Dr. Mark Hochberg MD uses his blogs to inform the public about respiratory health. As a pulmonologist, his goal is to educate people about the common and rare respiratory conditions. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many people have become more vigilant against its symptoms, such as dry cough. But what causes this kind of cough?
A cough is considered dry because it doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus. Also called non-productive cough, a dry cough can also cause a scratchy or tickling feeling in the throat. Dr. Mark Hochberg MD explains that having this kind of cough can be an inconvenience, especially if it affects one’s breathing and sleeping.
When one experiences a dry cough, one might also have a sore or irritated throat. Most people report that the itchy feeling is usually the first sign that they experience when they have dry cough. Because of this, the nerve endings in the throat get irritated and inflamed. Dr. Mark Hochberg MD says that some people might experience headaches and difficulty speaking.
When the dry cough lasts for days, it could also cause chest and abdominal pain. Dr. Mark Hochberg MD says that this is because some of the muscles in these parts of the body become strained as a person coughs.
In many cases, a dry cough isn’t something alarming. But when it leads to difficulty breathing, wheezing, body aches, and fever, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. Aside from COVID-19, these symptoms might be an underlying cause of a respiratory infection or illness.
Dr. Mark Hochberg MD 