4 Common Reasons You Might be Coughing

Generally, coughing is a very common phenomenon where mucus and irritants lodged at the back of our throat get expelled. Persistent coughing can be very irritating but it is necessary as it’s one of the best ways to protect the respiratory system. To understand, we can distinguish it into two categories: productive cough and non-productive cough.

In a productive cough, the mucus is expelled from the lungs. Whereas in non-productive cough, it is  dry and no mucus is expelled. Some of the most common causes of dry cough include environmental allergens and heartburn. Dry coughs can be extremely bothersome as it occurs mostly at night and is associated with difficulty in breathing. Generally, cough syrups are suggested to help with this problem.

‍We strongly advise you to consult a doctor in case of persistent coughing rather than taking any medication at home by yourselves. With KR4ALL health care app, you can instantly book an online doctor appointment from your smartphone. We make online doctor consultation easy for you and your family!

‍So, what causes coughing?

There are several reasons that a person can experience cough, and each type is treated specifically. Let’s learn about some of the common causes of coughing below:

‍4 Common Reasons You Might be Coughing:

1. Respiratory problem:

People with regular coughs due to respiratory problems  often struggle with Asthma. This cough could be both dry as well as wet cough. In some cases of cough variant asthma, dry cough is one of the main symptoms; other symptoms include wheezing, difficulty in breathing and pain in the chest area. 

2. Heartburn:

Heartburn is a medical condition in which the stomach fluids escape from the stomach and travel up to the oesophagus due to the oesophagal sphincter. Some of the symptoms associated with heartburn are irritation of the throat, burning sensation in the chest as well as problems with swallowing. 

3. Allergic rhinitis: 

Allergic rhinitis is a condition that is caused due to environmental allergens. Some of the symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis are sneezing, postnasal drip, coughing and sore throat. During a bout of this condition, an individual might experience post nasal drip where a watery mucus runs down the back of the throat. This causes a constant irritation in the throat that results in coughing.

4. Common cold:

The symptoms of the common cold such as coughing, sore throat, fever, headache and sneezing are experienced by a majority of people. There are numerous viruses that are responsible for causing the common cold but rhinovirus is the most common type. Since the common cold is caused by a virus, the symptoms do not clear up very quickly. In some cases the dry cough can persist over weeks or months. 

Other Causes Of Coughing: 

1. Pollution 

Pollution like dust and soot from motor vehicles, factories as well as pollen etc. are some irritants that can cause coughing. People who are allergic to such environmental allergens are more vulnerable to coughing spells. The people living in the dry areas are more prone to getting affected. One of the best ways of reducing such symptoms is humidifiers. 

2. Medications 

Medications such as ACE inhibitors that are used to treat hypertension can cause coughing. Around 5 to 35% of people taking these medications might experience coughing as a side effect. 

3. Lung disorders 

Collapsed lungs and lung cancer are some disorders that can cause coughing spells. In case of lung cancer, the coughing generally worsens over a period of time. 

4. Heart disorders 

Heart related issues such as high blood pressure as well as coronary artery disease can cause coughing. The insufficient supply to and from the heart can lead to dry cough. Heart failure generally causes persistent coughing. If you have already gone through a heart attack and you have a cough still persisting, you must visit a doctor .

Related Read: PCOS: Common Symptoms and Causes

KR4ALL: Digital healthcare app

Dry cough in particular can be extremely bothersome if left untreated. Ignoring dry cough initially can even meddle with the quality of your sleep. If your coughing is not subsiding in a few days or weeks, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor.

You can even download the KR4ALL mobile app- the best online healthcare app and get an online doctor consultation from the comfort of your home

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