We see quite a few patients who come to our office because of a persistent cough. There are three major causes of a cough:
- Asthma: We do traditional spirometry testing as well as a newer test for inflammation, called exhaled nitric oxide. Sometimes, home peakflow monitoring and records reviewed by Dr. Brauer can also be helpful.
- Rhinitis: Drainage from colds, allergic nasal disease, and chronic sinusitis can contribute to post-nasal symptoms and cause coughing. Our goal is to find out what sets off the drainage in the first place. If sinus disease is suspected, we frequently refer patients to otolaryngologists (ENT surgeons) for additional evaluation.
- Gastroesophageal reflux: Frequently, silent heartburn, or GERD, can cause irritation in the esophagus and throat, which causes coughing as well as irritation of the airways.
The difficulty is that each episode of coughing can be a bit different, and most people have some combination of the three causes above! It is important to accurately assess a patient’s history to determine the appropriate testing and help that cough to go away for good!
If you’re suffering because of a nagging cough, schedule an appointment at Bluegrass Family Allergy today to discover the cause and find relief.