Often experiencing a persistent dryness in your throat that makes you cough hard? If yes, you must not ignore as this may indicate a serious concern. Dry tickly coughs are really frustrating and may lead to worsening conditions over time. This following blog discusses the basics related to a dry, tickly cough. Also, it lists some useful tips that may help to manage such an issue.
Dry tickly cough – what you need to know?
It is characterized by a non-stop irritation in the upper region of respiratory passage. Heavy coughing basically happens due to prickly feeling at the back of throat. Unlike the normal ones these dry, tickly coughs do not present mucus. Moreover, the individual does not suffer from any heaviness in the chest. Other prominent symptoms include fatigue, inability to hold pee, sleeplessness and so on. Altogether, these coughing episodes can seriously disrupt a person’s daily tasks.
What are the different types of dry tickly coughs?
These coughs are generally categorized into 5 types. They are as follows:
- Persistent Cough: This happens when coughing lasts for longer than usual. Thus, it is frequently termed as ‘chronic cough’. When this becomes extreme, it causes pain and straining of chest muscles. Such cases are typically exhibited by elderly people.
- Tickly Cough: It is associated with a prickly sensation in the throat area, causing relentless coughing. Moreover, it leads to extreme dryness and pain in the pharynx.
- Barking Cough: It is caused when an infection prevails in the upper respiratory tract. This obstructs the air passage and results in ‘wheeziness’. Moreover, such a condition often presents symptoms like fever, hoarseness of voice etc.
- Plum Pit Cough: This type of coughing leads to ‘lumpiness’ in the throat region. Primarily, such a condition is accompanied with an acidic taste during coughs. This feeling is indicative of gastro-oesophageal reflux, where stomach acid rises up to the food pipe and causes burning.
- Wheezy Cough: This type of coughing is typically associated with ‘wheezing’ noise. It indicates ‘bronchospasm’ wherein the upper airway gets constricted. In worst cases, it leads to asthmatic condition.
What are the possible causes of a dry tickly cough?
Tickly coughs are generally indicative of allergic reactions. However, there can be other factors too. Some of the possible causes are:
- Viral fever
- Common cold
- Sudden lowering of temperatures or season changes
- Smoking of cigarettes
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Inflammation of sinuses
- Drugs
- Air contaminants
- Exposure to other indoor pollutants
- Pollen grains
- Inflammation of tonsils
- Cystic fibrosis
- Unusual tissue outgrowths within the respiratory way
- Bodily infections such as TB, HIV, pertussis etc.
- Pleuritis (inflammation of pleural membranes protecting the heart)
- Pneumonia
- High atmospheric pressure due to altitudes
- Lung infections
- Heart issues
Who does dry tickly coughs affect the most?
Dry, tickly coughs are one of the most bothersome issues to affect daily lifestyle. These types of coughs mostly happen to older individuals. However, it may affect people of any age. Thus, timely management becomes necessary.
How long will such a condition persist?
This type of condition generally persists for about three weeks to one month. In casual scenarios, they resolve on their own and do no not require instant medical help. However, if condition worsens over time, it must be addressed promptly.
When you should seek for medical help?
If a dry cough does not go away on its own, seeking professional guidance becomes important. It helps to overcome underlying issues that may not appear normally. However, if a person coexists with other severities, delaying can lead to fatal situations in the near future. Some potent life-threatening conditions are listed here. They are as follows:
Heart Failure
When the heart does not function optimally, it may result in chest stiffening. This in turn may trigger dry coughs. Moreover, arterial plaque buildup can worsen symptoms and cause frequent loss of breath.
Pulmonary embolism
It is typically caused due to blood clotting within the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary artery is the one which transports oxygenated blood to the lungs. The common sign is heavy coughing, often associated with severe pain in the chest.
Lung Cancer
Although it may not exhibit early symptoms, this can give rise to dry coughs over time. When the disease has progressed significantly, it results in persistent coughs. Apart from this, other symptoms include coarseness of voice, breathlessness etc.
Tips to get rid of a dry tickly cough that won’t go away
Recognizing the causes may help in early medical intervention and strategical treatment. Here are some of the strategies that you can use to get rid of dry tickly cough
Avoiding polluted areas
Try not to go to dusty places. They may cause allergies, in turn triggering heavy coughs.
Gargling with warm water
This can reduce the effects of irritation in the throat. To obtain better results, drop a pinch of salt to the water while it is still warm. Try doing this at least 2 times a day.
Taking a steam bath
While you shower under warm water, allow the vapours to reach the throat. This moisturizes the respiratory tract and eases irritation.
Using cough syrups or lozenges
These help to keep the itchy feeling at bay from the throat. These contain special ingredients to soothe the dryness and moisten the throat.
Speaking softly
Try to give rest to your vocal cords by not speaking out loud. Also, do not shout or cry in shrill tone as it may harm the already inflamed throat.
Resting sufficiently
A proper rest can heal your body as well as the throat. During rest, you conserve energy which helps in faster recovery.
Hydrating enough
Do ensure to hydrate the body properly. You may drink plenty of water or nutritious juices to maintain normal hydration levels. This helps a lot to retain the body’s rhythm and reduce throat issues.
Incorporating painkillers
You may take medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen etc to lessen symptoms of pain due to persisting coughs.
Conclusion
Prioritizing the health is of utmost importance to everyone. Thus, if you struggle with a dry tickly cough that won’t go away; seek immediate guidance from a medical professional at your earliest. Md.co.uk is one of the reputed names to help you connect with top private GPs in London. Moreover, you can obtain timely diagnosis and treatment here to relieve your issue in no time!
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