Dry Cough

Common causes for a dry cough

You know that scratchy, tickly feeling in the back of your throat that makes you cough? That’s what we call a dry cough. And it’s called a dry cough because it generally doesn’t produce mucus. When a cough does produce mucus, it’s called a wet or productive chesty cough because mucus is, well, wet.

So what causes this raspy, irritating dry cough? Well, a cough is a normal, protective reflex that your body uses to help keep your airways clear from things that could irritate them, such as inhaled food or second-hand cigarette smoke. Below, we’ll briefly discuss some of the common causes of an annoying dry cough.

• Environmental factors: dry coughs may be triggered when your airways are exposed to irritants in the air such as dust or smoke, or even by cold air

Dry cough remedies

So when your dry cough has interrupted your zoom call for the zillionth time, what are your options? First of all, it’s important to take care of any condition that might be causing the cough. For example, if you think environmental irritants might be the problem, talk to your doctor about the most suitable way to manage your condition.

In the meantime, to help soothe your dry cough, make sure you drink adequate fluids to help you stay hydrated and keep your airways comfortable.

When to see a medical professional

It is important to see your doctor if you have any concerns about your cough or any other symptoms, or if:

• Your cough gets worse 
• You have a fever, difficulty breathing, or chest pains
• You cough up blood, or green or yellow mucus
• Your coughing causes vomiting

Dry cough FAQs