Cough; Chronic Cough, Coughing in blood

DEFINITION

A cough is your body’s way of responding to irritants in your throat and airways. An irritant stimulates nerves in your respiratory tract, sending the cough impulse to your brain, which signals the muscles of your abdomen and diaphragm to give a strong push of air to your lungs to try to expel the irritant.

Everyone coughs sometimes, but a cough that persists for several weeks or one that brings up discolored or bloody mucus may indicate an underlying condition that requires medical attention. A cough rarely requires emergency care.

CAUSES

An occasional cough is normal — it helps clear foreign substances and secretions from your lungs and prevents infection.But a cough that persists for long periods of time may signal an underlying problem. Some causes of coughs include: Bronchiectasis Medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors Postnasal drip, Acute sinusitis Allergies, Asthma, Bronchiolitis, Bronchitis, Childhood asthma, Choking: First aid Chronic sinusitis Common cold, COPD, Croup, Cystic fibrosis, Emphysema

Chronic cough — one lasting eight weeks or longer — is more than just an annoyance. A chronic cough can ruin your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted. Severe cases of chronic cough can result in vomiting, rib fractures and light headedness.

While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that’s triggering your chronic cough, the most common causes are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux — the backflow of stomach acid, which can irritate your throat.

SYMPTOMS

A chronic cough can occur with other signs and symptoms, which may include:A runny or stuffy nose A sensation of liquid running down the back of your throat,Wheezing and shortness of breath,Heartburn or a sour taste in your mouth,In rare cases, coughing up blood When to see a doctor See your doctor if you have a cough that lingers, especially one that brings up sputum or blood, disturbs your sleep or affects your work.

CAUSES

An occasional cough is normal — it helps clear foreign substances and secretions from your lungs and prevents infection. But a cough that persists for long periods of time is usually the result of an underlying problem. Examples include: Postnasal drip: When your nose or sinuses produce extra mucus, it can drip down the back of your throat and trigger your cough reflex. Asthma: An asthma-related cough may come and go with the seasons, appear after an upper respiratory tract infection, or become worse when you’re exposed to cold air or certain chemicals or fragrances. This type of asthma is frequently referred to as hyperactive airways disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): In this common condition, stomach acid flows back into the tube that connects your stomach and throat (esophagus). The constant irritation can lead to chronic coughing.

IMAGING TESTS

X-rays: Although a routine chest X-ray won’t reveal the most common reasons for a cough — postnasal drip, acid reflux or asthma — it may be used to check for lung cancer and other lung diseases. An X-ray of your sinuses may reveal evidence of a sinus infection. Computerized tomography (CT scan): A CT scan takes X-rays from many different angles and then combines them to form cross-sectional images. This technique can provide more-detailed views of your lungs, but it’s not a routine exam in the initial evaluation of a chronic cough. CT scans may also be used to check your sinus cavities for pockets of infection.

DEFINITION

Coughing up blood can be caused by a variety of lung conditions. Coughing up blood can take different forms: The blood may be bright red or pink and frothy, or it may be mixed with mucus. Also known as hemoptysis (he-MOP-tih-sis), coughing up blood, even in small amounts, can be alarming. However, producing a little blood-tinged sputum isn’t uncommon and usually isn’t serious. Call 108 or seek emergency care if you’re coughing up blood in large quantities or coughing up blood frequently.

CAUSES

Hemoptysis refers to coughing up blood from some part of the respiratory tract. Blood coming from elsewhere, such as your stomach, can mimic coughing up blood. It’s important for your doctor to determine the site of the bleeding, and then determine why you’re coughing up blood. The major cause of coughing up blood is chronic bronchitis or bronchiactasis, luminary tuberculosis. Other possible causes of coughing up blood include: Fibrotic lesion in lung due to previous tuberculosis, Drug use, such as crack cocaine, Foreign body, Lung abscess Parasitic infection, Trauma to the chest, COPD, Cystic fibrosis, Emphysema, Lung cancer, Mitral valve stenosis, Pneumonia Pulmonary embolism, Tuberculosis, Wegener’s granulomatosis

Source: http://www.pulmocriticare.com