Coughing is the body's natural reflex to irritants affecting the throat or airways. Cough symptoms vary in severity, from mild to severe, and can include dry or productive coughs (with or without phlegm), acute or chronic, arising from various causes. It's a common symptom of many illnesses like allergies, colds, rhinitis, and Covid-19. Effective treatment requires identifying the type of cough, its cause, and then selecting the appropriate treatment.

Causes of a productive cough:

Colds and flu: These are common causes of productive coughs. Viruses entering the airways irritate the lungs, leading to increased coughing, which can last for weeks.

Postnasal drip: When your nose is congested, mucus can drip down the back of your throat, triggering a cough. Postnasal drip can be caused by colds, the flu, sinusitis, allergies, and other issues. Sleeping posture is strongly linked to this condition. When lying down, mucus accumulates at the back of the throat, irritating the vocal cords and worsening the cough.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): COPD encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which can weaken the airways (bronchial tubes) and small air sacs (alveoli) responsible for carrying oxygen into the blood and removing carbon dioxide. Coughs from COPD are persistent and often accompanied by a large amount of phlegm.

Heart disease: When the heart isn't functioning properly, fluid can build up in the lungs, leading to heart failure. The body reacts by coughing to expel the fluid, resulting in a chronic, productive cough.

Causes of a dry cough:

Irritants: A dry cough can appear immediately upon contact with irritants like tobacco smoke, strong gasoline fumes, or perfumes. Inhaling smoke can also trigger a persistent dry cough accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, and lightheadedness.

Allergies and asthma: People with allergies and asthma are often sensitive to allergens like mold and dust mites. Inhaling these can cause the airways to overreact, triggering a cough reflex to expel them.

Acid reflux: Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. This acid irritates the trachea, vocal cords, and throat, causing a cough. The cough tends to be worse at night because lying down makes it easier for acid to flow back up into the throat.

Depending on the cause, doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication, expectorants, and mucolytics. If the cause is irritants, limit exposure to them, rinse your nose and gargle with saline solution, and use an air purifier at home. Wearing a mask outdoors helps limit exposure to irritants like dust, pollen, and air pollution. Drinking warm water with honey can soothe the throat, and elevating your head while sleeping can also help.

If the cough doesn't subside and is accompanied by a high fever above 40 degrees Celsius, or if you cough up green, yellow, or bloody phlegm or mucus, seek medical attention as this could indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Anh Chi (WebMD)