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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough
Question: I have an cough like I always wake up in the middle of the night coughing constantly I've tried all over the counter cough medicine nothing help what do you think I need to be prescribed to me for this
Brief Answer:
post nasal drip most common cause
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The most common causes of persistent coughing are: (1) post nasal drip- this is the most common.
Some persons have a 'silent' drip where they may not be aware of the drip and only experience the effects such as coughing.
It is treated by using topical steroid nasal sprays and oral anti histamines. Examples of topical steroid nasal sprays are nasocort, flonase, nasonex, rhinocort
It can take 1 to 2 weeks for the nasal sprays to have full effect.
Because this is the most common cause, unless the symptoms point to one of the others, treatment is normally started for this one first.
(2) GERD- gastro esophageal reflux which is also more common either at night or early morning , is also a cause of chronic coughing.
It is treated with reflux medication and lifestyle changes. Examples of the medications prevacid, nexium, protonix, prilosec
Lifestyle changes are - smaller more frequent meals, reducing use of fried/fatty/spicy/acidic foods, weight loss of any excess weight
(3) asthma- this is the last of the 3 more common causes of persistent coughing.
Asthma causes coughing that is usually worse in the evenings or nighttime.
It is treated with inhalors and avoiding the triggers for an asthma attack
Summary: (1) the 3 common causes of persistent coughing are post nasal drip, GERD and asthma
(2)post nasal drip is the most common of these 3
(3) because it is most common you may want to consider initiating treatment for this condition first
(4)treatment of post nasal drip involves oral antihistamines and topical steroid nasal sprays
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
post nasal drip most common cause
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The most common causes of persistent coughing are: (1) post nasal drip- this is the most common.
Some persons have a 'silent' drip where they may not be aware of the drip and only experience the effects such as coughing.
It is treated by using topical steroid nasal sprays and oral anti histamines. Examples of topical steroid nasal sprays are nasocort, flonase, nasonex, rhinocort
It can take 1 to 2 weeks for the nasal sprays to have full effect.
Because this is the most common cause, unless the symptoms point to one of the others, treatment is normally started for this one first.
(2) GERD- gastro esophageal reflux which is also more common either at night or early morning , is also a cause of chronic coughing.
It is treated with reflux medication and lifestyle changes. Examples of the medications prevacid, nexium, protonix, prilosec
Lifestyle changes are - smaller more frequent meals, reducing use of fried/fatty/spicy/acidic foods, weight loss of any excess weight
(3) asthma- this is the last of the 3 more common causes of persistent coughing.
Asthma causes coughing that is usually worse in the evenings or nighttime.
It is treated with inhalors and avoiding the triggers for an asthma attack
Summary: (1) the 3 common causes of persistent coughing are post nasal drip, GERD and asthma
(2)post nasal drip is the most common of these 3
(3) because it is most common you may want to consider initiating treatment for this condition first
(4)treatment of post nasal drip involves oral antihistamines and topical steroid nasal sprays
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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