Possible Reasons Why Your Cough is Not Improving

Sick and tired of your cough that doesn’t seem to want to go away? There are many different possible reasons why your cough is not improving, and some of the most common ones are the following:

- Advertisements -

Dehydration

One of the smartest things you need to do each time you have the common cold or flu is drink plenty of water in order to loosen thick mucus in the airways, allowing them to be coughed up.

If you’re dehydrated, your body is going to have an extremely difficult time getting rid of excess mucus — it’s for certain that you will cough all day and all night long.

While fighting off an upper respiratory tract infection, make sure that you drink plenty of water and 100% pure fruit juices. Steer clear of coffee and alcohol as they can make you even more dehydrated.

Irritated Airways

Having the common cold or flu can be hard on your airways. It’s for this reason why they are irritated not only during an upper respiratory tract infection, but even after it.

Most of the other symptoms may go away on their own after a few days, except for your cough. In fact, doctors say that it’s something that can haunt you for weeks even after the cold or flu has left.

It’s a good idea for you to limit your exposure to irritants and pollutants right after bouncing back from an infection of the upper respiratory tract as it can prolong your cough.

Stress

Doctors always advice their patients who have a cold or the flu to take plenty of bed rest so that the body’s immune system may be able to control the ongoing infection more effectively.

Otherwise, the infection of the upper respiratory tract can last much longer than usual, causing you to unnecessarily put up with its various symptoms, including cough.

Rather than going to work or doing all sorts of house chores, spend most of your time in bed. Spending 7 to 9 hours every night in dreamland can help make the common cold or flu go away much faster.

- Advertisements -

Bacterial Infection

While a cold or the flu is due to a virus, it’s something that can cause a bacterial infection to strike afterwards — having an infection of the upper respiratory tract can invite bacteria to attack the body via the airways.

It’s exactly for this reason why some people develop sinus infections, acute bronchitis and pneumonia immediately after recovering from the common cold or flu.

Make sure that you pay your doctor a visit if it seems like your cold or flu is taking a really long time to go away as there’s a possibility that you may have already developed a bacterial infection.

Health Problems

If you are quite sure that you do not have a cold or the flu and you are coughing all the time, it’s possible that there is an underlying medical condition that needs to be identified and treated.

Believe it or not, acid reflux is something that can cause not only heartburn, but also chronic cough — those stomach acids can irritate the upper airways each time they have the opportunity to climb up the esophagus.

Obstructive sleep apnea is another health problem that can leave you coughing even without an upper respiratory tract infection. Seeing a sleep specialist can help manage the issue.

Certain Drugs

Did your doctor just give you a prescription drug for your high blood pressure? Did he or she mention that it’s an ACE inhibitor? It may be the reason why now you are suffering from chronic cough.

According to experts, about 1 in every 5 people who control their high blood pressure with ACE inhibitors complains of cough, in particular the dry kind that can be so annoying!

Take a look at the packaging of your high blood pressure medication — if the generic name ends with “pril”, then it’s an ACE inhibitor. Visit the doctor who prescribed it and complain about your chronic dry cough.

- Advertisements -
Total
101
Shares
Previous Post

Causes of Wrinkles That are Not Related to Aging

Next Post

Fight Candida with the Right Foods

Related Posts
Total
101
Share