Some of us have a tendency to develop a cough as soon as we change our surroundings. In such cases, we are constantly dreading the onset of any kind of a cough that will wreak a havoc on our system and almost shut us down. Constant coughing can become a serious health problem if not addressed immediately since it has a potential capacity to damage our throat as well as cause bronchitis, rhinitis, and other breathing disorders. A chronic cough can be a consequence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, postnasal drip, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, all of which require medical attention.

For a lot of people, coughing is a by-product of allergies. Inhaling pollen, dust, pet hair, or mold in our internal and external surroundings can all contribute to the causes of coughing from allergies. Coughing is simply a reflex caused by stimulation of the lining of the throat, nose, lungs, or voice box as a part of our body’s defense mechanism. There are multiple reasons for why we catch allergies due to which we have a higher chance of contracting irrepressible cough. These are as follows:

• Dust mites in our homes and outside our homes.
• Air quality within our homes and outside our homes.
• Quality of food that we consume.
• Pollution, weather, and other uncontrollable factors.

Whether your cause of a cough lies indoor or outdoor, is seasonal or stays all year round, allergic cough is something that stays until you work to eliminate its cause. Typical symptoms of coughing from allergies include:

• Runny nose
• Irritated eyes
• Sneezing
• Post nasal drip
• Persistent coughing

There are few but very effective ways by which coughing from allergies can be brought under control. These measures are neither time consuming, nor costly, but require timely attention. These are as follows:

• Consult your doctor.
• Do not self-medicate a chronic cough.
• A detailed inspection by your doctor will help you determine the cause of your cough and the kind of allergy you have which will help the doctor decide an effective course of treatment for you.
• Allergy testing can help identify the patterns by which you contract certain diseases and can help create a plan for better health.

Do not leave a medication course halfway
A cough has probably subsided in a couple of days, and you don’t see the point of stuffing yourself with more medicines. However, the reality is that even if the symptoms have been controlled, the organisms causing cough may still be embedded in your system which may get triggered again in volatile conditions. It is far more sensible to complete the medication course your doctor has prescribed for you since they have a better judgment of how much time you may need to be completely allergy free. Your doctor may also prescribe allergy shots which will decrease sensitivity to triggers of allergy over a period to keep coughing from allergies in check.

Find and attack your triggers
Coughing from allergies can be caused both due to internal and external factors. Check for mold growth in damp areas of your home. Mold also grows effectively on cardboard boxes, carpets, closed rooms, heating and cooling systems, vents and shafts, upholstery, insulation, wet bathrooms, and smooth fabric. Sometimes, allergy-causing organisms may be carried from outside into our homes on clothes, pets, bags, and shoes. Prolonged exposure to allergens can cause allergic fungal sinusitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and infection in the skin or mucous membranes. It is therefore essential that you find your allergy triggers and work to eliminate them.

Keep your home clean
Coughing from allergies can be controlled by keeping general surroundings clean, controlling humidity levels, facilitating the flow of air in wetter areas at home such as showers and kitchens, fixing leaky faucets, and dusting carpets and walls at regular intervals. If you live in areas that have excess humidity, you may want to invest in a humidifier to control allergic growth in your home. You may also want to get a check-up done periodically to ensure that there is no chance of contracting an allergy without knowing about it.

Avoid outdoors that may trigger your allergy
People who contract a cough due to allergies must make sure that they avoid very woody areas like forests and hills since allergens grow very quickly on wood. They must also take care to ensure that they are not around substances that have strong odors like cigarette smoke, paint, cleaning products, fragrances and industrial effluents.

Coughing from allergies is not life-threatening, but it has potentially debilitating and painful effects on the body. Also, there can be constant tiredness and a loss of opportunities that come with it. Do not wait for the symptoms to become severe and seek immediate medical attention. A cough may seem like a slight bother but its underlying causes must be checked and addressed as soon as possible.