Chronic cough lasting 8 weeks

If you have a cough that's "coughing" during the cold winter months, you're likely to think you have a cold. However, if it persists for several days and doesn't improve, it's best to see a doctor. A cough that persists for more than eight weeks is considered chronic, and it's usually caused by a clear underlying cause. Let's explore the causes of chronic cough.

 

◇If it gets worse when lying down, suspect postnasal drip syndrome

 

The most common cause of chronic cough is postnasal drip syndrome, caused by increased nasal secretions. This occurs when mucus drips down the back of the throat, irritating it and triggering a cough. The condition is particularly worse at night, when lying down. It is characterized by a foreign body sensation at the back of the nose and throat, and nasal congestion. Postnasal drip coughs are common in people with excessive nasal secretions due to allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, or sinusitis. Regularly rinsing the nose with saline solution can help alleviate symptoms. Avoiding sudden temperature changes and drinking plenty of water to clear the throat are also beneficial.

◇If you cough frequently at night, you may have cough-variant asthma.

 

Cough-variant asthma is also a common cause. Cough-variant asthma is characterized by coughing without dyspnea or wheezing. It typically presents as a dry cough without phlegm and is known to be common in patients with atopic dermatitis. Cough-variant asthma tends to worsen at night. If your cough is particularly severe at night, it's recommended to undergo a bronchial provocation test to determine if you have cough-variant asthma. Treatment includes bronchodilators, antihistamines, and steroids.

 

◇If symptoms are severe in the morning, suspect COPD.

 

If you have a particularly bad cough, it could be due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition narrows the airways from the bronchial tubes to the alveoli (small air sacs at the very end of the airways), making it difficult to breathe properly. The main symptoms of COPD are coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Coughing tends to be worse in the morning as the body tries to expel phlegm that has accumulated overnight. It's known that 70-80% of COPD patients are smokers. Chronic inflammation in the lungs caused by smoking destroys lung parenchyma, leading to emphysema, which restricts airflow and causes shortness of breath.

 

◇If accompanied by heartburn, suspect gastroesophageal reflux disease

 

Chronic coughs can also occur due to conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or excessive female hormone secretion, which can make the larynx, where cough-inducing receptors are concentrated, more sensitive. GERD causes stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus, resulting in symptoms such as a burning sensation in the chest, a sore throat, and a lump in the throat. In these cases, it's helpful to undergo a medical examination to determine the cause of the cough and to correct habits that irritate the larynx. Causes can range from smoking to eating cookie crumbs to prolonged conversations. Once you understand your triggers, you can practice preventing coughing by taking different actions when you feel a cough coming on.

 

This involves taking actions like swallowing saliva when you feel a tickle before coughing. When this behavioral modification is combined with medication, symptoms can improve.

Meanwhile, chronic cough can also be caused by certain medications, smoking, pneumonia, or lung cancer. The most effective and crucial treatment is to identify and treat the underlying cause of the cough. If the cause cannot be identified, symptomatic treatment is administered to suppress the cough, regardless of the underlying cause.

 

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I thought coughing was just one thing

Depending on the type of cough depending on the situation

The disease appears differently

 

When lying down, at night, in the morning

If you are feeling heartbroken... by type like this

 

I need to take a good look at my cough too.