What is the reason for long-term cough

Coughing should not be unfamiliar to everyone, because many people have experienced coughing. Cough is a common disease in our human body. It often does not exist alone. Cough is generally caused by the influence of some diseases. Coughing has a great impact on a person's health, and many people's coughing does not just last for one or two days, but lasts for a long time. So, what causes a long-term cough?

Long-term cough is a type of cough and is also a symptom that many patients often experience. Long-term cough is much more harmful to the human body than short-term cough, so for patients with long-term cough, appropriate treatment is also very important. There are many reasons why a person has a long-term cough. So let's talk about the specific reasons for a long-term cough.

1. Inhaled substances Inhaled substances are divided into two types: specific and nonspecific. The former include dust mites, pollen, fungi, animal dander, etc.; non-specific inhalants include sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, chloramine, etc. Specific inhalants of occupational cough include toluene diisocyanate, phthalic anhydride, ethylenediamine, penicillin, protease, amylase, silk, animal dander or excrement, etc. In addition, non-specific ones include formaldehyde, formic acid, etc.

2. The formation and onset of infectious cough are related to recurrent respiratory tract infections. Patients with cough may have specific IgE to bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, etc., and inhalation of the corresponding antigens may induce coughing. After viral infection, the respiratory epithelium can be directly damaged, resulting in increased respiratory tract reactivity. Some scholars believe that interferon and IL-1 produced by viral infection increase the histamine released by alkaliphilic granulocytes. During the infant period, many children develop cough symptoms after being infected by respiratory viruses (especially respiratory syncytial virus). Coughing caused by parasites such as roundworms and hookworms is still seen in rural areas.

3. Food-induced coughing attacks due to diet are common in cough patients, especially infants and young children who are prone to food allergies, but this phenomenon gradually decreases with age. The most common foods that cause allergies are fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, milk, etc.

4. Climate change: Changes in air temperature, temperature, air pressure and/or air ions can induce coughing, so it is more common in cold seasons or when the climate changes in autumn and winter.

5. Mental factors: The patient's emotional excitement, nervousness, resentment, etc. can all trigger coughing attacks. It is generally believed that it is caused by cerebral cortex and vagus nerve reflex or hyperventilation.

6. Exercise: About 70% to 80% of cough patients develop cough after strenuous exercise, which is called exercise-induced cough or exercise cough. Clinical manifestations include cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and wheezing can be heard by auscultation. Although some patients do not have typical asthma symptoms after exercise, lung function tests before and after exercise can reveal bronchospasm.

7. Long-term cough and drugs Some drugs can cause cough attacks, such as propranolol, which causes cough by blocking β2-adrenergic receptors.

The seven points introduced in the above article are the common causes of long-term cough. Therefore, after knowing the specific causes of long-term cough, our patients can prescribe the right medicine. Of course, most patients do not take medicine by themselves. In fact, they can ask doctors to prescribe medicine for them, so that they can ensure that their long-term cough is cured in the fastest time.