Irritating cough?

Question

I have an irritating cough from which I've suffered for some months or even a year or two. It is not painful, just tickly, and seems to come and go. Sometimes I don't cough for a day or more then I have a coughing fit for a few minutes then it's gone again. It is never productive but I seem to have a fairly constant tickle in my lungs. Anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

If you've had a cough for this long, you need to be seen by a physician. Could be as simple as allergies or as serious as lung cancer.

Answer 2

hey dingbat I know this for sure if you have had a cough, productive or not for that period of time then you need to go to the doctors and get it checked out.

If it turns out to be nothing then all you've lost is a morning or afternoon, if it's serious and you leave it you could loose considerably more.

Added 21:59 CET: Now there is a thing, I check back to see what other answers have been given and notice I have a thumbs down, so this is to the asker, whoever ticked my thumbs down, Phylis T and anyone else on here that smokes and has a persistent non productive cough....

The above answer was given based on my personal experience, I used to smoke, developed breathing problems that were put down to asthma and had a persistent non productive cough.

I ended up in Hospital with a deep lung infection, advanced COPD and being told I better get wise and give up smoking or my days were numbered.

So I did and still have, breathing is still not 100% but I don't need half of the medicines I did and hopefully it's improving...... so how did my original answer become a thumbs down?

Answer 3

if your cough is not productive it's unlikely you have an infection, however if your a smoker it is know that smoke burns your cilliated cells every time you take adrag from your cigarett. These appear as a natural defence against a lot of infetions and get rid of phlegm, but if smoke it's likey that these have bee damaged and this is why your cough is persistent. however it is also important that any prelonged cough should be checked out by a G.P to rule other things out don't worry too much though i can't see it being anything too serious.

Answer 4

Hello, I'm a smoker. And I have the coughs everyday. It's worst at night. I use an inhaler and sometimes that seems to help. The cough that I have is a dry irritated cough. My suggestion is to walk to clear your lungs, (if you smoke) It helps me. Right now I'm trying to quit smoking.

Good luck!

Answer 5

It could be allergies, I had a tickle for awhile and then when i finally went to the doctor , that's what he told me it was, I use a vaporizer at home, it really helps and I recently got a one of those ionic breeze units which clean the air in your home, what a difference it has made.

Answer 6

you should always get a cough checked by a doctor if it has gone on longer than 10 days, you should go to your doctor you could have a recurring chest infection and if he's worried he will send you for a chest xray

Answer 7

You need a cough suppresant with mucolytic. use following ing. containg syrup...

Dextromethophan (Suppresant)
Bromhexine (mucolytic)
Psuedoephedrine (anti histamine)
CPM(anti allergic)

Bromhexine will smooth ur thoat (produce smooth mucous secretion so that coughj will not hang on throt) and dextro will suppress it. it will take 2 to 3 days.

Answer 8

Go to the doctor, tell him what you have told us and ask to have it investigated, Two years is too long to have a health problem of any kind. GO,GO,GO. Good Luck.

Answer 9

white phlegm no infection. yellow or green phlegm infection, then see a doctor for antibiotics.

Answer 10

sounds like c.o.p.d. go to docs better being safe than sorry