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A dry cough can be caused by many different things. Home remedies and OTC medications can help.

A cough is a reflex action that clears your airway of irritants and mucus.

“There are two types of cough. A productive cough clears phlegm from the lungs. A dry cough is a non productive cough that doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus.”

Dry coughs can be caused by many things. There is no obvious cause in some cases. If you have a dry cough at night, it can affect your day-to-day life.

There are ways to find relief for a dry cough.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition in which your airways swell and become narrow. Asthma-related coughs can be both productive and nonproductive, though they’re frequently nonproductive.

Coughing is a common symptom of asthma, but it’s usually not the most prominent one. However, there is a type of asthma called cough variant asthma that includes a chronic dry cough as its main symptom.

Other symptoms of asthma can include:

Long-term asthma treatment often involves long-acting medications.

Short-acting medications used for the treatment of occasional asthma attacks include bronchodilator inhalers such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventoline). These can also be part of a long-term treatment plan.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a type of chronic acid reflux. It happens when stomach acid regularly flows back up into your esophagus, which connects your mouth to your stomach.

Stomach acid can irritate your esophagus and trigger your cough reflex.

Other symptoms of gdre include:

Most people find relief from GERD through a combination of lifestyle changes and over-the-counter (OTC) acid reducers such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).

Some home remedies may also help treat acid reflux and GERD.

Postnasal drip

Postnasal drip refers to extra mucus dripping down your throat.

When you have a cold or seasonal allergies, the membranes in your nose respond by producing more mucus than usual. Unlike healthy mucus, this mucus is watery and runny, so it drips easily down the back of your throat.

Postnasal drips can cause a cough by messing with the nerves in your throat.

Other symptoms of postnasal drip include:

  • sore throat..
  • The lump in the throat was very strange.
  • swallowing problems
  • The nose is not straight.
  • coughing at night

The treatment for postnasal drip will depend on what is causing it. It is usually the result of allergies, a bug, or a virus.

Regardless of the underlying cause, steam from a hot shower or teapot can help clear out your sinuses. A saline nasal spray or neti pot can also help flush out extra mucus.

Viral infection

When you contract one of the many viruses that cause the common cold, your short-term symptoms usually last less than a week. It’s not uncommon, however, for a cough to linger long after your other symptoms have improved.

The coughs can last for up to 2 months. They are usually the result of irritation in your airway, which is often caused by a viral illness.

This type of cough is difficult to treat and requires time and patience. Try using throat lozenges and warm liquids to soothe your throat because coughing only increases the irritation in your airway. This may help you cough less.

Upper respiratory infection

An acute upper respiratory infection (URI) is a virus or bacteria that infects your nose, throat, pharynx, larynx, and bronchi.

The common cold is not the only thing that URIs include.

The symptoms of a URI are similar.

  • coughing
  • The nose is not straight.
  • There is a problem with the nose.
  • Sneezing

You can treat coughing with cough suppressants.

Allergies

When your immune system mistakes a harmless foreign substance, such as pollen, for something dangerous to your body, it attacks it. This causes allergy symptoms such as coughing.

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay There is a high degree of fever. or allergic rhinitis, are triggered by pollen from plants. These types of allergies are common, affecting more than 19 million Americans.

Besides coughing, symptoms may include itchy or watery eyes and a The nose is not straight..

“Seasonal allergy symptoms can last as long as you are exposed to the allergen. If allergy medications aren’t helping you, you should see a doctor.”

Dry cough and COVID-19

One of the most common early symptoms of COVID-19 is a dry cough. This is experienced by 60 to 70 percent of people with the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

A 2020 study in China found that most people with COVID-19 developed a cough 1 day after becoming infected. The cough lasted for about 19 days.

Other common symptoms include:

  • There is a high degree of fever.
  • fatigue
  • The muscles are sore.
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • sore throat..

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting tested for COVID-19 immediately if you have a persistent cough or other symptoms.

