Why cough when sick

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Do I Have a Chronic Cough? Symptoms, Treatment, and More. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. The Best Natural Cough Remedies.

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Whooping Cough Pertussis. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Coffee Ground Vomitus. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Nausea and Vomiting. Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. Mallory-Weiss Syndrome.

Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Pertussis affects both adults and children and it can often lead to a cough that lasts months. By the time the chronic cough appears, antibiotics are no longer effective for pertussis. I suggest every adult receive at least one booster of the pertussis vaccine combined with the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines Tdap.

Treatment of the cough, no matter the source, is difficult. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs have some small benefits. If postnasal drip symptoms are prominent, antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine sold as Chlor-Trimeton and many other brands , may be effective. If wheezing is present, a bronchodilator inhaler like albuterol Proventil, ProAir or ipratropium Atrovent is recommended.

Despite their common use, cough suppressants have little benefit. Once the cough settles in, it often lasts four to eight weeks. Try to avoid forcing a cough, when possible, as this further irritates your airway and slows healing.

When you feel a cough sensation, use a throat lozenge or drink more fluids to help decrease the frequency of coughing attacks. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. The vagus nerve and cough. Coughing is temporary.

Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.

Related Coverage. Nasopharyngitis: Definition, causes, and symptoms Nasopharyngitis, which is another name for the common cold, is the inflammation of the nasal passages and the throat.

What to know about NyQuil and alcohol. Medically reviewed by Raj Dasgupta, MD. What is the incubation period for a cold? Medically reviewed by Emelia Arquilla, DO. Mucus: Where does it come from and how is it formed? Asthma A cough can be caused by asthma, or, when some people get a cold, they can have an asthmatic response. You never had a cold Symptoms that mimic a cold can turn out to be caused by something else. For more serious concerns with a cough, such as heart disease and lung cancer, Dougherty says very few people who have a cough have lung cancer.

As far as colds go, even though most last 5 to 7 days, she says you can continue to give off the virus for up to 21 days. Dougherty adds that if you have an infection that causes a fever, typically once the fever is gone, you are less likely to be contagious. For a cough caused by a common cold, Dougherty says over-the-counter cough medication that contains dextromethorphan can be helpful. However, he suggests taking caution with cough medicine that includes codeine.

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