Asthma cough - Asthma cough is usually non-productive, that is, mucus is not brought up. It is unique and has a distinctive sound - a dry, wheezing sound and can get to the point where a child or adult is gasping for air. This happens when the airway passages get smaller (constrict). Asthma coughs are typically spasmodic and are likely the result of the body producing a histamine reaction to an irritant or allergen.

A common trigger factor is the house that harbors a wide variety of these symptom-producing culprits. The reaction to these irritants or allergens will be a swelling in the airways, which will cause muscle spasms around the bronchial passages. Due to the fact that it is an irritant and not mucus productive, the main reaction is to cough and that's the reason why the cough is dry.

Doctors often diagnose asthma cough or cough-variant asthma by chest xray and/or spirometer. This little gadget measures how much air you can exhale after first taking a deep breath, and how quickly you can empty your lungs.

Asthma cough can be controlled, but you must be an advocate for your own health care and that of your dependents.

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