Why You Should NOT Ignore Continuous Coughing

If you or someone you know is suffering from a cough, chances are it is related to a change in the weather or the seasons. Simple ailments, such as a sore throat, can also progress into a cough. But a persistent cough is one condition that needs to be addressed, as it may develop into a serious infection and cause you harm in a variety of ways.

Coughing Can Cause Lifestyle Problems

With a persistent cough, it can be next to impossible to even carry on a conversation. It also makes it difficult to sleep, and lack of sleep can cause another large set of problems. Continuous coughing also puts a lot of pressure on your bladder, which can lead to urinary incontinence.

If you are coughing on a regular basis, it can seriously drain you of energy, and cause you to be short of breath. All of this combined will put a serious cramp on your lifestyle if you do not get rid of the cough.

Coughing Can Cause Physical Damage

You may have noticed that a chronic cough is often accompanied by muscle pain in the chest and back. With every episode of coughing, there is a great deal of pressure generated in the chest cavity. This causes strain to the muscles in that region. Women have been known to actually crack ribs when coughing violently. Persistent coughing can also cause blood vessels in the nose, anus, and recent surgical wounds to burst.

Continuous Coughing Can Indicate Bigger Health Issues

The cough that inflicts most people is caused by allergies, or infection. A chronic cough that lasts more than three weeks could be an indicator of tuberculosis. It can also indicate the presence of other diseases such as cancer of the lungs, or congestive heart failure.

Coughing Can Cause Illness In People Around Us

When you have an infection, each time you cough, you unleash infectious organisms that can make other people sick. This is true whether or not you cover your mouth. People with weak immune systems are especially vulnerable.

If you have a cough for just a few days, it is probably no big deal. But a cough that persists over the course of a week or more deserves your undivided attention. Set an appointment with your doctor if you have any doubts as to what may be causing it.