Chronic Dry Cough Causes

Coughing is one of the natural reflexes of the body against the entry of foreign substances. Occasionally, it is normal and actually beneficial, as it helps in getting rid of any foreign body or something unwanted in the body. However, if cough becomes persistent and lasts for more than two months, then it is termed as a condition of chronic cough; one of the most common complaints of people visiting their health care providers. And it is more than just annoying and troublesome. When left untreated, it starts interfering with daily functioning. The patient may notice people interacting lesser with him, and he may not be able to get proper sleep at night. With time, the condition also begins to affect the person's psychological well-being. Now speaking of chronic dry cough, it lacks the production of sputum thus, it is also known as a non productive cough.

Factors Related to Chronic Dry Cough

Given the association of the condition with so many medical conditions, it is somehow difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. But medical experts have been able to determine some causes, based on the diagnosis they perform for their patients. Also, in most cases, chronic dry cough is often the result of another chronic underlying medical condition. The common causes may include:

• Bronchospasm - it is a condition that is characterized by the spasm of the muscles in the walls of the bronchioles.
• Medications - if the affected person is suffering from high blood pressure, then medications such as ACE inhibitors may also trigger the development of dry cough.
• Environment - another common trigger of chronic dry cough may be the constant exposure to dust, fumes and other chemicals at work place, or at home.
• Asthma - a chronic respiratory disorder, asthma is an incurable condition that is characterized by narrowing and swelling of airways. And since it is a long-lasting condition, one of its symptoms is a long-lasting dry cough too.
• Laryngitis - when the voice box is over used, it suffers inflammation and results in this condition. If it is a chronic problem, then it causes dry cough, which may also be a chronic one.

Other Causes

• Post nasal drip
• Common cold
• Respiratory tract infection
• Smoking
• Living in low humidity surroundings
• Tracheitis
• Rarely, lung cancer

Treatment

The treatment becomes easy when the underlying cause can be determined, otherwise, it may not produce useful results. For instance, if asthma is the cause, then the patient would be treated with corticosteroids. These drugs help in reducing inflammation. However, their long-term use may give rise to certain side effects. And if in case, the condition turns to be idiopathic (having an unknown cause), then the treatment would aim for relieving the symptoms. The patient might be prescribed with a cough suppressant.

At home, patients can do a few things to make themselves comfortable.

• Gargling with warm, but not hot, saline water provides a great deal of relief in soothing the irritated throat due to the persistent coughing.
• Increasing fluid and water intake also helps, as it keeps the body hydrated and reduces the dryness of the throat.
• Chewing a few pieces of ginger, and swallowing the juice also helps in reducing dry cough at night. A pinch of salt can improve the taste.
• Ginger tea is also beneficial, when taken several times a day.
• Increasing the humidity of the room is also a good idea. If a humidifier is not present then, leave a kettle of water boiling on the stove. The steam will help in increasing the moisture levels of the air.
• A steam bath is also beneficial in soothing the throat muscles and reducing dry cough.
• Avoid smoking, and even being a passive smoker.

Most often, as it has been mentioned, chronic dry cough is a result of medical conditions that are long-lasting in nature. So taking the appropriate treatment for the underlying cause, serves to resolve this problem automatically. So if you see that your cough is too stubborn to resolve on its own, and its affecting your sleep, then consider visiting a doctor at the earliest.