Risk Factors Related To Cough Variant Asthma
People who have another allergic condition, regular asthma, or a relative with asthma are at a higher risk for CVA. Other risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Vomiting
- Urinary leakage and incontinence
All of these together can take a massive toll on you and have damaging consequences for both your personal and professional lives.
Moreover, prolonged negligence of this condition can give rise to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can hamper your lung function to a significant degree. Poorly managed CVA can also lead to other serious complications that may be fatal, such as:
- Pneumonia
- Resistant asthma attacks that donât respond to treatment
- Irredeemable constriction of the airways, which makes it hard to breathe in general, and not just during flare-ups
- Collapsed lung
- Complete lung failure
If CVA is not treated and managed correctly, it may progress into classic asthma. According to a study published in Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews in 2011, 30 percent to 40 percent of CVA cases in adult patients, unless adequately treated, may progress to classic asthma.
How Effective Is Albuterol For Coughing
Based on a few low-scale studies, the use of albuterol for coughing is usually moderately effective for a majority of users. It is not typically sold for this purpose, as it is primarily marketed as an asthma medication that prevents airway constriction. Albuterol is not recommended for non-asthma related coughs.
Albuterol is a medication found in many fast-acting inhalers. It is primarily used to make breathing easier for those who have sudden asthmatic symptoms, and it is often used on a long-term basis. Studies have been done to determine the effectiveness of albuterol for treating coughing since many causes of frequent coughing are similar to those for asthma. The results were promising, although it is still not generally prescribed for those who only exhibit coughing without other asthma related symptoms.
Most subjects who took part in one study noted that taking albuterol for coughing resulted in moderate relief of symptoms. More than half reported that they had at least some relief, and a few subjects noted a marked decreased in coughing symptoms. This study is not sufficient for recommendation of albuterol for coughing patients, however, since only nine participants were involved in the study. More widespread studies may be needed to determine if there is any real benefit in using the drug for this purpose.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Occupational Asthma
Symptoms of occupational asthma include general symptoms of an asthma attack, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulty. Eye irritation, nasal congestion, and/or runny nose may also be present. As stated previously, this can be allergy-related or an irritant reaction from exposure to asthma triggers in the workplace.
If you think you have occupational asthma, ask your health care provider about a referral to an asthma specialist. The specialist will perform a detailed exam, including taking your past medical history and reviewing current breathing problems. After any necessary asthma tests, the specialist will develop an asthma treatment plan, which will include asthma medications, such as bronchodilators, asthma inhalers, and inhaled steroids to control your asthma. It will also be important to avoid any asthma triggers at work.
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Understanding Cough Variant Asthma
by Kathi MacNaughtonHealth Professional
Cough variant asthma, or CVA for short, is a less common form of asthma that is characterized by the fact that its only symptom is a chronic cough. People who have CVA do not generally have the other common symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. CVA is an especially common diagnosis in young children, and it often progresses into full-blown asthma down the line.
The cough in cough variant asthma is a dry cough that lasts for more than 6 to 8 weeks. It can occur any time of the day, though coughing at night that wakes you up is common with CVA. The cough also often worsens during exercise. Other conditions, such as respiratory infections, can cause a chronic cough, but when the cough lasts longer than a few weeks in the absence of an active infection, doctors will suspect CVA.
Diagnosing cough variant asthma, however, can be difficult. Unlike with regular asthma, people with CVA usually have normal pulmonary function tests, such as spirometry. So, to nail down the CVA diagnosis, another type of test called a methacholine challenge test, will be needed.
Methacholine challenges must be done in a special facility, so sometimes doctors will decide just to initiate asthma treatment instead, in the absence of a diagnosis. If the person responds positively, that is the cough eases, with treatment, then the person is considered to be positive for cough variant asthma too.
What Is A Cough
Although folk wisdom views coughing as a grave portent of illness What did one casket say to the other? “I hear you coffin” the cough is actually a vital player in the body’s defense against disease. Coughing expels mucus, microbes, and foreign particles from the respiratory tract, protecting the lungs from infection and inflammation.
The cough begins with an initial gasp that draws air deep into the lungs. Next, the glottis snaps shut, putting a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. The third step is the forceful contraction of the muscles of the chest cage, abdomen, and diaphragm . In normal breathing, these muscles push air gently from the lungs up through the nose and mouth. But when the glottis is closed, the air can’t move out, so tremendous pressure builds up in the air passages. Finally, the glottis swings open and the air rushes out. And it is quite a rush; in a vigorous cough, the air travels out at nearly the speed of sound, creating the barking or whooping noise that we call a cough.
