Get the App For Doctors Health Feed My Account My Questions My Appointments My Packages My Lab Reports My LybrateCash ₹{{$root.currLybCash ? $root.currLybCash : '0'}} My Orders Browse Health Categories Health Feed Logout Login/Sign-up
Lybrate
Ask a Question Book Appointment Consult Online Book Lab Test
Common Specialities
{{speciality.keyWord}}
Common Issues
{{issue.keyWord}}
Common Treatments
{{treatment.keyWord}}
Diet, Food & Fitness Skin & Hair Care Health Conditions Pregnancy, Kids & Parenting Women's Health Sexual Wellness More
Get help from best doctors, anonymously
Ask FREE Quesion
Common Specialities
{{speciality.keyWord}}
Common Issues
{{issue.keyWord}}
Common Treatments
{{treatment.keyWord}}
Home > Bronchiectasis > Health Feed > Tips > Chronic Cough - Why It Happens?
Shared 1 year ago

Chronic Cough - Why It Happens?

Dr. Mool Chand Gupta | Lybrate.com
Written and reviewed by
Dr. Mool Chand Gupta 92% (36474 ratings)
MD - Pulmonary, DTCD
Pulmonologist, Faridabad  •  43 years experience
Chronic Cough - Why It Happens?

A cough is not necessarily to be worried about always. It is the natural response of our body to throw out harmful particles which somehow managed to enter our respiratory tract. There is sticky mucus situated in the pathway to lungs which plays a major role in trapping harmful particles. Coughing once or twice is generally a natural phenomenon but if it’s persistent it is called the chronic cough, and there is a reason to worry.

Is your cough chronic?
An acute cough aggravates within a very short span of time, maybe 2-3 days. There are situations when coughing doesn’t hinder your day to day activities and are easily neglected. Sometimes these infrequent bouts of a cough can persist for long and continue for more than 2 months, which has been characterized as a chronic cough.

A chronic cough is sometimes found associated with blocked or running nose. Persons suffering from a chronic cough feel very exhaustive and suffer from a headache, dizziness along with excessive sweating. Under such situations, you must consult a pulmonologist.

Know the causes of a chronic cough
There are several causes for persistent coughing, and the following are the common causes of a chronic cough and medication is taken in consultation with a trained medical practitioner only.

  1. Infections: Bacterial or viral infection in lungs can be one of the causes of a chronic cough. Tuberculosis is one of them which initiates as a chronic cough and is later characterized by emitting blood after cough bouts.
  2. Drug Interactions: Antihypertensive drugs have been found to be responsible for a chronic cough in some people. Hypersensitivity to the prescribed drugs is found to responsible for the cough bouts, and change in medication takes care of the issue.

  3. Asthma: It’s a situation characterized by blockages in the bronchi which disallows the normal air flow during inhalation and exhalation. Due to inadequate oxygen, brain assumes that there is a blockage which needs to be expelled and coughing pattern starts. However, asthma has to be treated, and the bronchi have to be brought back to normal with the help of medication by an expert medical practitioner.
  4. COPD: The most common cause of a chronic cough nowadays is COPD, better known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This is one of the progressive diseases which means it deteriorates with time. Active smokers are the biggest victims of it. Persons exposed to high degree of pollution or similar occupational hazards are also at high risk. Exposure to these pollutants causes inflammatory responses in lungs resulting in the tapering of the airways and destruction of lung tissues. These can be measured by lung function tests. In asthma, the narrow airways can be broadened by external medication, but in case of COPD, it’s not possible.

To conclude, chronic cough is a preventable disease by reducing the exposure to risk factors as mentioned above. Quitting smoking, improving the indoor air quality with the use of solar cooking and moving on battery run vehicles can prevent COPD from further worsening. You can also undergo pulmonary rehabilitation program which is being counseled and coordinated by many physicians to benefit the individual suffering from the issue. Consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

3615 people found this helpful
Thanked
Thank DoctorThank
Consult OnlineConsult
Book AppointmentBook
Icon

Book appointment with top doctors for Bronchiectasis treatment

View fees, clinic timings and reviews
Book Appointment

Related Questions

I m suffering from fever, cold and cough from last 6 days, pls tell...
116
1) I am 41 years old, male have cough & cold from last 15 days & al...
32
I have bulgum cough before 2-3 year I did x-ray of my chest and all...
15
One of my friend having cough for a long time he is coughing very h...
49
From many years my husband suffering amibiosis problem in stomach. ...
2
Hello Doctor, 1544.17 hepatitis hai. 2 year se Constipation rehta h...
I am 21 years old, Male, My test results for Thyroid as follows: FT...
1
Suffering from abdominal discomfort, loose motions 3-4/day gas and ...
1
View all related questions

Related Health Tips

8 Alcoholic Drinks That Might Secretly Keep You Healthy
19568
8 Alcoholic Drinks That Might Secretly Keep You Healthy
Top First-Aid Homeopathic Remedies
5806
Top First-Aid Homeopathic Remedies
All About Bronchitis
4800
All About Bronchitis
Troubled by Sinus Problems - Choose Homeopathy!
7119
Troubled by Sinus Problems - Choose Homeopathy!
Best Homeopathic Medicines For Laryngitis!
4776
Best Homeopathic Medicines For Laryngitis!
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - 6 Signs You Are Suffering from It!
2855
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - 6 Signs You Are Suffering from It!
Down With Laryngitis
1
Down With Laryngitis
Can Severe Gas be a Sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
1952
Can Severe Gas be a Sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
View more health tips

RELATED ISSUES

Persistent Cough Coughing Up Blood Cough Cough in Children Gastrointestinal Infections Coughing

RELATED SPECIALITIES

General Physician Homeopath Internal Medicine Specialist Alternative Medicine Specialist Ayurveda

RELATED TOPICS

Treating Cough (Adults) Treating Cough (Child) Treating Gas & Bloating Treating Whooping Cough (Child) Living Healthy - Man Treating a Cold Treating Cold (Adults) Treating Cold Living Healthy - Woman