Infectious causes Viral: Viral infections can produce mucus in the airways that drips down the back of the throat triggering coughing fits. The common cold and flu are examples of a viral infections that can be associated with coughing fits.
In fact, coughing is a natural reflex that helps clear the airways and expels irritants like mucus and dust from the lungs. But, if a coughing fit is severe or lasts for an extended period of time, components of the respiratory system and other areas of the body can be damaged.
A coughing fit is caused by either an acute cough which emerges suddenly and lasts for a few weeks or a chronic cough which usually lasts longer than 8 weeks. Most of the time, the best way to treat a coughing fit is to treat the underlying cause of the cough. Causes of acute cough. Coronavirus.
See a GP if:
your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing. you feel very unwell. you have chest pain. you're losing weight for no reason.
What causes nighttime coughing? While many issues trigger coughing, there are two common causes I see among many of my patients: acid reflux and post-nasal drip. When you lie down at night, you lose the gravitational advantage that you have while standing during the day.
Various health conditions can cause a nighttime cough. They include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), a postnatal drip, and asthma. A doctor may carry out tests to identify an underlying cause and treat it appropriately.
While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that's triggering a chronic cough, the most common causes are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux. Fortunately, chronic cough typically disappears once the underlying problem is treated.
A bronchitis cough sounds like a rattle with a wheezing or whistling sound. As your condition progresses, you will first have a dry cough that can then progress towards coughing up white mucus.
A tickle in the throat can have many causes including sinusitis, dehydration, and inflammation. Treatment will depend on the cause. Everyone has experienced it at some point — a sensation in the throat, somewhere between a tickle and an itch, frequently accompanied by a dry cough.
Most people with asthma have a dry cough, one that does not produce mucous. This happens when the airways constrict in response to an irritant and is a feature of asthma. As well as the cough there is often a high-pitched wheeze sound that is also caused by the constricted airway.
Allergens like dust, pet dander and pollen can irritate the lining of your nose. Allergies can also trigger a sore throat and postnasal drip that tickles the back of your throat. Insect bites, certain foods and some medications can also lead to an allergic reaction that causes a tickle in the throat.
The GERD cough is a dry cough that worsens at night and lasts longer than 8 weeks. GERD occurs when part of the stomach's acidic content move up through the throat. Often times people experience heartburn which does not resolve with antacids.
Cough is a common symptom of anxiety. It can be caused by many issues that are related to anxiety, such as acid reflux, but is typically caused by hyperventilation – especially in those with panic attacks. Treating cough on its own is difficult. Slow, deliberate breathing may help.
Bronchodilators Bronchodilators are medicines used to open up the airways (for example, Salbutamol/Ventolin). They are not usually helpful to reduce a cough in people with acute bronchitis, but may reduce wheezing or chest tightness in some patients.
Coughing: Is it wet or dry? Many patients confuse asthma and allergies because of the persistent coughing associated with both conditions. However, there is a definite difference between the wet and the dry cough. A dry, unproductive cough is typical of asthma.
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.
What does a pneumonia cough sound like? This will depend on the type of pneumonia you have and be either a dry or chesty cough. Bacterial pneumonia is more serious and often results in a gurgling sound when breathing and mucus or phlegm when coughing.