Have you ever had a cough which wouldn’t go away? Have you woken in the night because you can’t clear that never-ending irritation? Though it may feel like it, you aren’t alone. In fact, persistent coughs are one of the leading causes for visiting a doctor today.
But, the frequency of this issue does nothing to lessen its inconvenience. Coughing for a few days can be irritating enough, but a persistent cough can last anywhere between a few months to a few years. As already mentioned, a cough like this can disrupt your sleep and general wellbeing. It could even impact your work life if a coughing fit seizes you during meetings. Before long, it’ll also become evident that your your body needs a rest. In short, this is an issue which needs addressing as soon as possible.
Of course, it’s impossible to cure a constant cough without knowing the cause. And, that leads us nicely to the central theme of this post. If you’ve been coughing longer than you can remember, fear not; we’re going to look at three leading causes and what you can do about them.
Smoking
If you smoke, you likely already know this is your problem. But, you might not realize that most smokers develop a constant cough, also known as a ‘smokers cough’. And, while chemical irritation often causes this, it could develop into issues such as pneumonia and lung cancer. If you’re suffering from a smoker’s cough, it’s a sure sign you need to give up. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but there are plenty of support groups out there. It’s also now possible to invest in quit-smoking aids like this Juul starter kit, which mimics the sensation of smoking with vape alone. It might also help to visit a doctor. If nothing else, fear in this area can be a great motivator for change.
Living conditions
Our living conditions can be another cause for chronic coughing. Issues such as mold and damp in the home can go a considerable way towards irritating our lungs. The chances are you already know about areas of damp. If not, walk around and check each room. In some cases, it’s possible to rid those mold spores with nothing more than hot water. In other cases, your walls may need treatment. Either way, this could be the answer to curing that cough. It’s also worth opening your windows for at least half an hour each day to ensure moisture doesn’t build in your lungs and your home.
Time of year
It’s also important to consider the time of year. We all know hay fever causes continuous sneezing and itchy eyes. Less of us realize it’s also a leading cause for chronic coughing, especially in people with asthma. So, if your coughing only occurs in the warmer months, this might be your issue. Shop bought medication can ease symptoms. But, other than that, you might need to cough it up until the warm weather rolls around.
