What Your Cough Is Trying To Tell You
Coughing is the body's way of removing foreign material or mucus from the lungs or of reacting to an irritated airway. Coughs have distinctive traits you can learn to recognize. A cough is only a symptom, not a disease, and often the importance of your cough can be determined only when other symptoms are evaluated.
Productive coughs
A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus (sputum). The mucus may have drained down the back of the throat from the nose or sinuses or may have come up from the lungs. A productive cough generally should not be suppressed; it clears mucus from the lungs. There are many causes of a productive cough, such as:
* Viral illnesses. It is normal to have a productive cough when you have a common cold. Coughing is often triggered by mucus that drains down the back of the throat.
*Infections. An infection of the lungs or upper airway passages can cause a cough. A productive cough may be a symptom of something more serious such as pneumonia.
* Chronic lung disease.
* Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, which is often a sign of acid reflux disease.
* Nasal discharge draining down the back of the throat. This can cause a productive cough or the feeling that you constantly need to clear your throat. Experts disagree about whether a postnasal drip or the viral illness that caused it is responsible for the cough.
* Smoking. A productive cough in a person who smokes or uses other forms of tobacco is often a sign of lung damage or irritation of the throat or esophagus.
Nonproductive coughs
A nonproductive cough is dry and does not produce sputum. A dry, hacking cough may develop toward the end of a cold or after exposure to an irritant, such as dust or smoke. There are many causes of a nonproductive cough, such as:
* Viral illnesses. After a common cold, a dry cough may last several weeks longer than other symptoms and often gets worse at night.
* Bronchospasm. A nonproductive cough, particularly at night, may indicate spasms in the bronchial tubes (bronchospasm) caused by irritation.
* Allergies. Frequent sneezing is also a common symptom of a form of allergy so severe, a doctor's visit may be required.
* Exposure to dust, fumes, and chemicals in the work environment.
* Asthma. A chronic dry cough may be a sign of mild asthma. Other symptoms may include wheezing, shortness of breath, or a feeling of tightness in the chest.
* Blockage of the airway by an inhaled object, such as food or a pill.
Many coughs are caused by a viral illness. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral illnesses and do not alter the course of viral infections. Unnecessary use of an antibiotic exposes you to the risks of an allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may kill beneficial bacteria and encourage the development of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A careful evaluation of your health may help you identify other symptoms. Remember, a cough is only a symptom, not a disease, and often the importance of your cough can only be determined when other symptoms are evaluated. Coughs occur with different infections such as viral and bacterial. If you have other symptoms, such as a sore throat, sinus pressure, or ear pain, see your doctor for a more accurate and informed diagnosis.