Environmental irritants

Many things in the air can irritate your airways, including smoke, pollution, dust, mold, and pollen. Chemical particles, such as sulfur dioxide or nitric oxide, can also cause concerns.

Even clean air that’s too dry or too cold can cause a dry cough for some people. If you live in a dry climate, try using a humidifier to add some moisture to the air in your home.

Shop for humidifiers.

ACE inhibitors

ACE inhibitors, such as enalapril (Vasotec) and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), are prescription drugs that treat a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure.

One of the most common side effects of ACE inhibitors is a chronic dry cough. About 20 percent of people taking ACE inhibitors experience a dry cough.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough, which is also called pertussis, is a very contagious condition that causes a severe dry cough. It’s followed up by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when you breathe in.

It can be hard to distinguish a common cold from a common cold in its early stages.

Most children are protected against the disease of thwacking cough, which used to be a common childhood disease. It is more common in children who are too young to have completed their vaccinations or in teens and adults who have decreased immunity.

Collapsed lung

A collapsed lung, also known as a pneumothorax, happens when your lung suddenly deflates. It can happen either on its own or in response to a chest injury. It’s more common in people with underlying lung disease.

In addition to a dry cough, a collapsed lung can also cause sudden There is There is chest pain.. and The breath was very thin..

Lung cancer

While it’s not likely, sometimes an ongoing dry cough can be a sign of lung cancer.

A cough related to lung cancer is usually not gone, and it might change over time. Your cough might become more painful or have a different sound.

Other possible symptoms of lung cancer include:

  • coughing up blood, even a small amount
  • The breath was very thin.
  • There is There is chest pain..
  • wheezing
  • hoarseness
  • unexplained weight loss

If you have any of the symptoms, you should contact a doctor. If you have a family history of lung cancer, this is important.

Heart failure

Heart failure happens when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it’s supposed to. It’s more common in people with conditions like coronary artery disease and high blood pressure, which can decrease your heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

A persistent cough is a symptom of heart failure. It can cause a cough that produces white or pink mucus.

Other symptoms of heart failure can be found.

  • The breath was very thin. that may be sudden or severe
  • fatigue and weakness.
  • A rapid or irregular heartbeat.
  • There is swelling in your legs, feet, and ankle.
  • There was no appetite or nausea.
  • There is abdominal swelling.
  • Retaining fluid is a topic of discussion.
  • Problems concentrating

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The rare condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) stiffens and scars the tissues in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

In addition to The breath was very thin., IPF may cause symptoms such as a chronic cough, weakness, and weight loss.

IPF progresses slowly. There is currently no cure, but it can be treated with medications and oxygen therapy to help with breathing and reduce lung inflammation. As a final treatment step, a lung transplant may be necessary

It can be difficult to treat dry coughs. The vicious cycle is created when your airways become sensitive.

There are a few things you can do for relief, regardless of what’s causing your cough. Try:

  • sucking on throat lozenges to moisturize and soothe irritated throat tissue
  • taking OTC cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin), to suppress your cough reflex
  • adding honey to a hot drink to soothe irritated throat tissue

You can also try these natural remedies for coughing.

To keep your throat moist, drink plenty of water.

You can try to eliminate what is triggering your cough.

  • Environment irritants. Use an air purifier to remove allergens or a cool-mist humidifier to add moisture to the air. Vacuum frequently to get rid of dust as well as pet hair and dander.
  • Food allergies. Avoid particular food or foods that are high in histamines, such as aged cheeses, fermented or pickled vegetables, and alcohol.
  • GERD. Avoid acidic and high fat foods.

Dry coughs can be annoying, especially when they seem to drag on for weeks. If it starts to negatively affect your sleep schedule, try these tips to stop coughing at night.

“If you don’t know what’s causing your cough, you should talk to a doctor. Home remedies and OTC medications can provide some relief.”

This article is in Spanish.