Chronic Cough

If a chronic cough keeps you up at night, you can find the treatments you need at Denver Allergy & Asthma Associates. The skilled medical team provides evaluations, lung function tests in office, and can order diagnostic imaging tests to identify the cause of your cough. They design a treatment plan to help you manage asthma, allergies, infections, and other causes of a chronic cough. Call the Lakewood, Denver, Westminster, Littleton, Boulder, or Arvada, Colorado, office to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for a chronic cough or book an appointment online today. 

What causes a chronic cough?

A chronic cough can be the result of underlying medical conditions like:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Postnasal drip
• Pneumonia and other respiratory infections
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Denver Allergy & Asthma Associates offers diagnostic evaluations in-office to identify the root cause of your cough. The experienced medical team also customizes a care plan to ease your existing cough and address the underlying condition that triggers it.

When should I get medical attention for a chronic cough?

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Denver Allergy & Asthma Associates if you have a chronic cough that lasts eight weeks or longer. Children need an evaluation if they have a cough that lasts four weeks or longer.

You should also book an evaluation if you have other symptoms that occur with a cough, such as:

• Heartburn
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Hoarseness or sore throat
• Drainage of liquids in the back of your throat

The medical team reviews your symptoms and completes a physical exam. They may order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging tests to check your lungs for infection or chronic diseases like COPD.

The providers also offer spirometry and other lung function tests in-office to identify the cause of your chronic cough.

How is a chronic cough treated?

Your treatment plan for a chronic cough depends on its underlying cause. The Denver Allergy & Asthma Associates team discusses which treatments you need after reviewing your test results. They may include:

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can clear bacterial infections in your upper or lower respiratory system contributing to a chronic cough.

Asthma medications

Inhaled asthma medications reduce inflammation in your airways, so you cough less and breathe easier.

Antihistamines

Environmental allergies that cause a chronic cough may require over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines to reduce your immune system’s reaction to pollen, pet dander, dust, and other allergens.

Acid blockers

If your cough relates to acid reflux or GERD, you may need medications that neutralize or block acids.

When your cough stems from COPD or another serious lung disease, the team can discuss your options for managing your condition in the long term.

Call the Denver Allergy & Asthma Associates office near you to schedule a consultation for a chronic cough, or book an appointment online today.