Dry Cough: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
A cough is the body’s natural way of responding to irritation in your respiratory tract. When specialized sensors in your airways detect an irritant such as smoke, dust or pollution, it triggers a cough reflex that causes the muscles in your airways to contract and pushes a burst of air out through your airways in an attempt to remove the cause of the irritation – this is a cough. A dry cough is when you cough without bringing up any mucus or phlegm and can be irritating for your throat. It is a very common type of cough that can be caused by an infection, asthma, environmental irritant or irritation caused by acid reflux. It may also be a side effect of certain medications such as ACE inhibitors, used to treat high blood pressure. A constant dry cough is the result of your cough reflex becoming more sensitive than usual.
Reviewed: 30 Mar 2025 | 7 min read
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Coughing up Blood: Causes & Treatment
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