Causes of Cough

• Common Cold. Most coughs are part of a cold. The medical name is viral bronchitis. Bronchitis can be caused by viruses. 
• Pneumonia (serious) is a more serious infection of the lower parts of the airway (in the lung). It can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Symptoms include cough with brown or bloody mucus, short of breath, chest pain and fever. The person will often feel and appear sick. Antibiotics may be needed to treat a bacterial lung infection.
• Sinus Infection. The exact trigger of the cough is unknown. It may be that post-nasal drip (mucus dripping into the throat from the sinuses) irritates the lower throat. Or pressure within the sinus may trigger the cough.
• Allergic Cough. Some people get a cough from breathing in an allergic substance. Examples are pollens or cat dander. Allergic coughs can be controlled with allergy medicines, such as Benadryl (short term) or Zyrtec (long term).
• Asthma
• Cough Variant Asthma. Some people with asthma only cough and never wheeze. The coughing spells have the same triggers as asthma attacks.
• Air Pollution Cough. Any kind of fumes can irritate the airway and cause a cough. Tobacco smoke is the most common example. Others are car exhaust, smog and paint fumes.
• Acid Reflux. Ongoing damage to the airways due to acid reflux can cause a cough. This happens when acid from the stomach flows back up the esophagus (food pipe that connects the mouth with the stomach). Acid reflux is common. But reflux that occurs regularly can cause a chronic cough.
• Exercise Induced Cough. Running will make most coughs worse. If the air is cold or polluted, coughing is even more likely.
• Heart Failure (serious) occurs when the heart is not pumping as well as it should. Fluid can build up on the lungs and other places in the body. The main symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling and tiredness (fatigue). Sudden shortness of breath and a cough with frothy pink mucus can also occur, often at night.
• Pulmonary Embolus (serious) occurs when a clot from somewhere in the body (often the legs) travels through the blood stream and is trapped in the lungs. A large clot can be life threatening. Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain and coughing up blood.
• Lung Cancer (serious) is one of the main causes of cancer deaths worldwide. People who smoke are most at risk for lung cancer. People exposed to smoke (work in smoke filled places or live with smokers) can also get lung cancer. There are several different types of lung cancer and cough is a common symptom. If you have a new cough that does not go away within 3 weeks or if you are coughing up blood, see your doctor.
• Serious Causes are pneumonia, bronchiolitis, whooping cough, heart failure, pulmonary embolus, lung cancer and airway foreign object.

Trouble Breathing: How to Tell

Trouble breathing is a reason to see a doctor right away. Here are symptoms to worry about:

• Struggling for each breath or shortness of breath
• Tight breathing - you can barely speak or are unable to speak in sentences
• Ribs are pulling in with each breath (called retractions)
• Breathing has become noisy (such as wheezes)
• Breathing is much faster than normal
• Long pauses between breaths (apnea attacks)
• Appearing exhausted
• Lips or face turn a blue color
• Shortness of breath that is not getting better with usual treatment or is quickly getting worse

Phlegm or Sputum: What's Normal?

• Yellow or green phlegm is a normal part of the healing of viral bronchitis.
• This means the lining of the trachea (windpipe) was damaged by the virus. It's part of the phlegm you cough up.
• Antibiotics are not helpful for the yellow or green phlegm seen with colds. Colds are caused by a virus.
• The main treatment of a cough with phlegm is to drink lots of fluids. Also, if the air is dry, using a humidifier will help. Sipping warm clear fluids will also help coughing fits.

Vaping Risks

• Vaping can cause severe lung injury. The lung damage can be permanent. Vaping can even cause death.
• Vaping tobacco also causes nicotine addiction.
• If you have started, consider quitting.
• Warning: never use home-made or street-purchased vaping solutions. Reason: they have caused most lung damage.

When to Call for Cough

Care Advice

What You Should Know About Coughs:

• Most coughs are a normal part of a cold.
• Coughing up mucus is very important. It helps protect the lungs from pneumonia.
• A cough can be a good thing. We don't want to fully turn off your ability to cough.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Cough Medicine:

• Goal: decrease the tickle in the throat that causes a dry cough.
• Use cough drops to decrease the tickle in the throat. If you don't have any, you can use hard candy.

Non-Prescription Cough Medicine (DM):

• If you decide to use a cough medicine, choose one with dextromethorphan (DM), such as Robitussin Cough syrup. DM is in most non-prescription cough syrups. Follow the instructions on the package.
• When to Use: take only for severe coughs that keep you from sleeping or work.
• DM Dose: take every 6 to 8 hours as needed.

Extra Advice - Allergy Medicine for Allergic Cough:

• Allergy medicine can bring an allergic cough under control within 1 hour.
• A short-acting allergy medicine (such as Benadryl) is helpful. No prescription is needed.
• Do not use Benadryl longer than a few days.
• If needed longer, switch to a long-acting antihistamine, such as Zyrtec.

Coughing Fits or Spells - Warm Mist and Fluids:

• Breathe warm mist, such as with warm shower running in a closed bathroom. Caution: avoid inhaling steam from boiling water, due to the risk of scalds.
• Drink warm clear fluids. Examples are tea, broth, apple juice and lemonade.
• Both actions relax the airway and loosen up any phlegm.

Drink More Fluids:

• Try to drink lots of fluids.
• Goal: stay well-hydrated.
• It also loosens up any phlegm in the lungs. Then it's easier to cough up.
• It also will thin out the mucus discharge from the nose.

Humidifier:

• If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier.
• Reason: dry air makes coughs worse.

Fever Medicine:

• For fevers higher than 102° F (39° C), take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
• Note: fevers less than 102° F (39° C) are important for fighting infections.
• For all fevers: keep yourself well-hydrated. Drink lots of cold fluids.
• Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage listed on the package.
• If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

Avoid Tobacco Smoke, Dust and Chemicals:

• Tobacco smoke makes coughs much worse.
• Dust and chemicals should also be avoided for the same reason.

Return to Work and Activities:

• You can return to work after the fever is gone (unless guidelines such as for COVID-19 state otherwise).
• You should also feel well enough to join in normal activities.
• For practical purposes, the spread of coughs and colds cannot be prevented.

What to Expect:

• Viral coughs most often last for 2 to 3 weeks.
• Sometimes, you will cough up lots of phlegm (mucus).  The mucus can normally be gray, yellow or green.
• Antibiotics are not helpful.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Trouble breathing occurs
• Wheezing occurs
• Cough lasts more than 3 weeks
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




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