Having cough can be embarrassing and worrisome, as you may have to keep some distance away from people, in order not to infect them. Chronic cough is when a cough last more than 8 weeks in children. Common causes include, asthma, allergy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd).less commonly it can be a sign of a more severe condition, such as a heart cough or a lung disease. Cough have many other symptoms associated with It, such as runny nose, dry mouth, itchy throat and some other popular symptoms. Sometimes when the cough for a significant period over the normal days, it is reffered to as chronic cough because of it severity.


  Chronic cough, when there is an irritant inthe lungs, trachea, larynx, pharynx, nasal passage or nose, the normal reaction of our body is to cough. It is a result of our airway nerves sending message to our brain. But once the airway have been cleared, the Coughing should stop. You need to consult your doctor if for 4 weeks or more a daily cough still persist. At this point it is considered chronic and reguires immediate medical attention. Before treatment is commenced the doctor will have to ascertain the cause, symptoms, and type of cough involved.

                 Types of cough

  There are different types of cough depending on their, symptoms, treatments, and levels of seriousness. 

 Dry cough

This type of cough is persistent and those not produce any mucus, it us always irritating to the lung and throat, it maybe a sign of viral infection or sinus problem. 

Chronic wet cough

  Is a cough that produces lot of mucus, and depending on the color, may indicate a bacteria infection or fluid inthe lung. 

Stress cough 

A reflexive spasm of the airway caused when you are under stress. It usually produces no mucus and is not generally related to infection. 

Barking cough 

 Is usually found in children, and maybe associated with croup or other viral illness. The harsh barking sound of a croup coughs is caused by a swollen windpipe. 

Whooping cough 

Is a cough that causes a whooping sound after the cough, maybe indicative of a serious infection and should be evaluated by the doctor. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that canbe deadly for babies below 1 year. 

               Causes of chronic cough 

There are many factors associated with chronic cough, some of which are, allergy, inhaled dust and pollen grain or due to illness and infection. Below are some causes of chronic cough 

Smoking 

 Smoking is one of the major causes of lung cancer, it also increases your chances of getting chronic cough. The foreign substance in tobacco can lead to a smoker cough. A result of the airway constantly trying to clear itself of chemicals. Heavy smoke often develops chronic cough after age 40. It is always advised to stop smoking, as it can condemnthe lung and other delicate organ. 

Asthma or allergy 

Allergy can lead to swelling of the airway, post nasal drip and resultant Coughing, poorly controlled asthma is another risk factor for chronic cough. In some people asthma present mostly as a cough. 

Irritant inthe home and work environment 

Exposure to dust, pollen grain, chemical, industrial pollution and other irritant can all increase the risk for chronic cough. 

Chronic.lung disease 

Conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis causes persistent irritation and inflammation inthe airway leading to chronic cough. 

Gender 

Women have more sensitive cough Reflex, increasing their risk for developing a chronic cough.

Obesity 

A link between obesity and chronic respiratory disease is increasingly being recognised. Obesity can also increase one's risk of oesophageal reflux disorder (GORD) which could lead to chronic Coughing. 

     Symptoms and signs of chronic Coughing 

  There are many symptoms and signs associated with chronic cough, chronic cough maybe accompanied by other cold symptoms, including 
  •  Sore throat 
  • Post nasal drip
  • Heart burn
  • Hoarseness 
  • Runny or stuffy nose 
  • Phlegm 
  • A bad taste inthe mouth 
These are just the minor signs, below are the major symptoms of chronic cough 
  • Wheezing or difficult breathing 
  • Coughing up blood or yellow or green Phlegm 
  • Coughing so hard till it cause you to vomit
  • Chest pains and fever
  • You have a cough with unexplained weight loss 
This is the major signs of weight loss, when you notice this you have to consult your doctor for immediate treatment 

      Health complications of Coughing 

  • Having a persistent cough canbe exhausting 
  • Coughing can cause a variety of problems such as 
  1. Sleep disruption 
  2. Headache 
  3. Dizziness 
  4. Vomiting
  5. Excessive sweating 
  6. Loss of bladder control 
  7. Fractured rib
  8. Passing out (syncope  
  

     Treatments of chronic Coughing 

A test have to be carried out to ascertain the cause of your cough before treatment is administered. Treatment depends on the on the cause of your chronic cough. 
  • Stop smoking, see your doctor for suggestions if you have difficulty in stopping. 
  • If you have a post nasal drip from allergies, avoid the things that bothers your nose and throat. Avoid inhaling dust, pollen, and pollutants. Some over the counter drug can help your allergy symptoms, if that doesn't work, ask your doctor for prescription medicines.
  • Acids reflux (heartburn), incase you have heartburn try raising the head of your bed about 4 inches. Avoid Overeating or consuming things that triggers your cough. Don't eat or drink for few hours before you lie down. Ask your doctor for medicine to relief the acids in your stomach,as this will reduce heartburn. 
  • Avoid contact with anyone you know who may have signs and symptoms of cough. 
  • Eat fruit and foods that contains fibre, as these may prevent chronic cough. 
  • Drink plenty of water atleast 8 ounces glass a day
  • Gargle with warm salty water o help remove any mucus 
  • Avoid inhaling dust, smoke, and other pollutants as much as possible. 
  • Use extra pillows at night to prop up your head and upper body
  • Try cough lozenges 
  • Sip green tea 
     Follow this steps for your better health and body development, you can take some honey to ease cough. Get your health guidelines on how to gain healthy weight