7 Reasons That Explain Why You're Coughing

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Feb 01, 2016 05:43 AM EST

Do you feel tired because of persistent coughing? Does it feel like it has been weeks since your cough started bothering you? How do you determine if it's just a common cold or something more serious? Today might be the best time to visit a doctor.

There are several reasons why a person experiences coughing. Cough is one of those health conditions that are commonly overlooked by people. Chronic coughing, which does not improve after a few weeks, is frustrating for both the patient and his or her doctor. Case in point, here are the seven probable reasons why you are coughing.

Common Cold

People normally deal with common cold or flu during winter. It is quite easy to control this type of condition because most of its medicines like cough expectorants or suppressants can be bought at the nearest pharmacy. Nevertheless, it is advisable to ask your doctor or pharmacist with regard to proper dosage.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Nobody wants to deal with heartburn; it is annoying and can be painful. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD is a digestive disorder in the lower esophageal sphincter. GERD may also lead to dry cough. It is a good idea to see a doctor if you experience coughing after that painful heartburn.

Pneumonia

According to an article by Lung.org, the symptoms of this illness would depend of its type or classification and the age of the patient. Cough is the most common symptom of this condition that would normally come with greenish or yellow mucus.

Asthma

This is a respiratory condition that involves the airways of a person's lungs. Coughing is the most common symptom of this chronic disease.

Bronchitis

This health condition can go up from a few days to a few weeks. This would normally start with just a common cold and develops into an annoying wet cough that would not seem to stop.

 Post-Nasal Drip

According to WebMD, mucus is being produced in different parts of your upper body every day. People with post-nasal drip will notice excess mucus from their nose sliding down to their throat. This extra mucus will trigger wet coughing especially during night time and when the weather is cold.

COPD, Lung Cancer or Chronic Heart Disease

Although this would less likely to happen, there are already confirmed cases that linked heavy coughing to COPD. If a person has been dealing with cough for more than two months, there is a possibility that it is caused by a more serious disorder. Seeing a doctor is the best thing to do before it escalates into something fatal.

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