{"id":173,"date":"2019-02-28T19:00:17","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T19:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fueldev.site\/~carolina\/throat\/chronic-cough\/"},"modified":"2024-08-09T21:59:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T21:59:11","slug":"chronic-cough","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carolinaearnosethroat.com\/throat\/chronic-cough\/","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Cough"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chronic cough is defined as a persistent cough that lasts for more than eight weeks in adults or more than four weeks in children. It’s a common symptom that can be caused by a wide range of underlying conditions. Here’s a comprehensive overview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes of Chronic Cough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Postnasal Drip:<\/strong> Excess mucus from conditions like allergies, sinusitis or rhinitis can irritate the throat and lead to coughing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR):<\/strong> Acid reflux can irritate the throat and trigger coughing, particularly when lying down or after eating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Asthma:<\/strong> Chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways can cause a persistent cough, especially at night or in response to triggers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Chronic Bronchitis:<\/strong> Inflammation of the bronchial tubes due to smoking, pollution or other irritants can lead to a persistent cough with phlegm production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Smoking:<\/strong> Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke can cause irritation of the airways, leading to a chronic cough.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Medications:<\/strong> Certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure, can cause a chronic cough as a side effect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Respiratory Infections:<\/strong> Previous respiratory infections like viral bronchitis or pneumonia can sometimes leave a lingering cough that persists after the infection has resolved.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Interstitial Lung Diseases:<\/strong> Conditions like sarcoidosis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can cause chronic cough due to lung tissue scarring and inflammation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Environmental Factors:<\/strong> Exposure to environmental pollutants, dust or chemicals can irritate the airways and lead to chronic cough.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Other Conditions:<\/strong> Less common causes include lung cancer, congestive heart failure, primary laryngeal disorders or psychological factors such as habit cough (a persistent cough without an underlying physical cause).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Evaluation and Diagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n