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During your last bout of illness, you might have experienced coughing spells that were hard to shake. Coughing is a normal reflex to remove mucus and irritants from your lungs and throat and is a common symptom.
Typically, coughing lasts the duration of your sickness. But what happens if it lasts much longer?
Coughing is a regular occurrence while sick or exposed to irritants. Chronic cough, on the other hand, lasts for at least eight weeks in adults and four weeks in children.
Approximately 5-10% of Americans have dealt with chronic cough within the last twelve months.
Allergy season is typically associated with three symptoms: itchy eyes, sneezing, and sniffling. However, your throat and lungs can also be irritated by allergens like ragweed, mold, and pet dander, resulting in coughing fits that may persist.
Spicy foods, alcohol, and fried indulgences may trigger acid reflux — a common condition where stomach acid flows back up to your esophagus. For patients who have long-term acid reflux (known as GERD), constant throat irritation can also lead to coughing.
Chronic cough can be a sign of other conditions. Cough-variant asthma, for example, is a form of asthma where the only symptom is chronic coughing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD) is a lung condition that can affect the upper airway and can cause significant side effects. Certain heart conditions and medications, such as an ACE inhibitor, are other causes of chronic cough.
More recently, COVID-19 has been associated with persistent coughing along with nasal congestion and loss of smell or taste.
Dr. Jeanne Hatcher, a CEENTA laryngologist who practices out of our SouthPark and Fort Mill office, understands how disrupting chronic coughing can be. “If you have a chronic cough, it can be very frustrating. Others may think you have an infection and are contagious. It is also very distressing if you are in a quiet environment and just can't stop coughing.”
Treating your chronic cough depends on the underlying cause. It is often multifactorial—meaning you may have both allergies and cough-variant asthma, for example. Treatment may involve addressing several contributing conditions. Some options include:
Over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal sprays can provide relief during allergy season.
If your coughing is due to illness or a preexisting condition, your doctor may prescribe you an inhaler, steroids, or antibiotic/antiviral medications, among other options.
Allergy avoidance strategies can reduce exposure and ease throat irritation.
Make sure to drink plenty of water—a dry throat is more easily irritated, which can lead to throat clearing and coughing.
If you feel the need to clear your throat, do so gently or take a small sip of water and swallow hard.
If acid reflux contributes to your cough, there are several things you can do:
If you’ve found yourself with a cough that lasts longer than usual, CEENTA is here to help. Dr. Jeanne Hatcher is now available for your voice, airway, and swallowing concerns and offers treatment options and lifestyle recommendations tailored to you.
To get started, schedule your next ENT appointment with Dr. Hatcher at our SouthPark or Fort Mill locations today using our online scheduling tool or myCEENTAchart.
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