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Causes of Cough
 

Beware of the
causes of cough

Why do we cough?

Irritants, allergens, medical conditions, and even certain medicines
can cause people to cough.1

Irritatants

An irritant is something that you are sensitive to.1

  • Smoking and inhaling
    second-hand smoke

  • Air pollution

  • Paint fumes

  • Scented products,
    such as perfumes
    and air fresheners

Allergens

An allergen is something that you are allergic to.1

  • Dust

  • Mold

  • Pollen

  • Animal Dander

Medical conditions

What causes prolonged cough?

If your cough lasts less than 3 weeks1, it may be due to:

  • Common cold1 : a short mild illness with early symptoms of headache, sneezing,
    chilliness and sore throat, along with later symptoms of nasal discharge,
    blocked nose, cough and discomfort.5
  • Flu1 : an illness with fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, nasal
    congestion, weakness and loss of appetite5.
  • Pneumonia1 : a common lung infection caused by bacteria, virus or fungi6.
  • Whooping cough: a highly contagious respiratory infection with a high-pitched
    “whoop” sound7.

If your cough lasts for more than 8 weeks1, it may be caused

  • Dry cough cause: Postnasal drip (Upper airway cough syndrome) which appears
    as a dry cough caused by the chronic dripping of mucus from the back of the
    nose to the throat.
  • Asthma, a long-term lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways.1
  • Acid reflux disease or stomach acid going up into the throat1.
cough side effects 

Other diseases may also cause coughing
for more than 8 weeks

  • Respiratory Infections1
  • Chronic bronchitis (or linings of the airways constantly irritated or inflamed)1
  • Lung cancer1
  • Chronic obstructive disorder (COPD), a disease that prevents enough air from flowing in and out of the airways1
  • Heart failure1

Chronic Cough

Certain medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure, migraine, headache and glaucoma, can also cause chronic cough (cough for more than 8 weeks).1

The best way to treat a cough is to treat its cause. Your doctor may recommend cough
medicine if the cough causes a lot of discomfort.1