If coughing is hampering your sleep patterns and no form of suppressant seems to be easing the incidence of coughing then it could very well be a symptom of asthma.

In fact, in about one out of every two sufferers, coughing could very well be the only symptom. A persistent cough over several weeks shouldn't be tolerated and seeking medical opinion is the best course of action. A chronic cough can usually follow cold symptoms or it may be a symptom of some other condition which is why it's difficult to associate it as a symptom of asthma. That's why your doctor is best qualified to diagnose it.

Asthma Or A Cough?

Asthma cough is not suspected by many sufferers initially simply because the symptom could be associated with any number of other conditions. However, persistent and chronic night time cough should not be ignored and you should seek your doctor's opinion straight away.

Not Just A Child's Disease

It's important to realise asthma is not just a disease affecting children. In fact, adults have a better than 10 percent chance of developing asthma symptoms in their lives and that's why it's important to recognize a persistent cough as possibly more than just a by-product of a severe cold or flu.

During an adult's working life, they may be constantly exposed to non allergic triggers such as workplace irritants or even hormonal changes. Isolating the times when a cough is at it's worst is important when discussing your situation with a doctor.

Did You Know?

The best way to monitor asthma is via a peak flow meter. It's regarded as the thermometer of the asthma world and can relay information such as how well a person is breathing or the state of a person's lung function.Complacency is a problem with asthma sufferers and peak flow meters are a good indicator even when things appear to be normal.

Asthma Cough Facts

Wheezing is associated with this type of cough and it's described as non productive, meaning it doesn't produce wheezing. It's an irritating experience in the fact it has an almost hollow sound and the irritation in the throat seems unmovable. If the cough goes unchecked, shortness of breathe or even episodes of vomit can occur.

Children

In children, the episodes will be frequent and parents should keep a check on when the coughing is at it's worst. Isolating these times is valuable information for your doctor. It may occur most when the child is at play or during the night. You also want to check the child's breathing and look for rapid breathing. If the cough is breaking up normal sleep habits or it's so pronounced that it wakes the child, then your doctor will need to know.

Treating Asthma Cough

So what is the likely treatment course available. Well, bronchodilators are very effective as a quick relief method of treatment. A good asthma management strategy will involve the use of both quick reliever medicine as well as anti-inflammatory medication.

Bronchodilators are part of every asthmatics armoury and work by relaxing the bronchial tube muscles. The airway passages react by opening and the person begins to breathe again normally. Anti-inflammatory medicines are designed to reduce the inflammation of the bronchial tube walls.