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Different Types Of Asthma
Asthma has four levels of severity:
- Intermittent Asthma is felt less than two times a week and interrupts sleep less than two nights a month.
- Mild Persistent Asthma means you feel symptoms two or more days a week and wake up three to four nights per month.
- Moderate Persistent Asthma means you experience symptoms every day and wake up one or more nights per week.
- Severe Persistent Asthma symptoms occur every day and wake you up every night.
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Serve Yourself With Lemon Juice
Lemons can also be used to cure a dry cough, the single most prominent symptom of CVA. Lemons have properties that reduce inflammation, and they also provide a dose of infection-fighting vitamin C.
In fact, vitamin C has been proven to be especially useful against common cold-induced asthma. It works by curbing the release of histamines in the body, which in turn prevents excessive allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of honey. Drink this healthy syrup several times a day.
- Another way to use lemons is to drink hot lemonade a few times a day.
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Persistent Cough: Major Causes
Common causes of a nagging cough
- Postnasal drip
Less common causes of a nagging cough
- Airborne environmental irritants
If you’re like most people with a lingering cough, consider these major causes:
1. Postnasal drip .;The human nose is more than the organ of smell. It is also the gateway to the lower respiratory tract. As such, its job is to condition the air passing through en route to the lungs. The nose warms air that is cool, adds moisture to air that is dry, and removes particles from air that is dirty. The nasal membranes accomplish all three tasks by producing mucus that is warm, moist, and sticky.
Although the nose is a guardian of the more delicate lungs, it is subject to problems of its own. Viruses, allergies, sinusitis, dust particles, and airborne chemicals can all irritate the nasal membranes. The membranes respond to injury by producing more mucus and unlike normal mucus, it’s thin, watery, and runny.
All that mucus has to go somewhere. When it drips out the nose, it’s a nuisance. But when it drips down the throat, it tickles the nerves of the nasopharynx, triggering a cough. In some cases, the nose itself is to blame , but in others, a prolonged postnasal drip lingers after a viral upper respiratory infection; some call this variety a post-infectious cough.
Postnasal drip is the leading cause of the lingering cough. But it’s far from the only cause.
Cina Maritima Natural Homeopathic Medicine For Cough Variant Asthma With Paroxysmal Cough
Cina Maritima is a remedy prepared from a plant called Artemisia Maritima which belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is commonly known as wormseed or Santonica. This homeopathic medicine is prepared from the dried flowers of this plant. The plant contains lots of essential and volatile oils. In ancient times, it was known to be used by Greek and Romans for its medicinal properties.This is one of the top homeopathic remedies for cough variant asthma. The primary symptom indicative of this remedy is there are paroxysms of a cough. Vomiting with the cough is another important feature indicating the need for Cina. The child may throw up after the violent coughing. The cough is dry and is usually gets worse at night. A dry cough might be associated with flu-like symptoms, mainly sneezing and loss of appetite with sleeplessness.The child requiring Cina might also complain of a tickling sensation in the throat. The mucus rattles in the chest, and the child is not able to expel it out. Shortness of breath or suffocation accompanies the cough episodes. At night, the breathing is loud, short and the child sleeps with an open mouth. Cina is very helpful in cases where the child has to put much effort into breathing because of which there may be excessive sweating at night. Some of the common triggering factors for the asthma troubles that are treated well with Cina are exposure to cold air, evening/night time or when the child wakes up from sleep.
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How Is Childhood Asthma Treated
There isnt a cure for asthma, so the goal for asthma treatment is to keep symptoms under control and prevent asthma attacks. Ideally, treatment allows the child to be able to participate in physical activities as if they didnt have asthma.
Infants and toddler-aged children might not receive treatment immediately. Instead, your doctor may want to wait to see how asthma symptoms change over time.
Older children will often be prescribed two different types of asthma medications: long-term medications and quick-relief medications, often called rescue medications.;
Long-term medications help prevent asthma symptoms. These are taken daily, and sometimes multiple times a day. Examples of long-term asthma medications are:
-
Inhaled corticosteroids like and
-
Injectables like omalizumab
Quick-relief medications are used to treat asthma attacks and work by opening swollen airways. Sometimes, a dose of these quick-relief medications is recommended before exercise or strenuous play. Examples include fast-acting beta blocker inhalers like and .
Ultimately, your childs treatment plan will depend on their age, symptoms, and other medical conditions. Your pediatrician is also likely to suggest:;
-
Keeping your child away from his asthma triggers if you know what they;are
-
Getting a yearly flu vaccine
-
Treating chest infections quickly
What Types Of Asthma Are There
Healthcare providers identify asthma as intermittent or persistent . Persistent asthma can be mild, moderate or severe. Healthcare providers base asthma severity on how often you have attacks. They also consider how well you can do things during an attack.
