Your health is extremely important. There are so many different aspects of health. Staying informed about all of the different things that have to do with your health is essential. If you have been wondering about your health because you have a persistent cough, then keep reading. Here is some helpful information that you should know about coughs, specifically chronic coughs.
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Did you know there are three different categorizations of coughs? There is an acute cough, a chronic cough, and a refractory/recalcitrant cough.
What is an acute cough?
An acute cough is the most common form of cough, and the symptoms for this type of cough usually last up to three weeks.
What is a chronic cough?
A chronic cough is a cough that lasts for eight weeks or longer in an adult. For children, a chronic cough is a cough that lasts for four weeks or longer. Some causes of a chronic cough include asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. You can also have other things that go along with a chronic cough such as shortness of breath, a runny nose, a sore throat, etc.
The treatment for a chronic cough will depend on what the cause of the chronic cough is. If it is caused by something that you are taking or doing like smoking, then your doctor will want you to stop taking whatever it is that may be causing it or stop smoking. There are also medications that may help to treat chronic cough.
What is a refractory/recalcitrant cough?
A refractory/recalcitrant cough is a chronic cough that doesn’t respond to treatment.
When To See A Doctor
If a cough persists, then you are going to want to see a doctor, and you may even need to see a cough specialist. If you do have a cough that persists and you do go and see a doctor or cough specialist, then you are probably wondering what they will check/do to try and help you feel better. They may ask you for your medical history and do a physical exam. They may also order some tests, but as tests can cost a fair amount of money, they may try to give you a treatment for the most common reason that people have chronic coughs. If that doesn’t work, then they will run tests. If they do end up running tests, then the tests that they will run include x-rays and CT scans, they may also do other tests like lung function tests, lab tests, and scope tests.
Hopefully, this information has helped you understand coughs better, specifically the different types of coughs that there are, more about each type of cough, and how to know when you should see a doctor. Your physical and mental health are both so important, so it is very important to take care of yourself and if you do have any issues with your physical or mental health to seek help from a medical professional.