Cough Information - Coughs - Causes & Symptoms

Cough is one of the ways by which the body drives out excess mucus from the lungs and throat. The air passage of our body is lined with cells secreting the mucus that traps dust. When the cell membrane gets infected or inflamed, there is an increase in the secretion of mucus, which leads to the blockage of the passage. This blockage causes coughing, as a reflex action to remove the excess mucus. Cough can generally be classified into two types - productive cough, which produces mucus from the lungs, and non productive cough, also known as dry cough that does not produce any mucus from the lungs. Affecting people of all age groups, coughing can be acute or chronic, depending on its duration. In the following lines, we have listed the causes and symptoms of cough.

Causes Of Cough
Inflammation of larynx or pharynx
Smoking
Exposure to allergens, like dust, smoke, pollen grains and chemical fumes
Asthma
Weather changes
Acute/ Chronic sinusitis
Bronchitis
Common cold
Hay fever
Influenza (flu)
Laryngitis
Lung cancer
Medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Pleurisy
Pneumonia
Postnasal drip
Respiratory syncytial virus (especially in young children)
Respiratory tract infection
Tuberculosis
Whooping cough

Symptoms Of Cough
Coughing up phlegm that is green, rusty brown or yellow in color, blood-stained or foul smelling
Raised temperature
Aching muscles
Pain in the throat
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Lethargic feeling
Chest pain
Pain and swelling in the calf
Recurrent night-time cough
Whooping cough
Worsening smoker's cough
Sudden weight loss
Fever and sweating
Hoarse voice