Asthma can be:
- Allergic: Some peoples allergies can cause an asthma attack. Molds, pollens and other allergens can cause an attack.
- Non-allergic: Outside factors can cause asthma to flare up. Exercise, stress, illness and weather may cause a flare.
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How To Stop Asthma Cough
This article was co-authored by Shaun Berger, MD. Dr. Shaun Berger is a board certified Pediatrician based in the San Diego, California metro area. Dr. Berger provides comprehensive primary care for newborns, children, and adolescents, focusing on preventive medicine. Dr. Berger earned a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego and an MD from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Berger then completed a residency at the UCSF/Fresno Community Medical Centers/Valley Childrens Hospital where he was elected Chief Resident. He has been awarded the UCSF Foundation Award and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 76,283 times.
Many people are familiar with common asthma symptoms like tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. Coughing is another troublesome symptom of asthma, the inflammatory lung disease which narrows the breathing airways. To stop an asthma-related cough, identify and avoid your triggers, take medication to treat your asthma, and make yourself comfortable.
Why Do Some People Cough At Night
Well, it’s normal to cough at night if you are sick. But if you don’t have a cold, bronchitis, or pneumonia, you shouldn’t be coughing at night. Nocturnal asthma can be caused by a variety of things, such as:3,4
- Allergies
- Laying down
- Changes in the circadian rhythm that can cause hormone changes
- Sinuses draining
- Increased airway resistance due to airways narrowing during sleep
For the last couple of weeks, I have been waking up coughing during the night. This is not like me at all. And I’m not sick, so I shouldn’t be coughing.
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Curing The Cough: Diagnosing And Treating Cough
Vol. 13 Issue 1 Page 16Allergy & Asthma
Curing the Cough: Diagnosing and Treating Cough-variant Asthma
Wheezing, dyspnea and chest tightness, combined with reversible airways obstruction on spirometry, are easy to diagnose as asthma. At times, due to variations in exposure and severity of asthma, symptoms and findings of obstruction may disappear, only to reappear in the future.
In the extreme, asthma may present with a single symptom cough. Cure of the cough, with its myriad other causes, can elude the physician, unless careful consideration is given to asthma as the culprit.
The phenomenon of cough as the sole symptom of asthma was unrecognized prior to the 1970s, and patients with undiagnosed chronic cough due to asthma often were labeled with chronic bronchitis.
In 1972, a researcher described variant asthma in five adults with a nonproductive chronic cough that improved after bronchodilator or corticosteroid treatment.1 Three of the five subjects, however, had mild obstruction on spirometric examination.
Three years later, another investigator described seven adults with cough who improved after bronchodilator therapy.2 As with the first studys subjects, this cohort also had obstructive lung disease, as evidenced by abnormal airways resistance and increased residual volume.
Epidemiology
Smaller observational studies of patient populations at referral facilities suggest that asthma is the second most common cause of chronic cough, after postnasal drip.
Data Management And Quality Control
The investigators in the research team were required to attend a training workshop before recruitment. Each one received a copy of the study protocol and they were asked to adhere to the protocol during the study period. The investigators responsible for collecting data received training on how to perform CVAS and quality of life assessments. The lung function and blood tests will be done by medical professionals.
Data will be collected and recorded on case report forms. All data will be entered into a predesigned password-protected database by personnel blinded to group allocation. Data entry will be performed continually throughout the trial using the double-entry method, with any corrections or changes of data written in the case report forms documented and dated. Data quality will be checked regularly by a qualified specially assigned person. The Guangdong International Clinical Research Center of Chinese Medicine , which is independent of the sponsor and does not have any competing interests, will be responsible for monitoring the data. The Department of Science Research of GPHCM, which is independent of the sponsor and investigators, will perform data audits in the middle of the trial.
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Breathing Problems During Exercise
If you have chest tightness, cough, wheeze or shortness of breath during exercise, your doctor may perform extra tests to see if you have a type of asthma called, exercise-induced asthma or exercise-induced bronchospasm. For some people, they will only have asthma symptoms during exercise. There are many benefits to exercise, so work with your doctor to find the best management steps and treatment options for you.
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Why Does Asthma Make You Cough
When your airways are inflamed, it makes it hard for air to flow into your lungs. This can cause coughing and other asthma symptoms. Asthma symptoms include , difficulty breathing, and wheezinga high pitched whistling sound you make when breathing. The thin layer of smooth;muscle surrounding your airways react by tightening, further blocking airflow. Your mucus production increases and makes your breathing and coughing troubles even worse.
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