Experiencing dry cough is a common health problem. Everyday, millions of people across the globe develop this condition. As a matter of fact, in the United States alone, cough is the top reason for visiting a physician because of the irritating symptoms associated with it. Despite being a simple disease, persistent and long-term cough can have great effects on your life. One of the best ways to avoid it is by learning as much as you can about its causes and steer clear of them.
Classifications of Cough
Many physicians will tell you that coughing is a natural reflex of the body. It can be likened to clearing one's throat. The problem is that unlike clearing your throat, you cannot control coughing and neither can you stop it from happening.
Coughing can be clearly classified into two. One is the cough with phlegm. This usually comes after a cold or flu episode. The other type is the dry cough. Out of the two forms, the latter is more annoying and persistent.
What Causes Dry Cough?
There are lots of reasons for developing this. Knowing all about the different causes of it will help you in avoiding the said condition. Some of the top causes include the following:
1. Viral Infections
Dry and irritating cough can be an impending sign of a viral infection. If your cough is accompanied by other symptoms such as headache, fever, and body ache, it is safe to say that virus is the cause of it. In cases like this, it is important that you call your doctor as soon as possible.
2. Asthma
Asthma is one of its major causes. People who have this particular condition suffer chronic unproductive coughs that are usually accompanied by shortness of breath and chest tightness. Undergoing medical tests will allow you to determine and detect asthma symptoms.
3. Weather Conditions
Another contributing factor in developing this is the extreme weather conditions. Too much humidity in the air can dry the mucous membranes. This can cause throat irritation that can lead to cough.
4. Medications
Meanwhile, there are some physicians who claim that too much intake of certain medicines can cause persistent dry cough. The medicines that you need to watch out for include blood-pressure drugs.
There are other causes that you need to watch out for. The above mentioned are just some of the common ones that doctors usually detect. Try your best to understand each cause. Through that way, you know what risk factors you need to protect yourself from.