What is a chronic cough? Coughing...

What is a chronic cough?

Coughing is religious because it helps to clear foreign aims and mucus from your lung and breathing tubes. However, a cough that lasts a in extent time can be the sign of a health point to be solved [i]or[/i] settled A chronic cough is a cough that lasts longer than eight weeks.

What can cause a chronic cough?

There are many possible causes. Here are a common causes of chronic cough:

* Smoking and lung damage from smoking

* Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (medicines used to treat high progeny pressure and heart failure)

* Allergies

* Asthma

* Sinus problems

* Acid ebb from the stomach (also called heartburn)

Rare causes of chronic cough include tuberculosis and lung cancer.

by what mode will my doctor find the cause of my chronic cough?

Your doctor will ask you if you vapor now, or if you smok in the past. You also will be asked about any medicines that you take. Your doctor will ask if you are expos to chemicals where you work, or if you have allergies.

If you are a smoker your doctor will ask you to stop smoking. If you are taking an ACE inhibitor, your doctor will change you to a medicine that does not cause cough If you are expos to chemicals or other irritants, your doctor will ask you to take measures to avoid this exposure

If your cough is not caused by dint of smoking, a medicine, or a chemical or other irritant, your doctor may order a tests.

What experiments might I need?

A chest x-ray is usually the first step

If your chest x-ray is normal, your doctor will turn the thoughts for common conditions that can cause chronic cough like postnasal drip, acid ebb disease, and asthma. Your doctor may prescribe medicine or lifestyle changes to treat these question s and stop your cough.

If your x-ray is not normal, you may ne to have a lung scan or lung function proofs Depending on what these experiments show, your doctor might have you papal court a pulmonologist (a doctor with special training in lung and breathing problems)

If you have a disease that affects your immune body such as HIV infection, your doctor may order other tests

What if my child has a chronic cough?

Chronic cough usually has the same causes in children as in adults. Sometimes, however, young children can have a cough because an existence is stuck in their windpipe. proofs may be needed to examine for the object.

Talk to your doctor if your child has a chronic cough

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group