Persistent Cough Evaluation And Management
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The Beverly Hills Lung and Sleep Institute
Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Specialists located in Beverly Hills, CA
Occasional coughing is normal and healthy, but a cough that’s ongoing or that produces discolored or bloody mucus may be a sign of a condition that requires medical attention. Expert pulmonologists Ashkan Naraghi, MD, and Dan Naim, MD, evaluate and treat coughs in patients of all ages at The Beverly Hills Lung and Sleep Institute in Beverly Hills, California. If you’re concerned about a cough, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Persistent Cough
What causes a cough?
A cough is an important part of your body’s defense against disease. Coughing gets rid of mucus, germs, and foreign particles in your respiratory tract that may otherwise lead to infection and inflammation.
Acute illnesses, such as the common cold and bronchitis, can cause recurrent coughs. This type of cough usually resolves within a few days or weeks.
A chronic cough persists for more than 3-8 weeks, sometimes lasting for several months or years. Chronic coughing can be due to a variety of conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Postnasal drip
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cigarette smoking
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Air pollution
- Heart failure
- Lung diseases
- Lung cancer
- Allergies
Certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors, can also cause a persistent cough.
When should I see a doctor for a cough?
You should call The Beverly Hills Lung and Sleep Institute any time you have an ongoing cough that doesn’t clear up — or at least improve — within two weeks. Call today if any of these symptoms accompany your cough:
- Fever, especially if it’s high
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness or fatigue
- Chest pain that’s not due to the cough itself
- Wheezing
- Weight loss
If you or someone close to you is coughing up blood or having trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
How is a cough diagnosed and treated?
The Beverly Hills Lung and Sleep Institute performs a physical exam and reviews your symptoms and medical history. They look down your throat and listen to your cough. You may need one or more tests, such as a chest X-ray or mucus analysis.
After they accurately diagnose your condition, The Beverly Hills Lung and Sleep Institute creates an individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs. Depending on the underlying cause of your cough, treatment may include medications, making lifestyle changes, or a combination of both.
Lifestyle changes may include quitting smoking, changing your diet, or avoiding exposure to lung irritants. Severe lung diseases may require surgery or specialized care.
Don’t wait to seek treatment for a cough. Call the experts at The Beverly Hills Lung and Sleep Institute or schedule an appointment online today.
