30/11/2020
What causes a cough?
A cough can be caused by several conditions, both temporary and permanent.
1. Clearing the throat
Coughing is a standard way of clearing your throat. When your airways become clogged with mucus or foreign particles such as smoke or dust, a cough is a reflex reaction that attempts to clear the particles and make breathing easier.
Usually, this type of coughing is relatively infrequent, but coughing will increase with exposure to irritants such as smoke.
2. Viruses and bacteria
The most common cause of a cough is a respiratory tract infection, such as a cold or flu.
Respiratory tract infections are usually caused by a virus and may last from a few days to a week. Infections caused by the flu may take a little longer to clear up and can sometimes require antibiotics.
3. Smoking
Smoking is a common cause of coughing. A cough caused by smoking is almost always a chronic cough with a distinctive sound. It’s often known as a smoker’s cough.
4. Asthma
A common cause of coughing in young children is asthma. Typically, asthmatic coughing involves wheezing, making it easy to identify.
Asthma exacerbations should receive treatment using an inhaler. It’s possible for children to grow out of asthma as they get older.
5. Medicines
Some medications will cause coughing, although this is generally a rare side effect. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, can cause coughing.
Two of the more common ones are:
Zestril (lisinopril)
Vasotec (enalapril)
The coughing stops when the medication is discontinued.
Other conditions
Other conditions that may cause a cough include:
damage to the vocal cords
postnasal drip
bacterial infections such as pneumonia, whooping cough, and croup
serious conditions such as pulmonary embolism and heart failure
Another common condition that can cause a chronic cough is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this condition, stomach contents flow back into the esophagus. This backflow stimulates a reflex in the trachea, causing the person to cough.
