There are a plethora of reasons you might be coughing: a virus, overuse of your voice, allergies, dry air or simply a tickle in your throat. Because of this, it might be easy to ignore a persistent cough, at least at first.
A cough is considered chronic if it lasts more than eight weeks (or four weeks for children). Chronic cough can affect sleep, work, socializing and daily quality of life. It’s also not a condition in and of itself; rather, it’s a symptom of some other condition—usually a condition that involves your ear, nose and/or throat (and hey, that’s what ENT stands for!). That is why an ENT might be just the help you need to kick that cough for good. Here is our guide on what to watch for.
Signs You Can Wait It Out
- It goes away with medication. If medications, such as Tylenol or cough drops, are making the cough stop, even temporarily, that’s a good sign that the condition is mild and probably doesn’t need a specialist’s attention.
- You know what condition caused it and how to treat it. For example, if you were recently sick with a virus, such as the flu or COVID, you can be reasonably confident that the cough is related to that virus. In that case, the cough will probably clear up soon after you recover from the virus.
- It’s been getting better. Even if you can’t pinpoint the precise cause of coughing, you might be okay to wait it out if you’ve noticed that the cough is improving rather than worsening.
Signs You Should Seek Help
- Medications aren’t working.
- It’s been getting worse over time, not better.
- You know what condition caused it and that condition needs specialist care. This could include conditions like asthma, acid reflux (GERD), tonsillitis or a lung condition.
- You have other throat symptoms. Sore throat, hoarseness, constantly feeling like you need to clear your throat or difficulty swallowing could mean that the tissues of the throat are irritated or strained, and the issue can compound.
- You’re experiencing nasal or sinus problems. Your airways are deeply interconnected, and nasal and sinus issues are a common cause of chronic cough. ENTs are skilled at navigating this connection and treating both the cause and the ripple effects of sinus issues, such as a chronic cough.
- It’s interrupting your daily life. If a cough is bothersome enough that it’s impacting your daily life, then don’t wait for it to get “bad enough” to seek help. Coughing fits are annoying and disruptive, and they can cause poor sleep quality, meaning you’re fatigued throughout the day, difficulty eating and more.
When You Need Emergency Care
- You have a fever higher than 103°
- You’re experiencing chest pain
- You’re having difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
How An ENT Can Help
An ENT will determine the root cause of your coughing. First, we’ll discuss your symptoms and medical history with you, then perform a comprehensive evaluation of your nose and throat system, starting with a complete head and neck exam and then moving into diagnostic exams with specialized tools that help us see what’s going on “under the hood.”
Once we are confident we know what’s causing your chronic cough, we’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan that alleviates the cough. This could involve lifestyle changes, medications (either stopping a medication that causes coughing or starting one that helps stop it), referral to an allergist or even surgery.
You don’t have to go through your day wondering when the next coughing fit will hit. Seek relief with an ENT and treat the root cause of your chronic cough. Call Spartanburg-Greer ENT & Allergy to learn more and schedule an appointment.