A prolonged tickle in your throat does not always indicate that you are still ill. Here’s why cold symptoms might linger after our bodies have recovered from the sickness.
Many patients expect a cold to last only a few days, but doctors say a simple virus can cause symptoms to last a week, two, or even three.
They explain that symptoms such as a cough caused by a cold virus or infection are caused as much by the condition as by the immune system’s response to fighting the illness.
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You’ll have white blood cells moving about to fight off whatever is causing [the sickness], so even after the cold, flu, or virus is gone, your body is still resolving that inflammation, which can produce lasting symptoms.
Postnasal drip is the most common reason people can’t get rid of a cough.
When you have a cold, your nasal cavities and sinuses will continuously drip [the mucus] in the back of your throat, generating a tickling sensation that will make you want to cough, according to experts. Sinus cleansers can help clear your sinuses, while antihistamines can help dry up the mucus.
Other potential causes of a chronic cough include:
- Post-viral pneumonia is an example of a secondary infection.
When you develop a viral infection, such as a cold, your immune system is busy fighting it and can become distracted. A bacterial infection can develop, necessitating additional or alternative treatment. If you get sick, then get better, then get sick again, then get worse, the worsening could be a symptom of another infection taking hold.
- Asthma
Asthma can induce a cough, or some people have an asthmatic response when they acquire a cold. Their narrow passageways to the lungs can tighten, resulting in wheezing. When you hear a wheeze along with the cough, it raises the possibility that it is something other than a cough.
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- You’ve never gotten a cold.
Symptoms that resemble a cold may be caused by something else. Other symptoms that can mimic cold symptoms include nasal drip, acid reflux, and heartburn.
The average cold should last approximately five to seven days. If you have a high temperature or feel like you’re becoming worse rather than better, see a doctor to make sure nothing else is wrong.
Other issues to consider
Regarding more significant issues with a cough, such as heart disease and lung cancer, specialists indicate that very few people with a cough get lung cancer.
But no one understands your body as you do, so if something doesn’t seem right, go get checked out.
Reevaluation signals include:
- if your cough lasts considerably longer than you expect it to
- If your cough is changing, such as going from dry to mucusy, consult your doctor.
- if you have a bloody cough
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How can I get rid of a persistent cough?
Over-the-counter cough medicines containing dextromethorphan can assist with a cough caused by a common cold, according to Dougherty.
Doctors advise caution when using cough treatment containing codeine. Codeine has the potential for undesirable effects or addiction.
Prescription drugs may be useful as well.
Cough is generated by irritation receptors in the throat and lungs, therefore infection can make those receptors more sensitive. There are prescription drugs available to address that sensitivity and aid alleviate coughing.
Cough drops and topical sprays are also typically considered harmless.
What about natural and herbal remedies?
Some are not strictly regulated by the FDA, so you may only sometimes know what you’re getting. What’s in the bottle could be dangerous.
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