Had a Chronic, Prolonged Cough for Years?

Coughing is meant to protect the body–especially the lungs–from foreign particles and excess mucus. But what if you have a chronic, long-lasting cough? What if your prolonged cough has been nagging you for years?

Here’s how Dr. Kaplan helped one patient get rid of her chronic cough, and how balloon sinuplasty in Houston can turn your long-lasting cough into long-lasting relief.

Why do I have this cough that won’t go away?

We’ve all had a cough, but what does it mean when you have a chronic, prolonged cough–one that lasts for years? What does a persistent cough signal? And how long is it normal for a cough to last?

Any cough lasting for over 8 weeks is labeled and treated as a chronic cough. While it’s normal for you to have an acute cough along with a viral infection, prolonged coughs often point to other causes and treatment. Long-lasting coughs have many causes, including the following.

• Asthma
• GERD (acid reflux)
• Bacterial infections and viral infections
• Sinusitis
• Post-nasal drip (learn more about post-nasal drip during pregnancy)
• Allergies
• Smoking
• Some medications

When people think of a chronic cough, the first thought that often comes to mind is “cancer.” And indeed, if you’re a heavy smoker and have been coughing every day for years, it would be wise to seek out a doctor as soon as possible, as this may be a sign of lung cancer. However, the disease cannot cause long-lasting coughs.

Most of the chronic, prolonged coughs we see at Kaplan Sinus Relief are actually caused by post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip may occur either as one of the side effects of chronic sinusitis, as a side effect of allergies, or from another cause entirely. (Read our blog post if you just asked yourself, “Can allergies make you cough?”)

Balloon sinuplasty and chronic cough treatment

Your chronic cough causes and treatment are linked: not all coughs are treated the same, and the cause of your long-term cough will determine which chronic cough treatment you receive.

In the case of post-nasal drip (and several other complications) the best treatment available is often balloon sinuplasty.  

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that can be performed in-office in less than 21 minutes and requires minimal recovery time. During the procedures, a tiny balloon is inserted into the nasal cavity and partially inflated.

The inflation of the balloon enlarges the nasal and sinus cavities, restructuring the nasal anatomy so that proper drainage can be restored, providing relief from chronic coughs due to post-nasal drip.

“It’s gone!” This chronic cougher now breathes easy with the help of Dr. Kaplan and balloon sinuplasty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5TPXDzbD7I&feature=youtu.be

Balloon sinuplasty success stories like this patient’s are frequently heard around our office. Dr. Kaplan is one of Houston’s premier ENT physicians and has performed thousands of successful balloon sinuplasty procedures.

You no longer need to keep coughing for years on end. If you’re ready to talk to a sinus doctor about putting an end to your chronic cough, schedule an appointment today with Kaplan Sinus Relief and get on the road to relief.

Related Resources

• Keep falling asleep at work? Snoring may be the cause
• Eustachian tube dysfunction remedies
• Balloon sinuplasty reviews: Balloon sinuplasty with IV sedation
• Is snoring bad for you?
• Can a sinus infection be contagious?
• Post-nasal drip and pregnancy: What You Need to Know