Patients referred to South Tampa Voice Therapy for management of chronic cough have typically been coughing for months or years without improvement. A person’s quality of life may be significantly impacted by the disruptive, often vigorous coughing episodes affecting social, personal and professional relationships. Often patients have been treated with multiple different medications and inhalers without improvement. They’ve been assessed by pulmonologists, allergists, ENTs, cardiologists and more to try and determine the source of the cough.
The treatment of chronic cough depends on identifying the underlying cause. Determining the underlying cause is tricky and often involves a multidisciplinary approach. A chronic cough, defined as one lasting 8 weeks or more, can have various causes, and each requires specific treatment.
Conditions contributing to cough will need to be controlled. This may include post-nasal drip, asthma, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), COPD, medication side effects, infections, chronic sinusitis, and more.
Sometimes the cause of chronic cough includes a muscle memory for cough. Meaning, a person may be coughing because they have been coughing for a long time.
When all treatment to date does not reduce or eliminate chronic cough, behavioral intervention by a speech pathologist may be in order.
When to Seek Medical Help:
- If the cough persists for more than eight weeks.
- If the cough is accompanied by blood, chest pain, weight loss, or difficulty breathing, immediate medical attention is necessary for further evaluation and diagnosis.
Conclusion:
Treating chronic cough effectively requires identifying its underlying cause. Once diagnosed, targeted treatments such as medications, lifestyle changes, or other therapies can be used to alleviate the symptoms and improve quality of life.
About the Author: Cara Bryan, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and voice specialist in Tampa, Florida. She evaluates and rehabilitates voice, communication difficulties, cognitive disorders, upper airway disorders and swallowing difficulties at her private practice, South Tampa Voice Therapy. Cara is a classically trained soprano with a major in vocal performance from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has spent her career working in medical speech pathology in the hospital setting, ENT offices, and now in private practice. Cara mentors on voice, upper airway, business and private practice through www.southtampavoicetherapy.com. You can follow her on Instagram and FaceBook.
