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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Urge to cough
Answered by
CO
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Urge to cough
by suzanne L., Oct 25, 2007 10:32AM
For about 1 year now, I have almost a constant URGE to cough with no resulting actual cough. This started after getting over a cold and cough our whole family endured for 6 weeks last xmas. When I have actually forced myself to VOLUNTARILY cough during these urges, the cough does not seem "connected" at all to to the urge - the resultant cough feels superfluous, like it did not need to happen.
I have been to a pulmonologist 3 times, my internist once and all have said that my lungs are clear and they have no cause for concern in ordering tests. I have asked repeatedly for a chest x ray and they have said not needed.
I am not wheezing, nor coughing up blood. I do have a sensation of almost gas pains in my left rib cage that come and go. But are not pains associated with deep breathing - I get no pain during deep breathing.
I am 42, in good health, no family history of cancers (despite some heavy duty smokers in both my Mom and grandmother). I was a social smoker in my 20s (less than a pack a week and very inconsistently), but have not touched a cigarette in over 10 years.
should I be concerned - what could this be? would lung cancer present this way for a year?
I have been to a pulmonologist 3 times, my internist once and all have said that my lungs are clear and they have no cause for concern in ordering tests. I have asked repeatedly for a chest x ray and they have said not needed.
I am not wheezing, nor coughing up blood. I do have a sensation of almost gas pains in my left rib cage that come and go. But are not pains associated with deep breathing - I get no pain during deep breathing.
I am 42, in good health, no family history of cancers (despite some heavy duty smokers in both my Mom and grandmother). I was a social smoker in my 20s (less than a pack a week and very inconsistently), but have not touched a cigarette in over 10 years.
should I be concerned - what could this be? would lung cancer present this way for a year?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Nov 05, 2007 02:47PM
, Nov 05, 2007 02:47PM
The disconnect between a constant urge to cough with no resulting actual cough illustrates the complexity of the cough reflex and suggests that, for unknown reasons, there is an anatomical or functional break in the reflex. There is some, but not always complete, degree of control of the urge and usually the urge is relieved by the cough be it reflex or volitional. Much progress has been made in our understanding of cough, during the past decades, and many academic institutions now have cough clinics. The most common causes of chronic cough, or even the urge, are asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and postnasal drip.
Should you be concerned? Yes, to the degree that the urge may be a sign of underlying disease and not just heightened sensitivity of the sensory nerves that initiate the cough. It would be appropriate to rule out the 3 common causes of cough listed above and be further evaluated with auto-fluorescent bronchoscopy. Once worrisome causes of cough or the urge have been ruled out, you should not be concerned and consider this a nuisance rather than a disease to be diagnosed.
Should you be concerned? Yes, to the degree that the urge may be a sign of underlying disease and not just heightened sensitivity of the sensory nerves that initiate the cough. It would be appropriate to rule out the 3 common causes of cough listed above and be further evaluated with auto-fluorescent bronchoscopy. Once worrisome causes of cough or the urge have been ruled out, you should not be concerned and consider this a nuisance rather than a disease to be diagnosed.
