What Causes Dry Cough and How to Stop It?

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What Causes Dry Cough and How to Stop It?

What Causes Dry Cough and How to Stop It?




Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
06 December, 2024

What Causes Dry Cough and How to Stop It?

Dry cough is also called non-productive coughing, as you don’t get any irritant or phlegm out of your lungs. It may appear randomly or may be due to specific triggers like having a cold or allergy before. Dry cough tends to affect people for a long time after the root cause has been resolved.

Common Causes Of Persistent Dry Cough In Adults-

First, let us look at some very common causes for persistent dry cough in adults-

  • If you are asthmatic, then you may have noticed that you tend to cough a lot and nothing comes out either. You may already have a treatment plan in place that your physician has come up with. 
  • Postnasal drip is the mucus that tends to drip into your throat. This is normally seen when you are dealing with the flu, an allergy or something similar. The consistency of the mucus produced is very watery and not sticky and hence, it can drip down your throat and cause you to cough as a reaction. A saline nasal spray should normally work very well in this instance. 
  • Viral infections can keep you down for about a week or two, but some symptoms like dry cough may persist for much longer- sometimes even a few months.You can try to drink some warm water, tea or chew on cough drops to feel better. 
  • If you have upper respiratory tract infections, like sinusitis, pharyngitis, etc. due to bacteria or viruses attacking you, then you may have dry cough too.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition where you have acid reflux, which can also cause a sore throat and dry cough. 

Some not so common causes include-

  • When you have pertussis or whooping cough. The possibility is very low- considering most of us have been vaccinated in childhood. 
  • If you are prescribed blood pressure regulator drugs like ACE inhibitors, then dry cough may be an unwanted side effect. 
  • If you are exposed to particulate pollutants or toxins like dust, mold, pollutants, smoke, secondhand smoke, pollen, nitric oxide, etc. then you may have dry cough too. It may be the same case if humidity levels are too low. 
  • Dry cough for long periods of time may be an indicator for lung cancer in some very rare instances.
  • If you have a history of lung disease, then you may have pneumothorax or a collapsed lung. Dry cough is normally associated with this condition. 
  • Pulmonary fibrosis due to unknown causes can also lead to dry cough. Here, you may have chronic inflammation and improper healing of wounds in the lungs, with scars being formed. Lungs can not breathe in normally when this continues for a long time and some of the associated side effects include dry cough, weight loss or even general fatigue. 
  • Heart failure is also a trigger for dry cough. At times though, you may cough out white or pinkish coloured mucus. This is a warning sign- go to a doctor immediately and get help.

Effective Home Remedies To Relieve Dry Cough Symptoms-

  • Now, let us look at some DIY remedies which work wonders on dry cough-
  • Children and older adults can be given honey with warm water. But remember- the child must be at least a year old or even more. No honey before the child turns 1, as honey may cause botulism in them. 
  • Ginger is a great choice and a kitchen staple. You can either boil some ginger in hot water and drink it like a tisane or have some hot ginger chai. You can also try to slice ginger into very thin slices and dunk them in honey. You can eat this once a day for a few days till your symptoms get better. 
  • We swear by chai- masala chai is just perfection in winter and gets rid of cough, cold and the blues easily. It is full of legendary ingredients- cloves, cardamom, pepper, bay leaf, cinnamon etc. which are super flavourful and good for the body and soul. 
  • You can also try to use a humidifier at home or indulge in some aromatherapy. Eucalyptus oil is a great choice if you seem to cough more at night. 
  • Salt water gargling is a classic suggestion which never goes wrong. 
  • If your dry cough is caused due to smoke, pollution or poor air quality, then an air filter may be helpful.
  • Cough syrups that contain menthol or camphor or dextromethorphan are antitussive in nature- which means they suppress your urge to cough. 
  • You can obviously chew on a lozenge or cough drop.

Conclusion

Dry cough can be very annoying to deal with but it is not a very big deal. The best way to stop coughing incessantly is to pay attention to your triggers and then find ways to avoid them. But if it is due to medication or some other underlying medical condition, you should get medical help immediately. Dry cough seems to strike mostly at night and it affects children and adults alike. Most of the time, home remedies seem to help. But, if you have been coughing incessantly for over a week and have other symptoms like fever, tiredness or coloured phlegm, then get medical help immediately.


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common causes of a persistent dry cough?
Some common causes include chronic acid reflux, allergies, viral infections, whooping cough, medications etc.
What is the difference between dry cough and wet cough?
Dry cough is when you do not cough phlegm out of the lungs. Wet cough is also called productive cough as you tend to cough out some phlegm or irritant.
Can acid reflux cause a chronic dry cough?
Yes, stomach acid may cause your throat to get irritated, which is why you will respond with a dry cough.
How do I know if my dry cough is due to postnasal drip?
If you have an allergy or a bad cold and too much mucus is being produced, then you deal with post nasal drip. You may cough because it tickles/irritates your throat cells.
Can environmental factors like pollution cause a dry cough?
Yes! Delhi is dealing with a lot of smog this year too and everyone seems to be coughing because they are exposed to pollutants, fine particulate matter and smoke.

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