Fast Facts About Cough

Cough often comes up as one of the chief complaints that drive people to seek medical care. While cough in itself is not a disease, it may be a sign or symptom of a number of conditions ranging in severity.  

What is cough
The human body’s design considers a number of protective mechanisms against sickness. How it does this is by keeping foreign substances out of the body. Similar to how the immune system attacks foreign molecules with antibodies, the act of coughing is one of the protective measures in place to naturally expel irritants found in the throat, windpipe, or lungs. By definition it is “a sudden or sharp expulsion of air from the lungs acting as a protective mechanism to clear the air passages.”

What causes cough? Nerve endings found all over your body become irritated when exposed to foreign particles. These nerve endings then signal you to cough. The reflex of coughing can be voluntary or involuntary. 

The types of cough
Cough may be categorized in several ways:

• Duration – How long you’ve been having cough measured in days, weeks, months, or years
  • Acute (short-term)
    • Lasts less than 3 weeks
    • Common causes: upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, etc.)
  • Sub-acute
    • Lasts 3 to 8 weeks
    • Common causes: post-infectious cough, bacterial sinusitis, asthma
  • Chronic (long-term)
    • Lasts more than 8 weeks
    • Common causes: post-nasal drip syndrome, gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD), asthma, chronic bronchitis, and many others

• Characteristic – Describes the nature of your cough
  • Wet or productive – Expels sputum (mucus/saliva/phlegm/blood) 
  • Dry – Does not expel any sputum. Feels tingly, itchy, and/or tight

When being examined by a doctor, your bout of cough will be assessed based on a list of other factors as well: triggers (if known), accompanying symptoms (i.e. shortness of breath, fever, vomiting, etc.), and its course (frequency and severity). 

Remember that individuals are assessed based on current health status, so not all causes of cough might necessarily apply to you. 

Common treatments 
Cough usually presents as a symptom, and so the treatment prescribed by your doctor is meant to address the underlying cause. Before taking any treatment, consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and management of your condition. 

There are a number of treatment options that may be prescribed depending on your case. These are:

• Expectorants – Medicines that increase airway secretions, making it easier for people to cough out the mucus/sputum. There are many expectorant brands in the market that can be bought over-the-counter (OTC). 
• Suppressants – Medicines that suppress the cough reflex. Dextromethorphan is a common treatment used to provide relief from dry cough. 
• Mucolytics – Medicines that make the mucus thinner to make it easier to expel. Carbocisteine belongs to this class of treatments. 
• Bronchodilators – Medicines that relax the lung muscles and widening the airways. These are commonly used to address chronic cough conditions. 
• Antihistamines – Medicines that help reduce the frequency of coughing, which is provides relief and helps regulate sleep. 

When you should seek help
In general, cough can be bothersome, but it becomes a bigger concern when it is “persistent, painful, or productive.” 

Ideally any concern you are experiencing due to cough should be brought up with your physician. However, if any of these signs occur, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention.

• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty in breathing
• Feeling chest pains 
• When cough induces vomiting
• If cough lasts more than 8 weeks (chronic)
• If you’ve been closely exposed to or were in contact with a person with an infectious disease, such as whooping cough 

Even though it affects billions of people worldwide, remember that cough is not a disease but is rather, a signal that your body’s defense mechanism is working against irritants or foreign particles. The next time you cough, pick up on clues of what might be triggering the reflex. 

Common irritants include cigarette smoke, dust, chemicals, fluids, and even mucus. It is important to avoid habits or practices that expose you to these triggers, such as smoking, not wearing proper protective equipment in highly-polluted environments, and many others.

Always consult your doctor on the best possible course of action to find relief from symptoms of cough, and to help treat the underlying condition causing it. 

General disclaimer 
Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

Sources:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928552/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11106722/
• https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/cough.pdf 
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344540882_Dry_and_wet_coughs_article 
• https://www.ajol.info/index.php/cme/article/view/50270/38958