Dry cough causes and the treatments

Dry cough causes could be varies from person to person. It may relate with mild to chronic diseases, disorder or conditions. Health practitioner classified the cough as a sign or symptom ranging mild health problem such as upper respiratory infection to a life-threatening disease such as lung cancer or pneumonia. It’s important to meet a doctor if you experience a persistence of dry cough to get a proper diagnosis.

A dry cough associates to a cough that not results mucus or sputum. Normally, cough is a reflex body defense against foreign thins that enter the respiratory system. This reflex mechanism keeps your airways clear of obstructing or irritating by foreign substance. Besides the dry cough, it could be a productive one. When the cough is accompanied with mucus production, it classified to a productive cough. As stated above, there are many things that can cause dry cough. Below are some of them,

Common dry cough causes

1. Some people experience this type of cough at the end of common upper respiratory infection such as influenza, cold, or sinus infection. Some of them get the cough after exposed to certain irritants such as cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, or dust.

2. Allergies may also cause dry cough. Other condition such as airways irritation, aortic aneurysm, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may also lead to a dry cough.

3. Chronic and life-threatening health problem such as lung cancer, tumor of the larynx, systemic lupus erythematosus, pneumothorax, inflammation of the lining of chest and lungs, and congestive hearth failure may also cause a dry cough.

4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of dry cough causes. GERD is a chronic condition that affect to digestive systems. This health problem occurs when stomach acid flow back into esophagus causing heartburn sensation. In long period, this GERD may irritate the food pipe and trigger cough development.

5. Certain of medication may also trigger this annoying health problem. Some of blood-pressure medications that classify as angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may cause a dry cough. If you take those medication and then you getting cough, you need to talk to your doctor about the possibilities to take a different class of medications.

6. Asthma. A cough variant asthma may associate with other signs of the disease such as chest tightness, wheezing or high-pitched sound between exhalations, and shortness of breath.

How to treat a dry cough?

The treatment for a dry cough will depend on the causes. When you meet a doctor for the first time, the doctor will diagnose your condition by doing a series of test to determine the cause of your condition. They will prescribe medical drugs base on the diagnosis result. If the dry cough causes related to bacteria infection such as whooping cough, they will prescribe you antibiotics, but if the cough is caused by common cold or irritants, you may suggested to drink much fluid, get some rest and cough suppressant syrup. When it caused by more severe disease such as lung cancer or liver failure, the treatment will depend on many factors including the stage of the disease and patient overall health condition.