Coughs Last Two Weeks Or More

Cough can be defined as a reflex action of our body to clear our airways of any mucous or irritant such as smoke or dust. Coughs are of two types – dry cough and chesty cough.

Dry coughs are commonly associated with a ticklish sensation in the throat that triggers the coughing. Dry cough, also known as nonproductive cough, happens due to the inflammation of the throat and upper airways. Thick mucus or phlegm is not produced in dry cough. Common cold and flu which are associated with inflammation in throat and upper airways are the main causes of dry cough. In a person experiencing dry cough, the brain thinks that the inflammation is an alien object and tries to get rid of it by coughing.

Another common type of cough is the chesty or productive cough which is associated with the production of phlegm. This kind of cough is helpful in removing the phlegm from the lung passages.

Causes of Cough

Most forms of coughs are caused by viral infections. As mentioned earlier, cough is an automatic response of our body to a foreign presence. The common causes of productive coughs are listed below:

Causes of Productive Coughs

Productive cough, which is associated with the formation of mucus, should not be suppressed as it actually helps in clearing up the lung passages. The mucus could either have drained from the sinuses or from the back of the throat from the nose. It can also come up from the lungs. The common causes of productive coughs are listed below:

• Viral illness:Viral illness often triggers productive cough. The mucous, in a majority of such cases, drains down from the back of the throat.
• Chronic lung disease: Productive cough can also be an indicator of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Many a times, the stomach acid might back up into the esophagus and the person experiences coughing while sleeping. Productive coughing can also be a symptom of Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease.
• Infections: Various types of infections of the upper air passages or the lungs can trigger productive coughs. Productive cough can be a symptom of diseases such as bronchitis, tuberculosis, sinusitis, or pneumonia.
• Smoking or use of tobacco: People who smoke or use various other forms of tobacco often experience productive cough. Chronic coughing can be a symptom of lung damage. It might also be triggered by irritation of esophagus or the throat.

Causes of Nonproductive Coughs

Nonproductive coughs are dry and are not associated with the production of mucus. Common causes of nonproductive coughs are listed below:

• Bronchospasm: A spasm in the bronchial tube, a condition commonly termed as bronchospasm, might trigger nonproductive cough at night. It is often caused by some form of irritation in the bronchial tubes.
• Viral infection: Viral illness is often followed by dry cough, which might even continue for weeks. The cough gets worse at night.
• Allergies: Frequent sneezing and dry cough are indicators of allergic rhinitis.
• Exposure to pollutants: Exposure to pollutants in the form of chemicals, fumes, or dust in the environment can also trigger nonproductive cough.
• Asthma: One of the main symptoms of asthma is a chronic, dry cough.

Duration Of Coughs

Coughs can be classified as chronic, acute, and sub-acute depending on the duration they last.

Acute coughs are caused by common cold or a sinus infection and go away within three weeks.

Sub-acute coughs last from 3 to 8 weeks and are caused by a lung infection or a cold. Sub-acute coughs go away on their own but they might also need some treatment.

Chronic coughs last for 8 weeks or more. Chronic cough is usually an indicator that something is wrong in your body. Chronic cough might also be caused by diseases such as tuberculosis and lung cancer.

Most doctors suggest that a pesky nonproductive cough will last about 18 days. However, a recent study conducted by a researcher Mark. H. Ebell, from the University of Georgia explains that coughs normally last longer than we think they do. The study involved a survey of about 500 adults in Georgia and they were asked how long a cough would last under different situations. The results of the survey were compared to the answers found in medical literature. Most people think that coughs will be over in a little over a week. On the contrary, most forms of coughs last for about two weeks.

The study also found that antibiotics do not cure most types of coughs. People who have taken antibiotics for treating coughs associated with cold often feel better after seven days. They feel that the recovery is because of the antibiotics. However, antibiotics do not treat viruses. The cough gets better on its own, and not because of the antibiotics.

Cures for Coughs

A cough that is caused by a viral infection cannot be cured quickly. The cough will go away only after the body’s immune system has fought off the virus. A simple home-made cough concoction comprising honey and lemon in warm water is helpful in treating short-term coughs. Other treatments for cough are listed below:

• Cough medicines: Though cough medicines are not very effective, some of the ingredients of the medicine might help in soothing common symptoms associated with cough such as blocked nose and fever.
• Cough Suppressants: Cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan, antihistamines, and pholcodine, are useful for dry coughs as they act on the brain to hold back the cough reflex. Cough suppressants should preferably be taken under prescription as they might have some side effects. Common side effects of cough suppressants include drowsiness, constipation, and blurred vision. Some antihistamines might also interfere with other medicines.
• Expectorants: Expectorant are good for productive coughs as they help in bringing the phlegm up thereby easing the coughing.

It must be noted that antibiotics are not advised for treating coughs as they are only effective in killing bacteria but not viruses. Therefore, antibiotics must only be prescribed in cases where there is a secondary bacterial infection, for instance in pneumonia.