Cough

Coughing is a process through which the body removes foreign material or mucous from the lungs and throat. Cough usually falls into two categories: productive coughs (producing phlegm or mucous from the lungs) and nonproductive coughs (dry and not producing any mucous or phlegm). A cough is usually initiated to clear a buildup of phlegm in the trachea. Frequent or chronic coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease like asthma. Coughing can happen voluntarily as well as involuntarily.

Coughs are also divided into acute and chronic forms. Acute cough is most often caused by the common viral upper respiratory tract infection. The cough is usually secondary to stimulation of nasal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal mucosa receptors. This results from the secretions of the nose and sinuses draining into the throat.

Chronic cough may be caused by a variety of underlying diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis, allergies, GERD and chronic post nasal drip. Apart from all these, smoking is a major cause behind the occurrence of chronic cough. This form of cough usually lasts for a longer duration as compared to the acute one.