The Effects of Coughing on Your Throat

We all have episodes of coughing during our life and often these bouts are mild and do not cause us too many problems. Heavy or persistent coughing however can damage our throat and the complicated network of structures that form this intricate part of our anatomy.

What Causes Coughing?

Coughing is normally caused by an irritation in the airways. This irritation may be caused by smoke, debris, an infection, pollution or even choking.

Irritants do not just occur outside our homes as often pet hair, dust or even aerosols and similar can irritate our airways enough to make us cough.

How Does It Affect Our Throat?

Coughing can affect our throat in many ways. A short term cough when accompanied by a cold for example is unlikely to cause any serious damage to our throat, but persistent coughing may put us at risk of developing an infection. Again this may not be serious but if left to develop or get worse, could pose an infection risk to other parts of the anatomy. A long term cough may also risk the tissues of the throat becoming inflamed. Try drinking sips of water to keep the throat clear and the area hydrated.

Dry coughing which can result as a product of our environment such as lack of moisture in the air, pollution or a smoky atmosphere can be very annoying and may cause a sore throat if it continues. Try sucking lozenges and drinking often to keep the throat soothed and lubricated.

When To See A Doctor

Most bouts of coughing resolve themselves with or without the help of over-the-counter remedies or home-made recipes. Sometimes however a persistent cough can be a sign that there is something occurring in our respiratory tract that needs looking at by a medical professional.

Smokers however, may find that they frequently have a persistent cough as their airways are often irritated by the smoke and because their lungs are filling with poisonous substances and mucous. In these instances medical assessment is not necessary unless breathing is severely affected or there is blood present in the sputum.

Any blood or discolouration of the sputum may be a sign that there is an infection, bleeding in the lungs or the coughing has strained their airway so much that a delicate blood vessel may have been forced to rupture.

Most smokers are now aware of the huge impact the habit has on health and will know that there are no benefits at all and they are risking many areas of both their own health and the health of those around them.

If you have a sore throat and a persistent cough that shows no sign of improving after a week or two, you may need to see a doctor and have a medical assessment.

Coughing is something most of us do on a daily basis and do not spend much time thinking about, but persistent coughing can risk damage to the tissues of the throat region. If you have a persistent cough and are concerned about the effects to your health, speak to your GP who will be able to give you more advice.