Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/jijico/articles/32400/
Modified and translated by CFJA
What Is a Cough?
A cough is a natural defense mechanism built into our body and something that occurs routinely in daily life. Research on the mechanism of coughing has described it as follows:
“Coughing occurs when ‘cough receptors’ located in the airways are stimulated by airway inflammation, foreign body intrusion, or phlegm. This stimulus is transmitted via afferent nerves, including Ad fibers, to the cough center within the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata in the brainstem. The cough reflex is the forceful expiratory effort accompanied by a rapid increase in intrathoracic pressure.”
(“Latest Insights on the Mechanism of Heightened Cough Sensitivity as a Cause of Chronic Cough,” Junzo Kamei, YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 141, 1333–1342, 2021)
Coughing serves as a defense response, such as removing foreign substances or preventing a drop in body temperature. It also indicates the possibility of interference with lung function. The fact that coughing can be consciously suppressed suggests that it is under the control of the cerebral cortex. Psychogenic cough, which can be triggered by stress, is considered to arise from this cerebral mechanism.
According to Byōki ga Mieru, Vol. 4: Respiratory System (p.37), there are two types of cough:
- Dry cough (non-productive): characterized by a dry “kon-kon” sound.
- Wet cough (productive): characterized by a moist “goho-goho” sound.
Diseases that cause coughing include:
- Dry cough
- Acute: Pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Chronic: Cough-variant asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), interstitial pneumonia, drug-induced cough
- Acute: Pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Wet cough
- Acute: Bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, pleurisy
- Chronic: Pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary edema, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer.
- Acute: Bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, pleurisy
Causes of Coughing
The duration of a cough from its onset can help determine the underlying condition:
- Acute cough (within 72 hours of onset)
- Subacute cough (lasting more than 4 days but less than 2 weeks)
- Chronic cough (lasting more than 2 weeks)
- If the cough subsides within a few minutes to a few hours after it begins, it is likely caused by temporary irritation due to cold air. Simply warming the body is usually sufficient. However, if the cough persists and does not stop easily, viral or bacterial lung infections, or acute sinusitis may be suspected.
- If a cough continues intermittently for more than 4 days, it suggests that the body’s resistance is weakened and unable to suppress the growth of viruses or bacteria. In viral infections, fever usually begins to subside, but if normal daily activities are resumed too soon, the cough may become prolonged. In bacterial infections, the frequency of coughing tends to increase.
- If a cough lasts for more than 2 weeks, it indicates that inflammation has developed in the lungs or airways. This means the body lacks sufficient strength to overcome the illness. There is a risk of progression to conditions such as interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, or lung cancer.
When coughing is severe or becomes prolonged, it is important not to endure it but to seek medical attention from a specialist.