About Coughing

A cough is a reflex action that expels secretions such as mucus from the breathing passages. There are voluntary and involuntary coughs. A physician, in ruling out the presence of bacteria and other infections and preventing the spreading of airborne disease, should check persistent, severe coughs.

Types

• There are two types of coughs, productive or nonproductive. A productive cough will expel mucus from the body. A nonproductive, or dry cough, will not.

Time Frame

• Doctors measure cough severity in time. There are acute, subacute and chronic levels. Knowing the severity of your cough will help decide treatment options.

  Acute coughs last no longer than three weeks.

  Subacute coughs last between three and eight weeks.

  A cough is chronic when it's present for more than 8 consecutive weeks.

Identification

• The color of the substance coughed up helps determine the underlying cause. Yellow or green mucus is often associated with a bacterial infection. White or grey mucus is sometimes the result of smoking or other irritation. Very thick mucus often signals asthmatic problems. Brown or red mucus sometimes indicates a more severe problem associated with the lungs, such as tuberculosis. While the color of mucus helps with diagnosis, it isn't the only factor considered.

Considerations

• Knowing the reason behind a cough can sometimes help prevent recurrence. Coughs triggered by irritants or environmental issues can be avoided, while coughs from the common cold cannot. Learn what is causing the cough and work to prevent recurrence.

  Chronic, dry coughs are usually caused by postnasal drip, GERD or gastroesophageal reflex disease and asthma. Treating the conditions will reduce coughs.

  Acute, severe coughs are often caused by respiratory infections. Some infections include tuberculosis, pertussis and pneumonia.

  Smokers develop a chronic, hacking cough. Eliminate smoker's cough by ceasing smoking.

  Fibromyalgia and asthma cause sensitivity to smells. This, is turn, will cause a person to cough when strong odors are present. Talk with your doctor about any medical conditions to see if a cough is a symptom.

  Conditions affecting the lungs that cause coughs include cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis and lung disease. Tumors in the lungs associated with lung cancer can also lead to coughing.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent or lessen the severity of coughs, take medications as prescribed for chronic medical conditions, avoid people with colds and get enough vitamin C, and avoid environmental factors that irritate.