Why Do I Cough Whenever I Get a Chill? What Should I Do?

Cough is a common disease with various causes. Although it may not seem serious, long-term coughing can pose significant health risks. When coughing occurs, it is important to avoid hasty self-medication and instead investigate the underlying cause before treating it accordingly. Some coughs are caused by colds, while others may occur simply due to exposure to cold air. What are the reasons for coughing upon exposure to cold air and how should it be managed? Let's explore these questions.

1. Why does coughing occur upon exposure to cold air? The most common cause is respiratory system diseases. Cold air stimulates the respiratory mucosa, causing inflammation, congestion, edema, and the secretion of inflammatory substances. Additionally, exposure to cold can weaken the immune system, allowing viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and rickettsia to invade the body and exacerbate the inflammatory response. Common clinical manifestations include acute and chronic pharyngitis, acute and chronic bronchitis, cough variant asthma, and acute bronchial asthma. Blood tests, lung CT scans, and lung function tests can help diagnose these conditions.

2. How should coughing be managed upon exposure to cold air? This is often associated with chronic diseases such as variant asthma, chronic bronchitis, obstructive pulmonary emphysema, and tonsillitis caused by cold air. Symptomatic treatment can be achieved through medications like montelukast for asthma and cough prevention, as well as glucocorticoid and bronchodilator administration through oral, intravenous, and inhaled routes. Commonly used medications include dexamethasone, terbutaline, budesonide, formoterol, and salbutamol, which can rapidly improve cough and asthma symptoms. Daily prevention measures include avoiding cold environments and chilled foods, and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables to nourish the lungs and alleviate coughing.

3. What should be done when coughing occurs? It is important not to suppress coughing blindly but to identify the underlying cause. If coughing is caused by upper respiratory or lung infections, anti-inflammatory treatment should be combined with cough suppression to achieve better results. For coughing caused by cardiac dysfunction or heart failure, correction of heart failure with diuretic and vasodilator medications is necessary for improved coughing symptoms. Additionally, some individuals may experience persistent coughing due to the use of certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors for hypertension, or due to cough variant asthma. In these cases, the use of anti-asthmatic medications in combination with cough suppressants may be necessary to effectively alleviate symptoms.