Cough in Adults
Doctor123.org
Cough in Adults
A coldAllergiesA sinus infection " пїЅ The sinuses are hollow areas in the bones of the face that open into the nose (figure 2).Lung conditions that can make it hard to breathe, like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Acid reflux " пїЅ Acid reflux is when the acid that is normally in your stomach backs up into your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach).A side effect from heart medicines called "ACE inhibitors " пїЅSmoking cigarettes Should I call my doctor or nurse? " пїЅ Call your doctor or nurse right away if: пїЅ пїЅ
Will I need tests? " пїЅ Maybe. To figure out the cause of your cough, your doctor or nurse will talk with you and do an exam. Based on your symptoms and other factors, he or she might decide that you need tests. These might include: пїЅ пїЅ
Is there anything I can do on my own to get rid of my cough? " пїЅ Yes. To help get rid of your cough, you can: пїЅ пїЅ
If you have acid reflux, your doctor or nurse will tell you which lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ
How is a cough treated? " пїЅ Treatment depends on the cause of your cough. For example: пїЅ пїЅ
If the cause of your cough is not clear, your doctor might prescribe medicine to help get rid of your cough or make it less severe. But doctors usually recommend these medicines only if nothing else has worked. пїЅ пїЅ
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ
пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
- You have trouble breathing or noisy breathing (wheezing).
- You have a fever or chest pain.
- You cough up blood, or yellow or green mucus.
- You cough so hard that it makes you vomit.
- Your cough gets worse or lasts longer than 10 days.
- You have a cough and have lost weight without trying.
- A chest X-ray
- Breathing tests " пїЅ Breathing tests involve breathing hard into a tube. These tests show how the lungs are working.
- Allergy skin tests to find out what you 're allergic to " пїЅ For a skin test, the doctor puts a drop of the substance you might be allergic to on your skin and makes a tiny prick in the skin. Then he or she will watch your skin to see if it gets red and bumpy.
- A CT scan of your chest or sinuses " пїЅ A CT scan is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of the body.
- Lab tests on a sample of the mucus you cough up
- Using a "scope " пїЅ to look inside your nose, sinuses, airway, or lungs
- Tests to check for acid reflux " пїЅ These usually involve having a thin tube put in your mouth and down into your esophagus.
- Drink lots of fluids
- Use a humidifier in your bedroom
- Use an over-the-counter cough medicine, or suck on cough drops or hard candy
- Stop smoking, if you smoke
- Some infections are treated with antibiotic medicines. If an infection is caused by bacteria, doctors can treat it with antibiotics. If an infection is caused by a virus (such as the common cold), doctors cannot treat it with antibiotics.
- Postnasal drip is treated with different kinds of medicines that can come as a pill or nose spray.
- Asthma and COPD are usually treated with medicines that people breathe into their lungs (called "inhaler medicines " пїЅ).
- Acid reflux can be treated with medicine to reduce or block stomach acid.
- If you have a cough as a side effect from an ACE inhibitor, your doctor can switch your medicine.
Normal lungs
The lungs sit in the chest, inside the ribcage. They are covered with a thin membrane called the "pleura. " пїЅ The windpipe (or trachea) branches into two smaller airways called the left and right "bronchus. " пїЅ The space between the lungs is called the "mediastinum. " пїЅ Lymph nodes are located within and around the lungs and mediastinum.
Graphic 67527 Version 10.0
Normal lungs
The lungs sit in the chest, inside the ribcage. They are covered with a thin membrane called the "pleura. " пїЅ The windpipe (or trachea) branches into two smaller airways called the left and right "bronchus. " пїЅ The space between the lungs is called the "mediastinum. " пїЅ Lymph nodes are located within and around the lungs and mediastinum.
Graphic 67527 Version 10.0
Sinuses of the face
This drawing shows the sinuses of the face.
Graphic 75045 Version 5.0
Sinuses of the face
This drawing shows the sinuses of the face.
Graphic 75045 Version 5.0