Coughing from Red Tide?: Pinellas, Manatee, & Sarasota Counties

Can you smell it? Red Tide is back in the Tampa Bay area. Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties have red tide right now. IF YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE COUGH OR ARE COUGHING AT THE BEACH WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT, THEN YOU MAY BE HARD-WIRED TO COUGH. RED TIDE AND OTHER IRRITANTS MAY RESULT IN INTENSE COUGHING SPELLS. Contact Dr. Mandel Sher, Medical Director and Founder of Center for Cough, to precisely diagnose the cause of your cough and begin a comprehensive and effective cough treatment plan: 727-393-8067.

Red Tide can result in breathing difficulties, respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) and/or serious illness for people with chronic respiratory conditions such as Chronic Cough. The Florida Department of Health advises people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions to avoid red tide areas.

Chronic Cough may be caused by more than one condition. Chronic Coughing spells may be triggered by more than one irritant. An overly sensitive cough mechanism, also known as hypersensitive cough reflex, is often a contributing factor to Chronic Cough. Some people are hard-wired to cough which simply means that the nerve endings at the back of the throat are easily irritated and ignite coughing spells. In these people, the cough reflex needs to be cooled-down with medication and easy-to-do at home voice exercises.

Each person and each cough is unique. That is why it is important to have your cough evaluated before beginning cough treatment. Sometimes, cough is an indication of an underlying and more serious medical problem. Sometimes, cough is THE problem. Rather than trying different cough treatments which may waste time, money and expose you to side effects or risks, get a cough treatment plan that is targeted specifically to your cough.

Red Tide occurs when there is a higher-than-normal concentration of a naturally occurring microscopic plantlike organism, specifically K. brevis, in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore wind conditions. K. brevis produces toxins that are released into the air when the organism dies and waves break open the cells. Red Tide is not new to this area. As far back as the mid-1800s fish kills were recorded. It occurs annually, usually in late summer or early fall, and lasts as long as wind and water conditions permit. Click on this link for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s “Red Tide Update Map:” http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/

Flu and Chronic Cough – a Bad Combination

Influenza, also known as flu, is a contagious respiratory illness.  Flu and Chronic Cough are a bad combination.  If you are coughing after your flu is gone, call Dr.  Mandel Sher.  You may now have Chronic Cough and need different cough treatment.  Call Center for Cough at:  727-393-8067.

A bout of flu can be severe and result in serious complications for people who are considered to be high risk due to age or other medical conditions.  People who suffer with Chronic Cough are part of this high risk group.

Flu viruses are spread my droplets made when people with influenza cough, sneeze, or talk.  Sore throat, cough, and fatigue are flu symptoms that will usually go away in persons recovering.  But these can also be symptoms of Chronic Cough for months after virus is gone.  Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough offer cough treatment for Chronic Cough resulting from seasonal flu and other upper respiratory infections.

Influenza viruses infect the nose, throat and lungs.  Cough receptors also live in these neighborhoods.  When viruses irritate the cough receptors, the result is acute cough.  People who are hard-wired to cough because they have a super-sensitive cough mechanism, also known as a hypersensitive cough reflex, may develop Chronic Cough from what began as acute cough.  Dr. Mandel Sher is a Cough Specialist.  He is one of very few doctors in the Tampa Bay area who is specially trained to do an advanced diagnostic test during an office visit to diagnose a hypersensitive cough reflex.

Chronic Cough is different from acute cough.  Chronic Cough has different causes and different treatments from acute cough.  Chronic Cough usually does not go away with time alone.  But there is effective cough treatment for people with Chronic Cough – even if they have seen other doctors for their cough and failed other cough treatments.  Over 80% of Dr. Sher’s cough patients demonstrate a measurable improvement in their cough and report a remarkable improvement in the quality of life.

The best defense against seasonal influenza is an offense.  Please GET A FLU SHOT NOW to protect yourself and those around you.  Generally, influenza season begins in October, peaks between December and March, and is active through May. Flu shot is already available throughout neighborhood pharmacies.

