Coughing protects your airway by clearing irritants, which often occur in many upper respiratory problems. Best described as a rapid, percussive expulsion of air from the lungs, it causes lung inspiration, vocal cord compression, the expulsion of pressurized air, and the propulsion of foreign materials within seconds.
If coughing occurs due to an acute illness, it generally lasts only as long as the illness. Sometimes, however, people struggle with coughing long after an illness goes away, which can be a cause for concern. To find out if your coughing needs medical help, let’s review why it often happens, the reasons chronic coughing develops, and when you should get to a doctor.
For coughing and other upper respiratory problems in the Orangevale and Rancho Cordova, California areas, Dr. Andrew Nangalama and the team at American River Urgent Care are here to help.
One of many of our body’s defense mechanisms, coughing often happens when dealing with problems like:
When coughing doesn’t go away, it can be due to these illnesses:
Gastrointestinal reflux disease, or acid reflux, causes stomach acids to flow back into your esophagus, or food tube. This leads to chronic coughing problems.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a chronic inflammatory lung condition, inhibits airflow and comes in various forms, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Each variation causes chronic coughing. Smoking is a common cause of COPD.
A severe case of the cold or the flu can lead to a lingering cough. Other infections, such as pneumonia, pertussis (whooping cough), and fungal infections, can also occur.
A type of asthma where the chronic cough is the primary symptom.
Damaged airways that widen and are less able to clear out mucus.
Other problems that should get medical attention for treatment include cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and sarcoidosis.
If typical infections are ruled out, testing to confirm the problem includes X-rays, CT scans, sputum samples, and endoscopic tests to look inside and identify the cause. Lung function testing can also be done to confirm COPD and other lung diseases.
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment options vary and may include inhalers, antibiotics, acid blockers, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and decongestants.
There are many reasons we start coughing, but if it doesn’t go away or gets worse, you should seek help to address it. Make an appointment with Dr. Nangalama and American River Urgent Care today to treat that nagging cough.
