Cough

Hi, I'm new here so just finding my way around!

I was just wondering if anyone else coughs daily or nearly every day as I seem to do at the moment. I wondering if this is a common symptom people have?

I am currently on symbicort 200/6 2puffs twice a day

I'd be grateful of any replies, thank you

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Hi there Rachel,

Welcome to Asthma UK - we are a friendly bunch and I hope you will find us a good source of information and support.

First of all, a brief warning. These boards are for everyone who is affected by asthma, but they do tend to attract people at the severe end of the spectrum in disproportionate numbers. While you are browsing the boards, you may well read about poor control, multiple medications, frequent hospital admissions and even intensive care admissions. These sorts of things are very rare, and are not typical of asthma. The vast majority of asthma can be almost completely controlled, once the right combination of medication is found, so please don't be put off or frightened by some of the more extreme experiences that people may describe on here.

In terms of your own symptoms - coughing is a common symptom with asthma, you don't have to be tight-chested, breathless or wheezy to be experiencing an exacerbation of your asthma. If you are coughing daily, though, that does suggest that your asthma may not be as well controlled as it could be. There are many additional treatments, as well as the Symbicort, that could be added in to try and improve your control, so it is worth asking for a review by your GP or asthma nurse.

Do you measure your peak flows? You can get a peak flow meter on prescription from your GP or buy one from any pharmacist. Measuring three times a day, plus when you have symptoms and before and after using reliever medication, will help you and your GP to get an idea of how good your control is.

There are other things that can contribute to a chronic cough, with or without asthma. Allergic rhinitis (hayfever) and sinusitis can cause post-nasal drip, where mucus runs from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat, and this can irritate the throat and airways and cause cough. If you suffer from allergies at this time of year, as many people do, this might be something to think about. Treatment is slightly different from asthma treatment, and is usually in the form of anti-histamines or a steroid nasal spray (see thread on Rhinitis in the Medical forum for more information).

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD) can also contribute to a chronic cough, by acid refluxing up the oesophagus from the stomach and irritating the lungs and throat. It is possible to experience this without getting any of the classic indigestion or reflux symptoms ('silent' reflux). This can particularly cause cough at night, as lying flat makes reflux more likely (although it's important to note that asthma alone is also often worse at night). There are various tests to try to determine if reflux is a problem, but they are all quite invasive and unpleasant, so often if reflux is suspected, a trial of treatment to see if it helps is the first line of action.

Please do go back to your GP and get the situation reviewed. You don't have to put up with this sort of chronic symptoms - it's very likely that the right drug treatment would get it under control for you.

Hope this helps

Take care

Em H

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Thanks for your advice, I have an appointment with my asthma nurse in two weeks to review the Symbicort, I was previously on Seretide 125 and was on 2 puffs twice daily.

I am recording my peak flow which has improved but still varies a bit, not as much as it was doing.

Thanks again , Rachel

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hi rachel,b4 i was diagnosed with asthma,i got a flu like bug and it lingered on 4 monthes ,i was caughing every day most of the time and short of breath thats wen i decided to go to the docs were i had lots of tests b4 being diagnosed with asthma,its pretty much in control now but i still caugh a lot which is relieved by a couple of puffs from my inhaler which is symbicort,