Many people with asthma suffer from shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest, but don't understand why these symptoms occur. In this Health Alert, Dr. Peter B. Terry, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins explains why asthma causes coughing.
Q. Why is my asthma making me cough?
A. Asthma can cause coughing in several ways. First, the airways of a person with asthma are more sensitive to any inhaled pollutants. Breathing in a pollutant can cause coughing. Also, breathing in cold, dry air can trigger a cough in some people with asthma. This happens most commonly when a person exercises.
Usually, you breathe in through your nose, which humidifies and warms the air before it gets to your airways. But when you exercise, you tend to breathe in through your mouth. That means if you’re exercising outdoors in the winter, you’re getting a blast of cold air directly into the airways, which can trigger a cough.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also can cause coughing in some people with asthma. Some studies suggest that more than half of people with asthma also have GERD. Doctors aren’t exactly sure what the connection is between GERD and asthma, but there are several theories. GERD may cause people to have a small amount of acid bathe their voice box, which can trigger spasms in the airways. It is also possible that the acid damages the lining, exposing segments of an underlying nerve and causing a reflex that makes your airways narrow.
