Chronic cough can be very problematic for some people. Some individuals seem to suffer in silence with this medical condition for years before the cause can be determined. A chronic cough can have various causes. It can also cause the sufferer to have a reduced quality of life if it occurs frequently and interrupts the person’s life. The sufferer may stop performing daily activities that they once used to enjoy and may decline more social appearances. Having the condition diagnosed correctly is vital to help return the sufferer’s life back to normal.
Causes
There can be many different causes of a chronic cough. Some of the causes can be minor and some are more serious. The minor causes can range from post nasal drip to mild allergies or colds. Medications such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are commonly used to treat heart failure, can cause a chronic cough to develop. Other medical conditions such as pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms can also cause a person to cough.
Significance
Chronic cough can be a more serious symptom than some people think. It can be a sign that the person has more serious medical problems and if ignored, this can cause serious harm and even death to some patients. A chronic cough should always be taken seriously and discussed with your physician. However, if your coughing is accompanied by chest pain or a shortness of breath, you should immediately seek medical assistance because it may be a sign of a heart attack.
Effects
The effects of chronic cough depend on how severe it is. Some people who experience chronic coughing may think of it as a constant companion and start to try and live their life around the coughing. They may learn little tricks like carrying peppermint with them in case they have a coughing spell. This lifestyle change can eventually take its toll. Chronic cough can cause a person to lose sleep, suffer from hoarseness and even make it difficult to exercise or carry on conversations without having coughing spells.
Identification
The Mayo Clinic reports that a chronic cough is one that lasts eight weeks or longer. The actual cause of a chronic cough is best determined by a physician. A physician may need to run some tests to determine the cause. The physician may order blood work, a chest X-ray, and may even have tests like and EKG performed to check the heart’s health.
Treatment
If the cough and chest pain are caused by cardiac conditions the physician may prescribe medications such as angiotensin receptor blockers, which can treat the patient’s heart problem without causing the chronic cough that ACE inhibitors do. Medications for allergies or post nasal drip may help to reduce or even stop the coughing all together. Sometimes making changes in your diet can reduce the coughing spells. If the cause is more serious, such as pneumonia or pulmonary embolism, then hospitalization or even surgical intervention may be necessary.
Source:
The Mayo Clinic; Chronic Cough; 2009
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