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Asthma Cough - How It Relates To Asthma And How It Can Be Treated
One of the most common symptoms of asthma is coughing, but without the wheeziness associated with most coughs. Asthma cough tends to be the worst during the night. This has the effect of disturbing the sleep of both the asthma sufferer and others in the house.
Coughing is often one of the first asthma symptoms in children so if the cough continues for any length of time, it is important that it be discussed with the child's doctor. It can also be a sign of an existing breathing condition getting worse or not being controlled properly.
If a persistent cough is a symptom of a person's asthma it's imperative that they follow their treatment program, usually an anti-inflammatory inhaler. The treatment will help to ease the cough if it is asthma related.
If any of the following symptoms accompany a cough, it is important that you consult your doctor. They will be able to help determine the underlying causes and most effective treatments.
- Fever and/or sweating
- Sudden weight loss
- Coughing up phlegm that is a discolored green, rusty brown, yellow or blood-stained
- Whooping cough or croup
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Recurring nighttime cough
- Pain and swelling the calves
- Worsening smoker's cough
Treatment for asthma related cough is really no different than asthma in general. Cough-variant asthma is usually responsive to treatment by inhaled corticosteroids or inhaled beta2-agonists.
In some cases, inhaled medications can trigger a coughing attack so if this is the case it may be necessary to use a spacer device with inhaler treatments. If the spacer is triggering a cough, there are alternatives such as a dry power inhaler that may be more effective.
If you find your asthma inhaler is causing your cough to worsen, or at least continue, it is best to discuss it with your doctor and they can offer some alternative treatment options that may be more effective.
