By Dr. Mark Frilling, MD
Southwest Ohio ENT Specialists
Chronic cough can be a difficult thing to treat, largely because the underlying cause can be highly variable. Getting down to the underlying cause and appropriately treating is the best way to get rid of your chronic cough once and for all.
In the ENT region, the most common causes of chronic cough are postnasal drip and reflux. These triggers can constantly irritate your voicebox(larynx) initiating a cough reflex. You may experience a “tickle” or “lump in the throat” sensation(globus sensation) causing you to constantly feel like you need to cough or clear your throat. What’s worse, the act of coughing and clearing your throat can further irritate your larynx, exacerbating the symptoms.
Postnasal drip can be caused by allergies, viruses, sinus infection, or inflammation within the nose/sinuses triggering mucus to drip into the back of your throat. Treatment for this depends on the underlying cause.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is used to describe reflux that is irritating your larynx. Initial treatment centers around lifestyle modifications, watching your diet, and antireflux medications. Referral to a gastroenterologist may be warranted to see why you are having your reflux.
There are other causes of chronic cough including asthma, COPD, smoking, lung cancer, medication side effects, neurogenic causes, and more. Schedule an appointment to have your chronic cough evaluated.