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What Causes Severe Coughing When I Exhale?
Question: For several months now I have had a nagging cough. I do not always cough but every morning I seem to cough up phlegm and I find that when I exhale I tend to start coughing. If the weather is cold or damp I cough much more and even when inhaling but I am getting tired of this. When I saw a doctor for sinus infection two months ago I asked him about it but he thought my lungs sounded ok. I have been tested in the past for asthma as it runs in my family but my lungs testes at 110% capacity. Maybe I have developed it now?
Brief Answer:
post nasal drip, GERD and asthma most common causes of chronic cough
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
A cough can be defined as acute (lasts less than 8 weeks ) or chronic (lasts longer than 8 weeks).
Your cough, since it has lasted a few months , would be considered a chronic cough.
Though there are several causes of chronic cough, there are 3 causes that make up 90% or more of the cases: (1) post nasal drip- the most common cause. It may be silent in some persons who may only present with cough and/or intermittent sore throat
Most commonly precipitated by an allergen such as dust, pollen , animal dander, particular food or drink.
It is treated by : avoiding the allergen causing the reaction if it is known, topical steroid nasal sprays and oral antihistamines.
The sprays may take a few weeks for maximal effect and should be used consistently.
Examples include nasocort, nasonex, flonase, rhinocort
(2)GERD- another common cause. Some persons may have a combination of post nasal drip and GERD.
In some the typical reflux symptoms are also absent and only the cough presents.
Reflux medication and diet changes are helpful
(3) asthma-this is also a cause but this would have been ruled out by your testing.
In light of the mucus production, the most likely cause for you is post nasal drip with or without reflux.
You may want to consider the use of one of the sprays mentioned along with an oral antihistamine to see if it helps.
One patient of mine was allergic to bananas according to her allergy test and this caused her post nasal drip so if the coughing continues then you may need to consider allergy testing to determine the exact source.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
post nasal drip, GERD and asthma most common causes of chronic cough
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
A cough can be defined as acute (lasts less than 8 weeks ) or chronic (lasts longer than 8 weeks).
Your cough, since it has lasted a few months , would be considered a chronic cough.
Though there are several causes of chronic cough, there are 3 causes that make up 90% or more of the cases: (1) post nasal drip- the most common cause. It may be silent in some persons who may only present with cough and/or intermittent sore throat
Most commonly precipitated by an allergen such as dust, pollen , animal dander, particular food or drink.
It is treated by : avoiding the allergen causing the reaction if it is known, topical steroid nasal sprays and oral antihistamines.
The sprays may take a few weeks for maximal effect and should be used consistently.
Examples include nasocort, nasonex, flonase, rhinocort
(2)GERD- another common cause. Some persons may have a combination of post nasal drip and GERD.
In some the typical reflux symptoms are also absent and only the cough presents.
Reflux medication and diet changes are helpful
(3) asthma-this is also a cause but this would have been ruled out by your testing.
In light of the mucus production, the most likely cause for you is post nasal drip with or without reflux.
You may want to consider the use of one of the sprays mentioned along with an oral antihistamine to see if it helps.
One patient of mine was allergic to bananas according to her allergy test and this caused her post nasal drip so if the coughing continues then you may need to consider allergy testing to determine the exact source.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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