A cough is a way for your body to clear the lungs and airways of mucus and irritating substances. Coughs can vary in intensity and quality. Sometimes, we cough over and over, as if we can't stop, to the point where we lose our breath. Other times, the cough may be a one-time short, sharp event, such as when you swallow something "down the wrong pipe."
Coughs can also be classified as dry or wet. A dry cough tends to feel more like a tickle and when you cough, nothing comes up. On the other hand, a "wet" cough may produce mucus or phlegm that is clear, yellow, green, or even blood-flecked, in certain instances.
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What It Means
A cough is a protective reaction of your body, designed to clear the airways of foreign substances. As stated above, it doesn't always mean something is wrong, especially in young children, who may cough up to 30 times a day without concern. A chronic cough, though, should not be ignored. It usually results from one of the following causes:
- Asthma
- Postnasal drip from nasal allergies or sinus conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD for short
When a cough frequently occurs during the night, and / or in association with other common asthma symptoms, such as wheezing or shortness of breath, then asthma should certainly be suspected.
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When to Contact a Doctor
If the chronic cough is new, then it should definitely be reported to your doctor. If your cough is waking you up at night and /or occurs in combination with wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness, you'll need to contact your doctor soon to find out if it might be asthma. The sooner asthma is treated, the better you'll feel.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends that if you have any of the following, you should definitely see a doctor, preferably an allergist or immunologist:
- Have a cough that lasts 3 to 8 weeks or longer
- Have both a chronic cough and nasal symptoms
- Have a chronic cough and you smoke or are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke
When you visit the doctor, try to bring as much information as possible. Keeping a symptom diary can be helpful in seeing when and where coughing occurs. For example, is it happening after you come into contact with pollen outdoors? When you go outdoors in the winter time? During or following a workout session?
Coughing and the other symptoms discussed on this page are what are known as asthma triggers, or things that set off asthma symptoms. Identifying that there are triggers, and then starting to avoid them, will help you prevent more severe problems from occurring in the future.
Besides keeping track of when and where you cough, you may also want to keep track of the following:
- How long the coughing lasts
- Whether it goes away on its own or if treatment is needed to get rid of it
- What the coughing sounds like and feels like
The important thing to remember is that a chronic cough, especially during sleep time, is a sign that something in your airways is not working as it should. If you've never been diagnosed with asthma, then this is a sign that you should call your doctor. If you are being treated for asthma and still coughing, it's likely that your treatment isn't working as well as it should. When asthma is under control, you should not experience frequent coughing or have it waking you up during the night.
If you have an Asthma Action Plan, check it to see what actions to take for coughing. If you don't have a plan yet, work with your doctor to help you develop one as soon as you are feeling better. And be sure to talk with your doctor as soon as possible about what steps to take now to relieve the coughing.
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Source:
AAAAI, "Tips to remember: cough in children." American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. 01 January 2006. AAAAI. 09 January 2008 http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/coughinchildren.stm.
