The causes of chronic cough are very varied and are related to different systems.

In this article we explain what asthma is. 

Why asthma triggers cough?

El asthma It is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways in response to a wide variety of triggering stimuli, which causes a bronchoconstriction (partial and reversible closure of the bronchi).

The most common symptoms are a feeling of shortness of breath (dyspnea) and/or chest tightness, whistling sounds (wheezing) when breathing, and coughing.

There is a form of asthma whose main symptom is a chronic, persistent cough. This dry cough often worsens at night and disrupts sleep.

The causes of cough in a person with asthma are related to:

• The airways of a person with asthma become very sensitive to various stimuli, resulting in a airway hyperactivity.
• Asthma produces a chronic inflammation of the airways which can trigger coughing.
• This chronic inflammation causes more mucus than usual to be produced inside the lungs, which activates receptors and causes coughing to facilitate its elimination.
• If you exercise in cold, dry air, it can cause your airways to close, leading to coughing.
• Exposure to allergens that irritate the airways of sensitive people, causing coughing.
• In addition, respiratory infections, gastroesophageal reflux, and inhalation of irritating substances also irritate the airways, triggering the cough reflex.

Asthma is one of the possible causes of cough. If it persists for more than 8 weeks, we are dealing with a case of chronic cough.

Author: Eva Maroto

References:

1. https://www.msdmanuals.com/es/professional/trastornos-pulmonares/asma-y-trastornos-relacionados/asma
2. https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/es/diseases/cough-variant-asthma/