If you have a recurrent of chronic coughing, this is the place for you. This is a focus of Dr. Stadtmauer’s practice, one on which he has published and lectured at national meetings.
It can take time to sort out but sometimes a single visit is life-changing.
Chronic coughing can cause embarrassment and social isolation even when not in the midst of a pandemic. Unfortunately over-the-counter and even prescription cough remedies usually do not work well. It’s often a number of years before the chronic cough patient gets properly diagnosed and treated so the goal in my practice is to streamline the process. The systematic approach is both time and cost efficient.
A cough is a reflex of the airways, it just shouldn’t be present all the time.
Cough is triggered by nerves called cough receptors that are located throughout the respiratory tract. Inflammation (allergic or infectious) or irritation (acid or fumes) trigger a signal which is sent to the brain which then signals the lungs and breathing muscles to forcefully expel air.
What causes coughing?
Any cough receptor in the upper or lower airway from the nose, past the larynx and down to the lungs may initiate the cough reflex. The list of illnesses that may cause coughing is exhaustive but fortunately cough is usually due to one of a few ailments that are easily treated including allergies, asthma, acid reflux, bronchitis and sinusitis. You may already have been treated for some of all of these with no improvement. Don’t give up. There is always a cause.
Dr. Stadtmauer’s approach to the evaluation of chronic cough?
It always starts with a very detailed history of the cough and only after that does the examination and testing begin. Since allergy, asthma, sinusitis and reflux cause the vast majority of chronic cough in otherwise healthy nonsmokers, that’s the starting point. Allergy testing, lung function testing and video endoscopy of the upper airway are simple and cost-effective examinations that are done at the initial visit in this office. The video endoscopy is a key element of the workup looking for amonst other things, the irritable or “Hypersensitive Larynx“, a weak vocal cord or a sinus infection with draining mucous.
How is cough treated?
That all depends on the cause. Over the counter cough remedies are supposed to suppress the cough reflex but are usually not effective. The best approach is to identify and treat the root cause of the cough:
Asthma-should improve at least temporarilywith a short-acting bronchodilator. Inhaled controller asthma medications are so good these days that only severe asthmatics do not respond to them. If cough is the prinicpal manifestation of “asthma” and only responds to high doses of oral steroids, consider another cause.
Acid reflux– “Silent reflux” often without heartburn. Identify major triggers first and avoid them. Reflux (should respond to strong acid suppressor therapy (proton pump inhibitors) but sometimes twice daily dosing is required. Some chronic cough patients with reflux respond temporarily to high doses of oral steroids (prednisone) misleading doctor and patient to think it is asthma.
Postnasal drip-this a confusing term. It refers to an irritation in the back of the throat but it could be due to reflux, allergy or sinus infection.
Pertussis-This is the bacteria that causes Whooping Cough–severe coughing episodes, often triggering vomiting. It is also know as the 100 day cough. A vaccine is available for prevention and antibiotics only work in the early stages.
When should I worry about my cough?
Warning signs that a cough may be serious include:
Shortness of breath
Fever greater than 101°F
Weight loss
Drenching sweats while you sleep
Coughing up blood or bloody sputum
Chronic cough in a smoker
What if I am not responding to the prescribed medications?
It’s important to recognize that respiratory problems are interrelated and may coexist. Patients with allergies, get sinusitis and both of these conditions are linked to asthma. Sinusitis and reflux coexist in many patients. If these conditions can be ruled out, then for the 10% of chronic cough patients who do not have asthma, allergy or reflux, other conditions should be considered.
Cough receptor hypersensitivity is one of the more common causes charaterized by a tickle in the throat. It’s a different condition requiring a different approach including medication ane behavioral modification. It can be hard to treat and the first step is to think about it.