Hard-Wired to Cough and Chronic Cough

Are you hard-wired to cough?  And if you are hard-wired to cough, then normal cough that everyone experiences and needs becomes exaggerated.  That means your cough mechanism is easily irritated and sets-off coughing spells. People who are hard-wired to cough suffer from Chronic Cough.  Dr. Mandel Sher is a Cough Specialist and one of the very few doctors in the Tampa Bay area who is specially trained to use an advanced diagnostic tool during an office visit to determine if you are hard-wired to cough.  Accurate diagnosis of cause is the key to developing an effective cough treatment plan.

A current school of scientific research and thought around Chronic Cough points to an overly sensitive cough mechanism, also known as Hypersensitive Cough Reflex, as the underlying cause of Chronic Cough.  A relevant discussion was presented by Eva Millgvist, M.D., Ph.D. in “The Problems of Treating Unexplained Chronic Cough” in the March 2016 issue of the journal Chest.  The article reports that chronic cough, similar to chronic pain and itch, is neurogenic mediated. In the case of Chronic Cough, this means that the nerve endings at the back of the throat become irritated and set-off a coughing episode. 

Dr. Mandel Sher is one of the nation’s leading doctors investigating neurogenic mediated cough.  Dr. Sher’s diagnostic approach concludes by identifying the underlying cause of your unique cough.  People who are hard-wired to cough may follow a cough treatment plan that includes speech therapy and a combination of prescription drugs such as chlorpheniramine extendtabs and gabapentin to cool down the cough.

If you have a cough that won’t go away, contact Dr. Mandel Sher today at Center for Cough:  727-393-8067.

clinical-research-coordinator

Clinical Trials Conducted at Center for Cough

Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough are grateful to their many patients who volunteer for clinical trials. The Wall Street Journal reported on April 12, 2016  that fewer than 10% of Americans participate in clinical trials to test new drugs and treatments because they are unaware of that option or their doctors may not suggest them. Trusting their doctor and having a desire to advance medicine and therapies are the motivating factors for patients’ participation. Please learn more about Amy by visiting Center for Cough’s website.  Contact Center for Cough today to learn about opportunities to participate in clinical research:  727-393-8067.

Chronic Cough is a Gender Issue

Did you know that the debilitating medical condition of Chronic Cough is a gender issue?  Chronic Cough is not gender neutral.  In fact, Chronic Cough favors women.  While Chronic Cough does affect both men and women, just being a woman sets you up for Chronic Cough.  Chronic Cough affects women more often than men.  And it particularly affects women as they age.   Dr. Mandel Sher’s vast experience diagnosing people who suffer with Chronic Cough and recommending cough treatment confirms the higher incidence of Chronic Cough among women.

“Chronic Cough as a Female Gender Issue,” a review article by Kavalcikova-Bogdanova, Buday, Plevkova, and Song published in the January 9, 2016 issue of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, addresses this phenomenon.  The authors suggest the role of hormones in excessive cough.

According to Dr. Sher, women are hard-wired to cough.  That means that women organically have a more sensitive cough mechanism.  The higher sensitivity of the cough mechanism means that it takes a lower level of irritants or stimuli to trigger coughing spells.  And since cough begets cough, Chronic Cough can become the result.

Dr. Sher emphasizes that cough is an important mechanism in all children and adults.  But in 12 to 15% of the population, a persistent cough that won’t go away becomes disruptive.  Chronic Cough has negative physical, mental, professional and social consequences.  Dr. Sher goes on to say that the goal of cough treatment is to normalize cough – not to suppress cough. 

Sometimes, cough is an indication of a more serious underlying medical condition.  In people suffering with Chronic Cough, cough is often THE problem.  A lingering cough is not normal and should not be ignored.  If you or someone you love has a Chronic Cough, contact Dr. Mandel Sher at Center for Cough:  727-393-8067.


Depression and Chronic Cough

Chronic Cough is not gender neutral.  While Chronic Cough affects men and women, it affects women more often; particularly middle-aged and older women.  Chronic Cough is a debilitating medical condition with physical, mental, social, and professional consequences.  Social isolation and depression are often associated with Chronic Cough.

If you or someone you know has persistent cough and symptoms of depression, contact Dr. Mandel Sher at Center for Cough:  727-393-8067.

“Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Chronic Cough”  by Dicpinigatis, Tso, and Banauch, published in the December 2006 issue of Chest, reported that over fifty percent of patients with chronic cough were clinically depressed. The authors pointed-out that physicians and others should be aware of the association between chronic cough and depression and recognize depression symptoms. Patients who were treated and experienced decreased cough also experienced a decrease in depression according to the authors.

Persistent cough is not normal.  A cough lasting more than eight weeks should be evaluated by a Cough Doctor to identify the cause and develop a comprehensive cough treatment plan.  Sometimes, cough is a symptom of a serious underlying medical problem.  Sometimes, cough is THE problem.  Chronic Cough can be successfully treated even in patients who have seen other doctors and failed other cough treatments.