Doctor, what are the common causes of coughing?
Coughing is a protective mechanism to clear secretions in our lungs, but if it becomes chronic, medical attention should be sought. More than 90 percent of coughs are caused by three ailments: postnasal drip, asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Postnasal drip is the most common cause of a chronic cough. It is caused by nasal/sinus secretions dripping posteriorly into the throat, resulting in irritation and cough. Some patients are not aware of these symptoms. Causes of postnasal drip include allergies and sinusitis. Your health care provider can diagnose this problem by the constellation of symptoms and signs of this common ailment.
Asthma is the second most common cause of a chronic cough in adults. It is usually associated with shortness of breath and wheezing, but some patients only have a cough as a presenting symptom. It is suspected in individuals who have allergies and a family history of asthma.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease refers to stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus (food pipe). This acid causes irritation of the esophagus and could also give rise to a cough. Common symptoms are a sour taste in the mouth and heartburn. Up to 40 percent of patients with “reflux” may only have a cough and no other symptoms.
Infections can also lead to a chronic cough. Lately, whooping cough (pertussis) is being recognized as one of the causes of a chronic cough in adults due to waning immunity from vaccines received as a child. A cough secondary to pertussis is characteristically very violent. Health authorities are now recommending a re-vaccination in adults to prevent this disabling disease.
Surprisingly, a cough is the presenting symptom in less than 2 percent of patients with lung cancer. Smokers, however, should seek medical attention if they observe a change in the pattern of their cough.
Another sometimes overlooked cause is coughing due to certain medications used for heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. This class of pharmaceuticals, called ace-inhibitors, can cause symptoms in up to 20 percent of patients using these commonly prescribed medications.
If you have a chronic cough please consult your health care provider, who will diagnose the cause and give you the appropriate treatment.