What You Should Know About Dry Coughs

Even though pollen counts are subsiding, a number of my patients are still experiencing dry coughs.Dry coughs can continue after allergy, cold, or sinus symptoms have dissipated or occur without other symptoms due to certain factors.An interesting report on WebMD states, "chronic dry coughs are usually caused by irritation from cigarette smoke, environmental irritants, allergies, postnasal drip, or asthma. Several chronic lung diseases also cause a dry hacking cough. Some people cough out of habit for no clear reason."Other common causes for dry coughs, says the website Patient.Co.UK "are occupational exposure to irritants (including farm workers, workers exposed to hot acidic conditions in a bottle factory); COPD; whooping cough--in young adults and may be more common than previously supposed, influenza; heartburn; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); and medications such as an Ace Inhibitor (Lisinopril, Enalarpil, Ramipril, etc.)."The website goes on to say that a qualified physician is required to evaluate the causes of the cough and look for the following symptoms associated with a dry cough: "systemic signs, e.g. fever, weight loss; upper air-way signs, e.g. hoarseness, nasal speech; focal chest signs; cardiovascular system; and peak expiratory flow rate (how fast the air flows out of a person's lungs when they exhale hard)."Have questions about your dry cough? Feel free to contact my office for a consultation at 214-247-7447 or read more about common environmental triggers located on my website under common allergies