H E A LT H
MY COLD IS GONE, SO WHY AM I STILL COUGHING? symptoms is a cough.
O
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
When coupled with a
Sometimes there’s still some
runny nose, sneezing, sore throat
residual airway inflammation
and fatigue, it can make anyone
in the lungs from typical upper
feel miserable. Usually after a week
respiratory tract infections. So
or so, a cold runs its course and
even after the real meat of the
most of the symptoms go away. But
infection is gone and you’re
for some people, the cough hangs
starting to feel better, you have this
around a little longer.
cough because you still have some
ne of the classic cold
inflammation in the lungs. The
WHY DO WE COUGH AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
lungs are quite sensitive, so when
Jonathan Parsons, director of
it doesn’t take a lot to cause a
the Asthma Center and division
cough. “If you have an infection,
director in the Division of
it’s always good to drink plenty of
Pulmonary, Critical Care, and
fluids. Staying hydrated will help
Sleep Medicine at The Ohio State
thin out the mucus in your lungs
University Wexner Medical Center,
and sinuses to help you get it out
explains five things you should
of there easier. If it’s thick and
know about that persistent cough.
sticky, it’s hard for you to cough it
they are inflamed and irritated,
out of your lungs or blow it out of
PROTECTIVE REFLEX
your nose. If it’s thinner, it’s easier
Humans developed the ability to
to expel,” said Parsons.
cough over time to do a number of
The lungs are quite sensitive, so when they are inflamed and irritated, it doesn’t take a lot to cause a cough
When you’re trying to fall asleep,
that are in the lungs that cause
COUGHING CAN BE WORSE AT NIGHT
irritation. We’ve learned to cough
If you’ve got an upper respiratory
to expel the mucus that may be
tract infection with any kind of
down there. Another is to protect
sinus congestion or runny nose,
your airway from anything going
when you lay down or go to bed,
into your lungs, so you don’t choke.
the mucus drains down the back
point where they aren’t getting any
“We’ve all had the experience
of your throat on top of your
sleep at all, which impacts their
where we take a drink and it goes
upper airway, which causes you
ability to function during the day. In
down the wrong pipe, we cough,
to cough. Coughing at night is
that situation, you might consider
and it comes spraying out of our
more disruptive because you’re
taking a cough suppressant with
nose or mouth. That’s a reflex
trying to sleep. If you’re coughing
codeine to blunt the cough reflex
mechanism that we’ve developed to
throughout the day, you cough
and assist with sleep,” said Parsons.
protect our airway,” said Parsons.
and continue with your activities.
things. One is to eliminate things
48
SILVER DIGEST // SPRING 2019
coughing can make it really hard, so it’s more irritating and frustrating for you and, potentially, your bed partner. “For some patients, their cough is so severe that it disrupts their sleep to the
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