If you have a cough after the flu is gone, you may need cough treatment for Chronic Cough.  Call Dr.  Mandel Sher at Center for Cough at:  727-393-8067.

Stop Guessing: Madame Secretary, Her Allergies, and Chronic Cough

Secretary Clinton’s Chronic Cough and seasonal allergies are in the news!  The causes of Chronic Cough are often multi factorial. Stop guessing. Find out once and for all the triggers and the underlying cause. Seasonal allergies can be one trigger of Chronic Cough.

Chronic Cough is commonly triggered by upper airway irritation which can result from seasonal allergies, year-round allergies, non-allergic irritants, and chronic sinusitis.  Seasonal allergies, more commonly known as hay fever, are usually associated with grass, ragweed, and tree pollen during the growing and blooming season.  There are also year-round triggers for hay fever such as pet dander, dust mites, or cockroaches.

Sneezing, red, watery, and itchy eyes, stuffy or runny nose, allergic shiners under the eye, and fatigue are classic allergy symptoms, and cough can be an additional symptom.  Cough rarely occurs in the absence of other allergic symptoms, leaving allergy sufferers looking uncomfortable, sounding sick and contagious, and feeling miserable. Allergy symptoms, including cough, will occur soon after exposure and usually go away when the allergen is gone.

Chronic Cough is commonly triggered by post-nasal drip.

Post-nasal drip results from any upper air way irritation including seasonal and perennial allergies, post-viral residue, and chronic sinusitis.  Upper airway irritants cause membranes in the nose to produce mucus which drips from the nose and trickles down the back of the throat which irritates the throat’s nerve endings, and trigger scough.

Persistent and lingering cough is not normal and you should not learn to live with it. 

Even if you think your cough is due to post nasal drip, be evaluated by a Cough Doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and cough treatment plan.   In the absence of information, your loved ones are worried and speculating that something more serious may really be going on.

Contact Dr. Mandel Sher at Center for Cough for cough treatment solution:  727-393-8067.    

Evidence and Guidelines Combine for Thoughtful Approach to Cough

Did you ever wonder how doctors approach taking care of patients’ specific conditions?

Dr. Mandel Sher’s approach to diagnosing and treating cough is consistent with Clinical Guidelines for Chronic Cough and Evidence-Based Medicine.  Medicare and commercial insurance companies cover Dr. Sher’s and Center for Cough’s services.

Clinical Guidelines for Practice and Evidence-Based Medicine are two factors that influence an individual doctor’s approach to each patient.   Both are important in creating and upholding standards and adding more certainty to decision-making.

Professional physician specialty societies issue clinical guidelines for practice.  Clinical practice guidelines are recommendations for doctors about the care of patients with specific conditions. These practice guidelines are based on research and experience.  The Institute of Medicine defines clinical practice guidelines as “…statements that include recommendations, intended to optimize patient care, that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options”

Evidence-based medicine  is “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research,” according to Dr. David Sackett, a pioneer in this approach.

Today, Dr. Sher introduces one clinical guideline for Chronic Cough recently issued by the American College of Chest Physicians.  That professional society’s  journal, CHEST, featured:  “Treatment of Unexplained Chronic Cough:  Guideline and Expert Panel Report:”

“In adult patients with chronic cough, we suggest that patients with chronic cough undergo a guideline/protocol based assessment process that includes objective testing for bronchial hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic bronchitis, or a therapeutic corticosteroid trial.”

Center for Cough’s blog addressed testing for eosinophilic bronchitis, Chronic Cough and Non-Asthmatic Eosinophilic Bronchitis, in August 2016.  Please click on these links to read the blog post on non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis and other important cough topics.

Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough team bring the highest professional clinical practice standards and knowledge from vast and successful experiences with cough patients to each and every cough patient interaction.  Please contact Center for Cough today to find out how Dr. Sher can help you achieve a lasting cough solution:  727-393-8067.