Editing Cough (section)

{{Short description|Sudden expulsion of air from the lungs as a reflex to clear irritants}}
{{Infobox medical condition
| name           = Cough
| image          = Coughing icon.svg
| caption        = Depiction of cough
| specialty      = [[Pulmonology]], [[otorhinolaryngology]]
| pronounce      = {{Unbulleted list|{{audio|En-us-cough.ogg|pronunciation}}|[[Latin]]: '''tussis'''}}
}}
{{Listen|filename=Husten-abf-.ogg|title=Coughing|description=The sound of a person coughing.|format=[[Ogg]]}}

A '''cough''' is a sudden expulsion of air through the large breathing passages which can help clear them of fluids, irritants, foreign particles and [[Microorganism|microbes]]. As a protective [[reflex]], coughing can be repetitive with the [[cough reflex]] following three phases: an [[inhalation]], a forced [[exhalation]] against a closed [[glottis]], and a violent release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied by a distinctive sound.<ref name="Lancet-causes">{{cite journal |vauthors=Chung KF, Pavord ID |title=Prevalence, pathogenesis, and causes of chronic cough |journal=Lancet |volume=371 |issue=9621 |pages=1364–1374 |date=April 2008 |pmid=18424325 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60595-4 |s2cid=7810980 }}</ref> Coughing into one's elbow or toward the ground—rather than forward at breathing height—can reduce the spread of infectious droplets in the air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coughing downward reduces spread of respiratory droplets, study finds |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220104115840.htm |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=ScienceDaily |language=en}}</ref>

Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease. Many [[virus]]es and [[bacteria]] benefit, from an evolutionary perspective, by causing the [[Host (biology)|host]] to cough, which helps to spread the disease to new hosts. Irregular coughing is usually caused by a [[respiratory tract infection]] but can also be triggered by [[choking]], [[smoking]], [[air pollution]],<ref name="Lancet-causes"/> [[asthma]], [[gastroesophageal reflux disease]], [[post-nasal drip]], [[Bronchitis#Chronic bronchitis|chronic bronchitis]], [[lung tumors]], [[heart failure]] and medications such as [[ACE inhibitors|angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)]] and [[beta blocker]]s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Guidelines |first=Therapeutic |title=Cough |publisher=Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd |year=2021 |language=English}}</ref>

Treatment should target the cause; for example, [[smoking cessation]] or discontinuing ACE inhibitors. <!-- Some people may be worried about serious illnesses, and reassurance may suffice. --> [[Cough suppressant]]s such as [[codeine]] or [[dextromethorphan]] are frequently prescribed, but are not recommended for children. Other treatment options may target airway [[inflammation]] or may [[mucoactive agent|promote mucus expectoration]]. As it is a natural protective reflex, suppressing the cough reflex might have damaging effects, especially if the cough is productive (producing [[phlegm]]).<ref name="pmid18424326">{{cite journal |vauthors=Pavord ID, Chung KF |title=Management of chronic cough |journal=Lancet |volume=371 |issue=9621 |pages=1375–1384 |date=April 2008 |pmid=18424326 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60596-6 |s2cid=30806409 }}</ref>