A dry cough occurs as a natural reflex when inflammation or irritation affects your airway.
It is also called an unproductive cough since it does not produce phlegm or mucus.
A dry cough can be classified as acute or chronic, based on its duration.
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A dry cough often occurs as a result of anupper respiratory infectionand resolves with the course of the disease.
However, it can also be a sign of chronic health problems such asacid refluxorasthma.
Treatment of a dry cough depends on the cause.
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#1 COVID-19
COVID-19is an infectious disease because of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
It causes mild to moderate respiratory illness that typically does not require special treatment.
The COVID-19 infection inflames your lung tissues, making breathing, getting oxygen, and removing waste more challenging.
However, your healthcare provider may advise treatment based on your age and other health conditions.
Asthma can cause a dry cough when the small airway muscles tighten and swell.
Other symptoms of asthma include:
Asthma treatment is complicated because it involves preventing symptoms and symptom relief.
Asthma treatments include lifestyle changes and medications, as well as bronchial thermoplasty.
The scarring interferes with your ability to breathe because it thickens the lining of your lungs.
A dry and nagging cough that worsens over time is a common early symptom of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Treatment can include medications, breathing therapies, and surgery.
Medications include:
Breathing therapies include:
Surgery includes alung transplantfor treatment of severe symptoms.
The regurgitated stomach acid is calledacid reflux.
Problems arise because this highly acidic substance can irritate the lining of your esophagus.
While periodic acid reflux is common, it happens repeatedly over time with GERD.
GERD can cause a cough when the acid and other digestive enzymes irritate your throat.
This change in sensation or irritation can stimulate a cough.
Common treatments include changes to diet, medications, and surgery.
When you are healthy, you swallow mucus unconsciously many times a day.
For bacterial infections:
Chronic sinusitis may require surgery to open blocked sinuses.
The most common upper respiratory infections are viral infections, such as the rhinovirus, which causes thecommon cold.
Viruses such asadenovirusand bacteria such aschlamydiacan cause upper respiratory infections.
A dry cough is a common URI symptom because these conditions affect your nasal passages and throat.
Other symptoms of upper respiratory infections can vary by specific disease.
Dry cough remedies can include medications and lifestyle changes.
It usually occurs from breathing dangerous chemicals, but can also develop without a known cause.
As the abnormal cells grow, they join to form a tumor, which destroys surrounding healthy lung tissue.
Lung cancer can cause a cough when it originates in your large central airways.
A tumor can narrow the airway and cause coughing.
While a dry cough can be an early sign of lung cancer, the disease affects everyone differently.
In most people, symptoms do not occur until the disease advances.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasisis an obstructive lung disease that occurs from inflammation and infection.
It causes permanent widening of your airways.
Bronchiectasis occurs from inflammation and infection.
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosisis a progressive, and life-threatening condition.
It damages the lungs and digestive tract.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosisdevelops when groups of cells in your immune system form calledgranulomas.
They spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
They can include pollen, mold, pet dander, or grass.
Choosing the best treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms.
At-home remedies encompass lifestyle modifications and medications.
It typically occurs as a common cold or flu symptom that wanes as the condition resolves.
While home treatments can relieve symptoms, they do not cure coughs.
Curing a cough requires resolving or treating the underlying cause.
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