The causes of chronic cough are very varied and are related to different systems.
In this article we explain what is fibropulmonary embolism.
Why the fibropulmonary embolism triggers cough?
La pulmonary fibrosis It is a disease in which inflammation and scarring occur around the pulmonary alveoli (small air sacs where gas exchange takes place).
These scars and inflammation alter the architecture of the lung, affecting sensory nerve fibers, especially the vagus nerve, which detect irritation in the airways, increasing hypersensitivity to the cough reflex, causing mild stimuli to provoke coughing.
Cough receptors are stimulated by persistent inflammation and by changes in lung shape and function.
Fibrosis also alters the ciliated cells responsible for transporting secretions within the airways, making it difficult to eliminate mucus and activate the cough reflex to clear the lungs of mucus.
Pulmonary fibrosis 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
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Last updated on 25 August, 2025
