Three Surprising Causes of Persistent Cough

Are you burdened with a chronic, persistent cough that just won’t go away? Do you lie awake at night coughing until the wee hours of the morning? A persistent cough can be frustrating symptom deal with, particularly when a coughing attack occurs when you’re meeting with your boss or a client. Although the causes of a persistent cough are numerous, there are several that many people don’t consider. Although your doctor should make the final diagnosis, here are some causes of persistent cough you may not have considered.

Post Nasal Drainage

If your cough becomes worse when you lie down to sleep at night and you have nasal congestion during the day, you may be suffering from post nasal drainage. A variety of conditions can trigger post nasal drainage including a recent virus or cold, irritants such as cigarette smoke, dry air, and allergies. In addition to a persistent cough you may experience mucous back of your throat and a need to clear your throat more often. Sometimes using a saline solution in the nose can help to correct this situation as can avoidance of smoking and other irritants. It’s also important to drink lots of fluids to thin out nasal secretions as well as keep the humidity level in your house high. Your doctor may suggest a trial of a nasal decongestant to see if that resolves the cough.

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux or GERD affects up to a quarter of the population. This is a condition where the flap that separates the esophagus from stomach is weak, allowing acid to reflux back into the throat. This can trigger a cough, particularly when you lie down in bed at night or eat a heavy meal. Although most people experience heartburn symptoms with GERD, this isn’t always the case. Some people only experience a persistent cough that won’t go away. If fact, GERD is discovered to be the cause of persistent cough in up to ten percent of cases. If you have a cough that won’t go away, particularly if it’s associated with symptoms of heartburn, see your doctor to rule out this condition.

Asthma

Asthma is another common cause of persistent cough. Like the previous two conditions, the cough tends to be more common at night. While you might think that asthma would always be associated with wheezing and shortness of breath, it can sometimes present with only a persistent, dry cough. If you have asthma, you may find that your cough becomes more pronounced when you exercise or when you go outside in the cold air. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor. Your doctor may give you a prescription for an asthma inhaler to see if it improves the cough.

If you’re taking medication for high blood pressure, you should be aware that a particular class of blood pressure medications known as ACE inhibitors can cause a chronic cough. If you’re experiencing a cough and you recently started a new blood pressure medication, contact your doctor to see if this could be the cause.