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So, you caught that stubborn cold that’s going around your office. You’ve gotten lots of sleep, drank lots of fluids, and binged on lots and lots of Netflix.
You’re feeling SO much better now…except for that annoying, hacking, lingering cough.
That annoying cough may be frustrating, but it’s also very common. Approximately ¼ of us will suffer from a lingering cough after a virus1.
The truth is, we don’t really know for sure, but it’s probably due to some excess inflammation2, otherwise known as bronchitis.
Inflammation isn’t just that painful knee or skin eruption, it’s also an important healing mechanism. Our body triggers inflammation anytime there are cells or tissues that need healing, and it brings warmth, nutrients, and immune cells to that area.
When a virus or bacteria decide to take up residence in our lungs, our body needs to send in its immune army along with some helpful inflammation to get that infection outta there.
We feel the effect of our immune response through all of those annoying cold symptoms – the achiness, tiredness, sneezing, and coughing.
Our cough reflex is a perfect solution to clear out and open our airways. But, sometimes, it can take a bit of extra time for our body to fully clear out the inflammation
Or, it’s your runny nose that’s triggering your cough. As your sinuses clear themselves out, some of that mucous can roll down your throat and into your lungs.
Post-nasal drip is a very common cause of an extra long chronic cough, so common it’s now called Upper Airway Cough Syndrome3.
Most coughs take their leave soon after your cold hits the road, but some can stick around for a lot longer.
A cough that comes with a cold is considered an acute cough and one that lasts 3 – 8 weeks known as a sub-acute cough. A cough that lasts longer than 8 weeks is considered a chronic cough, and it’s a good idea to head over to your GP to rule out anything sinister (although usually, it’s nothing to worry about).
If you have a cough that’s outstayed it’s welcome, it’s time to bring in some lung support!
[1] Hayes, K. (2018). What a Lingering Cough After a Cold Means. Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/treatments-for-lingering-cough-4107545
[2] Boulet L,P., Milot J., Boutet M., St Georges F., Laviolette M. (1994). Airway inflammation in nonasthmatic subjects with chronic cough. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 482-489. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8306050
[3] Li Y., Xianghuai X., Hanjing L., Zhongmin Q. (2015). Advances in upper airway cough syndrome. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 31:5, 223-228. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1607551X15000212