When you choke and crumbs get into the wrong throat, coughing is an important protective mechanism. But in addition, cough also occurs in many diseases, for example, in the context of a cold, bronchitis or even heart failure. We explain where cough comes from and how to help your body get rid of it.
Causes of cough
Cough is not a disease, but a symptom, which means it can be a sign of various diseases. If the cough lasts longer than eight weeks, it is called a chronic cough. When we cough, the diaphragm contracts and the air from our lungs is jerkily expelled – together with the air, swallowed foreign bodies, dust, pathogens or mucus are transported outside. Our airways, i.e. nose, throat and trachea, as well as the bronchi, the branches of the trachea in the lungs, are lined with so-called ciliated epithelium, which produces mucous fluid and thus moistens the air. The mucus also helps in the “removal” of pathogens and co. – if necessary, coughing helps to support this process. Possible causes of cough include:
- Bronchitis (acute or chronic bronchitis).
- Colds
- Allergies and asthma
- Sinusitis
We present these and other causes of cough below.
Bronchitis as the most common cause
The most common cause of cough is bronchitis, which is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi. Acute bronchitis often occurs during a cold caused by viruses and is usually uncomplicated. First, a dry, irritating cough develops, which can be very agonizing, especially at night. As the cold progresses, the ciliated epithelium produces more mucus, which is initially firm and tough and difficult to cough up. In this case, it is referred to as a stuck, unproductive cough. If the mucus becomes more fluid over time, it can be coughed up more easily. In this loose, productive cough, pathogens are transported out of the lungs along with the mucus. Other causes can be the inhalation of irritants, for example smoke or acid, or infectious diseases such as measles or whooping cough. Bronchitis caused by bacteria results in mucopurulent sputum. In this case, treatment with antibiotics is usually necessary.
Chronic bronchitis
The repeated occurrence of acute bronchitis can lead to chronic bronchitis, which means that bronchitis symptoms occur for at least three months in a two-year period. Permanent damage to the lungs, for example, by smoke, dust or chronic heart and kidney diseases also cause chronic bronchitis, with the typical “smoker’s cough” in the morning with mucous-white sputum. Serious consequences are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in which the bronchial tubes collapse over time, or emphysema. In this case, the chronic inflammation destroys the alveoli.
Coughing with a cold
Coughing often also occurs with a cold, which is caused by viruses. The viruses irritate the mucous membrane of the nose, throat and trachea, causing a cold and sore throat, and accompanying cough may occur. Similar to bronchitis, the cough initially develops from an irritable cough to an unproductive cough to a productive cough.
Allergies and asthma
In allergies that affect the respiratory tract, coughing is a typical symptom because increased mucus is again produced in the bronchial tubes as a reaction of the immune system to the allergenic substances. Sometimes allergy can also trigger asthma. Coughing can also be a sign of asthma. In asthma, the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes are particularly sensitive and easily inflamed. In addition, there is usually difficulty breathing and a typical humming (“wheezing”) breathing sound.
Sinusitis
In sinusitis, the sinuses originating from the nose are inflamed. As a result, the ciliated epithelium of the mucous membrane produces increased secretions that drain from the sinuses, especially at night, and enter the respiratory tract, triggering a coughing fit. This causes coughing in addition to fever, purulent rhinitis and pain in the forehead area.
Other causes of cough
Coughing can also occur, for example, in heart failure (cardiac insufficiency), gastroesophageal reflux disease, or as a side effect of some medications (for example, ACE inhibitors). Pneumonia is also a possible cause of cough – often accompanied by purulent or bloody sputum. Fortunately, it is rare for a tumor in the lung to be the cause of cough – however, especially in the case of a cough that does not go away for more than six weeks, this cause must be ruled out.