What Causes Coughing Fits?
Coughing A Symptom Health care professionals point out that coughing is a symptom and not a disease. A cough occurs when the airways to the lungs become irritated. It is the body’s way of keeping the throat and airways clear. While most times a cough does not signal a serious problem, in some cases, prolonged coughing can be the symptom of an underlying disease. Even though a cough can be annoying, a productive cough that brings up mucus is the body’s way of healing itself. A dry, hacking cough, or nonproductive cough, often occurs following exposure to irritants such as dust or smoke. Acute Cough Doctors say that a cough is one of the most common reasons patients come in to see them. Causes include the common cold, upper respiratory tract infections like the flu, pneumonia or whooping cough, acute sinusitis and allergies, in which case post-nasal drip can cause coughing. A cough that comes on suddenly and lasts for fewer than three weeks is characterized as an acute cough. Although a
