What should I do if I have a persistent cough?

SKĐS - Coughing is a natural reflex of the respiratory tract to expel foreign objects, microorganisms, secretions, etc. A patient is considered to have a persistent cough when the cough lasts for more than 3 weeks without any signs of stopping, even with medication.

What causes a persistent cough?

Persistent coughing is often accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, a sore throat, itchy throat, and excessive mucus or phlegm. Many people with persistent coughing also experience heartburn and bad breath.

The reason a patient experiences a persistent cough can be due to serious respiratory illnesses or external irritants. Below are some pathological causes of prolonged coughing.

- Infections: Patients are infected with viruses that cause influenza, pneumonia, or upper respiratory tract infections. After treatment, they often experience persistent coughing.

- Gastroesophageal reflux: In many cases, patients suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, causing stomach contents to flow into the esophagus, irritating the mucous membrane and triggering a cough. If this condition recurs frequently, it can lead to a persistent cough that does not improve even with cough medicine.

Patients with persistent coughs may be suffering from serious respiratory illnesses, or it could be due to external irritants. (Illustrative image)

- Bronchial asthma: This disease often occurs seasonally, after exposure to cold air without keeping the body warm, exposure to irritants or chemicals, or in patients with upper respiratory tract infections.

- Sinusitis: Sinusitis causes the nasal passages or sinuses to produce excessive mucus. This mucus drains down the back of the throat, irritating the throat and triggering a cough.

- Chronic bronchitis: Patients with chronic bronchitis often have a smoking habit or have smoked heavily in the past. The prolonged illness leads to congestion, causing shortness of breath, wheezing, and persistent coughing with phlegm.

- Lung diseases: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): This disease is a consequence of long-term smoking. Symptoms include persistent cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, cough with mucus, and coughing that is most frequent in the morning.

- Lung cancer: 65% of people with lung cancer experience symptoms such as a persistent cough with reddish-brown or pink mucus, chest pain, hoarseness, and pain when swallowing.

- Pneumonia: Persistent cough, often occurring at night. The cough may be accompanied by green or bloody phlegm. Cold-like symptoms may appear: high fever, shortness of breath, chest tightness; the illness may last more than two weeks. Seek immediate medical attention before the condition worsens.

- Pulmonary tuberculosis: Initial symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough that may be bloody, weight loss, general weakness, night sweats, etc. If the disease is not detected and treated early, it will spread to other organs and cause serious complications.

- Other rare causes: Laryngeal hypersensitivity, chondromalacia, bronchial malformations, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, tonsillar hypertrophy, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis...

When should you see a doctor if you have a persistent cough?

A persistent cough can be a normal bodily reaction to external environmental factors, but it can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Therefore, patients should not take it lightly. Patients should see a doctor if they experience a persistent cough accompanied by the following symptoms:

If a persistent cough is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, cyanosis, shortness of breath, and a cough that lasts for an extended period to the point of exhaustion, a doctor's visit and tests are necessary.

If a cough lasts for more than 3 weeks without improvement after taking medication, and is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, brown or yellow phlegm, coughing up blood, chest pain, or shallow breathing, you should see a doctor for diagnosis.

In particular, patients with a history of tuberculosis, asthma, weight loss, and stomach problems who experience persistent coughing should consult a doctor to treat the underlying medical causes.

Patients who have previously suffered from persistent coughs should pay attention to keeping their bodies warm on windy and cold days, exercise regularly, and maintain a balanced and healthy diet.

Several medications can be used to treat persistent coughs:

Decongestants and antihistamines: for coughs caused by postnasal drip and coughs due to irritation from respiratory secretions.

Asthma inhalers work by dilating the airways and bronchi and reducing inflammation, making them effective in treating coughs caused by bronchial asthma.

Cough suppressants and expectorants are used when the cause cannot be found and the cough is severe, affecting health and sleep.

Antibiotics and topical anti-inflammatory drugs in aerosol form help treat coughs caused by inflammation and infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Use saline solution to rinse your nose, cleaning out dirt and foreign objects.

Preventing recurring coughs

• Avoid smoking and minimize exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Avoid respiratory irritants: dust, chemicals, damp and moldy air, sudden temperature changes when entering and leaving air-conditioned rooms, pet dander, limit cold drinks, and keep your neck warm in cold weather.
• Treat acid reflux and limit eating large meals at night.
• Maintain a healthy diet and combine it with regular exercise to boost your immune system.
• Vaccination against certain respiratory infectious diseases.
• Drink plenty of warm fluids: Tea, water, fruit juice to thin the phlegm.
• Using honey: Soothes the throat (avoid giving to children under 1 year old).
• Humidify the air: Use a humidifier.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/ho-keo-dai-phai-lam-sao-169251231170932955.htm