Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Heart Failure With Mid-Range Ejection Fraction
Dry Cough: What Causes It And How Do You Treat One?
A dry cough can have many causes, from allergies to viruses. Home remedies and medications may help provide relief. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding allergens or environmental irritants can also be beneficial.
A cough is a reflex action that clears your airway of irritants and mucus.
There are two types of cough: productive and nonproductive. A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus, clearing it from the lungs. A nonproductive cough, known as a dry cough, doesn't produce phlegm or mucus.
Many things — from allergies to acid reflux — can cause a dry cough. In some cases, there's no obvious cause.
An ongoing dry cough can greatly impact your day-to-day life, especially if it keeps you up at night. Keep reading to learn more about the possible causes of a dry cough and ways to find relief.
Common causes of dry cough include:
Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which your airways swell and become narrow. Asthma-related coughs can be productive or nonproductive, though they're frequently nonproductive. Coughing is a common symptom of asthma, but it's usually not the main one. However, some people may have a type of asthma called cough variant asthma.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Postnasal drip
When you have a cold or seasonal allergies, the membranes in your nose respond by producing more mucus than usual. This mucus is more watery and runny than usual, so it can drip down the back of your throat. Postnasal drip can tickle the nerves in the back of your throat, triggering a cough.
Treatment for postnasal drip depends on the cause, but steam from a hot shower or teapot can help clear your sinuses. A saline nasal spray or neti pot can also help flush out extra mucus.
Viral infection
When you contract one of the many viruses that cause the common cold, your short-term symptoms usually last less than a week. It's not uncommon, however, for a cough to linger long after your other symptoms have improved.
These post-cold coughs are usually dry and can last up to 2 months. They're typically the result of irritation in your airway, which can be overly sensitive after a viral illness.
Upper respiratory infection
An acute upper respiratory infection (URI) is due to a virus or bacteria that infects your nose, throat, pharynx, larynx, and bronchi. The common cold is an example of a URI.
Allergies
When your immune system mistakes a harmless foreign substance, such as pollen, for something dangerous to your body, it attacks it. This causes allergy symptoms such as coughing.
Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, are triggered by plant pollen. These types of allergies are common, affecting 31.8% of people in the United States.
Besides coughing, symptoms may include itchy or watery eyes and a runny nose. See a doctor if OTC medications aren't relieving your symptoms.
Dry coughs can be difficult to treat. Once your airways become overly sensitive, they're easily irritated by coughing, creating a vicious cycle.
Treatment typically includes decongestions, cough suppressants, and expectorants. If OTC treatment doesn't help relieve your cough, a doctor might prescribe medication depending on the causes.
For example, they may prescribe:
You may also want to try home remedies and natural treatments such as:
Not all treatments will be safe for everyone. For example, honey should not be given to a child under 1 year old. Check with a pharmacist or doctor to make sure the treatment is suitable.
Why do I have a cough that won't go away, but I'm not sick?
Several conditions may cause you to have a cough without an illness. These include: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, allergies, smoking, medications like ACE inhibitors, and others.
Very rarely, a chronic cough may be a sign of a more serious condition like lung cancer, heart failure, or a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism).
What does a GERD cough sound like?
People often describe a GERD cough as dry and hacking, with no mucus, that feels like tickling or scratching in the throat. They also report that it gets worse at night or when they lie down.
What type of cough is worrying?
It's a good idea to seek medical care if your cough:
How do you get rid of a dry cough?
Staying hydrated, using cough drops or lozenges, and taking OTC cough suppressants can help alleviate a dry cough. It's also important to avoid irritants like smoke or dust.
What is a dry cough a symptom of?
A dry cough may be a symptom of the common cold, flu, allergies, asthma, or acid reflux. It can also be a symptom of more serious conditions like pneumonia, so it's important to seek medical care if you have a persistent dry cough.
Why won't my dry cough go away?
A persistent dry cough may have many possible causes. It's advisable to see a doctor if you have a cough that lasts for more than a few weeks.
Pulmonary Embolism
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Doctors usually treat pulmonary embolism with medicines called anticoagulants. They are often called blood thinners, but they don't really thin the blood. They help prevent new clots and keep existing clots from growing.
Most people take a blood thinner for a few months. People at high risk for blood clots may take it for the rest of their lives.
If symptoms are severe and life-threatening, "clot-busting" drugs called thrombolytics may be used. These medicines can dissolve clots quickly, but they increase the risk of serious bleeding. Another option is surgery or a less invasive procedure to remove the clot (embolectomy).
Some people may have a filter put into the large vein (vena cava) that carries blood from the lower body to the heart. A vena cava filter helps keep blood clots from reaching the lungs. This filter might be used if you have problems taking an anticoagulant.
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