COUGH

Coughing is a natural reflex to clear the air passages. The body contains cough receptors that when stimulated, send a message to the brain. This message goes to the voice box and the breathing muscles between the ribs and in the abdomen. When the muscles contract, the pressure increases in the lungs and the glottis, or flap that closes the windpipe to foods, is forced open. The resulting noise is called a cough.

Many times a person with a chronic cough takes it for granted. This is often true of the "smoker's cough" that many smokers come to accept as a part of waking up in the morning. The problem may be more serious than they think. A common complaint is a cough that interferes with activities of daily living or sleep.

Any cough that lasts 3 weeks or more is chronic. This is true even if it occurs only in the morning, only at night, or only in the winter. It is also true whether it is either a dry cough or a productive cough. A productive cough is one that brings up mucous, sputum or phlegm.

One common cause of a chronic cough is exposure to environmental irritants, such as smoke or pollen. A cough is often associated with other respiratory symptoms and may be a sign of infection. However, a cough can also signal gastric reflux, heart failure, chronic airway obstruction, cancer, or tuberculosis.

Using a cool mist humidifier, especially in the bedroom, can help relieve coughing. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning the humidifier. Do not smoke and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. Coughing can be very tiring, so you may need to rest more than usual. Eat a balanced diet and increase the amount of fluids you drink. Fluids will help loosen sputum and reduce coughing.

Taking cough drops or syrups for more than a week may only mask an illness while it gets worse. Long-term use of cough syrups that are purchased without a prescription is usually not helpful and can be dangerous.

Contact your healthcare provider if any of the following occur:

a cough with fever, abdominal swelling, or production of thick, foul-smelling, rusty or greenish mucous
a cough that disrupts your sleep or daily activities and lasts more than 10 days or changes in character
a violent cough that comes on suddenly or if there is a high pitched sound when inhaling
a cough that is accompanied by unintentional weight loss
a cough is present in an infant under 3 months of age

You should seek medical attention immediately if you develop a cough that causes sustained shortness of breath, severe pain, or if you begin coughing up blood.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File RESP4933.rf2 VRS# 4933 (See SYMP5172) Data Version 7.0