and sneeze in your sleep, but only in light sleep. Your mouth, throat, and lungs all work together to keep you healthy and breathing normally so poor oral hygiene and other dental problems may contribute to a cough that’s disrupting your sleep. If you are struggling with a nighttime cough and have been to a medical doctor to no avail, you may want to talk to your Aberdeen, North Carolina general dentist about your cough.

Why do I feel pain in my throat when I cough?

A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.

Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking Difficulty swallowing Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw Swollen, red tonsils White patches or pus on your tonsils A hoarse or muffled voice

Why does it hurt when I cough in my ribs?

Can You Pull a Muscle in Your Ribs from Coughing? – If you feel a sharp pain, or hear a cracking or popping sound when you cough, this can be a sign that you have pulled or strained one of the muscles in your rib cage, called intercostal muscles. Your intercostal muscles lie between your ribs and attach them to one another.

1. They also stabilize your upper body and help you breathe.
2. If your ribs hurt when you cough, it could be because the coughing is causing your intercostal muscles to work too hard.
3. The more you cough, the more the intercostal muscles have to work, and the repeated movement can cause these muscles to stretch, pull, or partially tear.

If you think you’ve pulled a muscle when coughing, talk to a doctor. Your doctor will be able to identify which muscles have been strained, and make sure your symptoms are not caused by something else. Any of the following symptoms could indicate that you have strained one of your intercostal muscles.

Stiffness and tension in your back muscles Muscle rigidity when you bend or twist your upper body Sharp pain in your upper back or in the general area of your ribs Severe pain that comes on suddenly, particularly if caused by a blow to your chest or back Severe pain when you cough, sneeze or breathe deeply Spasms of the intercostal muscles in your ribs. Muscle spasms can range in intensity from mild twitches to severe pain. You may be able to visibly see your muscles twitching. Tenderness in the area between your ribs