A cough is a sudden, often repetitive spasmodic contraction of the thoracic cavity resulting in violent release of air from the lungs and usually accompanied by a distinctive sound. Before a vaccine was available, pertussis killed 5,000 to 10,000 people in the United States each year. It is also known as pertussis the P in the familiar DTP combination inoculation routinely given to children. But in recent years, the number of cases has started to rise. Some coughs persist for weeks to years, and cause patients to go from one physician to another seeking relief from incessant coughing which may rob them of sleep, cause urinary incontinence, chest pain, or syncope, and interfere with work and life style. Cough is commonly triggered by mechanical or chemical stimulation of receptors in the pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi. It's mainly affected infants who are younger than 6 months old before they are adequately protected by their immunizations, and kids who are 11 to 18 years old whose immunity has faded. But more cases have been reported in teens and adults, because their immunity has faded since their original vaccination. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently recommended that kids who are 11-18 years old get a booster shot that includes a pertussis vaccine, preferably when they are 11 to 12 years old.

Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. Coughing is an action the body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating the air passages. In the more advanced stages, it's marked by the symptom that gives the disease its name: a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop. Coughing can also be triggered by a bolus of food going down the trachea instead of the esophagus due to a failure of the epiglottis although this may result in choking instead. Worldwide, there were over 45 million cases of whooping cough and 409,000 deaths in 1997 making this easy-to-prevent disease one of the leading causes of illness and death. Provided the patient is a non-smoker and has a normal chest X-ray the cause of chronic cough in 93% of all patients is due to asthma reflux ( heartburn ) or post-nasal drip. Other causes of chronic cough include chronic bronchitis and medications such as ACE inhibitors. Coughing during an injection can lessen the pain of the needle stick caused by a sudden, temporary rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting the pain-conducting structures of the spinal cord.

Causes of Cough

The common Causes of Cough :

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) .
Lung disease such as bronchiectasis interstitial lung disease, or tumors.
Exposure to secondhand smoke.
Allergies and asthma.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( emphysema or chronic bronchitis ).
Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis.
Cigarette smoking.
ACE inhibitors (medications used to control blood pressure).

Symptoms of Cough

Some Symptoms of Cough :

A runny nose
Dry cough
Nasal congestion
A mild fever
Sneezing
General feeling of being unwell and loss of appetite
Red, watery eyes

Treatment of Cough

Antitussives should not be given when the cough is productive and the patient is bringing up mucus. If the cough is keeping the patient awake at night, then their use at bedtime is indicated.
Antihistamines and decongestants may be a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip.
Elevate your head with extra pillows at night to ease a dry cough.
Don't smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke.
Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
If you have allergies year round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, use an air purifier, and avoid pets and other triggers.
For patients with underlying disease states causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.
Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs.

Bowel & Stomach Diseases

Appendicitis
Barett's Oesophagus
Coeliac Disease
Crohn's Disease

Heart Problems

Angina
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation

Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis
Bird Flu
Boils
Cellulitis
Chicken Pox
Cystitis

Skin Disorders

Acne
Alopecia Areata
Baldness

Women Diseases

Abnormal Periods
Atropic Vaginitis
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Cervical Cancer

Liver & Kidney Diseases

Cholecystitis
Cirrhosis
Fatty Liver Disease
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer

Mental Health

Anorexia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Dementia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizophrenia

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