In the latter case, stimulation of nerves in the larynx ("voice box") and respiratory tract initiates the entire process. Anatomy of a coughĪ cough can be a conscious, voluntary act or an uncontrollable, involuntary reflex. And it is quite a rush in a vigorous cough, the air travels out at nearly the speed of sound, creating the barking or whooping noise that we call a cough. Finally, the glottis swings open and the air rushes out. But when the glottis is closed, the air can't move out, so tremendous pressure builds up in the air passages.
In normal breathing, these muscles push air gently from the lungs up through the nose and mouth. The third step is the forceful contraction of the muscles of the chest cage, abdomen, and diaphragm (see figure). Next, the glottis snaps shut, putting a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. The cough begins with an initial gasp that draws air deep into the lungs. Coughing expels mucus, microbes, and foreign particles from the respiratory tract, protecting the lungs from infection and inflammation.
But is cancer really a common cause of a cough that lingers? And if it's not, what is - and what can you do to quiet a nagging cough? What is a cough?Īlthough folk wisdom views coughing as a grave portent of illness - What did one casket say to the other? "I hear you coffin" - the cough is actually a vital player in the body's defense against disease. But after three or four weeks, your mind starts to race, and the worry begins to mount.įor many people, chronic coughing raises the specter of cancer.
What's that nagging cough, and what can you do to cure it? Cough for a minute or two, and you may think something has "gone down the wrong pipe." Cough for a day or two, and you may think you've picked up a cold or the flu. After a week, bronchitis or allergies may come to mind.
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