Coughs
Medical Author:
Manuel Hernandez, MD
Coauthor:
Jacob W Ufberg, MD
Medical Editor:
Patrick Taylor, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Steven L Bernstein, MD
Coughs OverviewA cough is an action your body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating to your air passages, which carry the air you breathe in from the nose and mouth to the lungs. A cough occurs when special cells along the air passages get irritated and trigger a chain of events. The result? Air in your lungs is forced out under high pressure. You can choose to cough (a voluntary process), or your body may cough on its own (an involuntary process). Causes of CoughsThe list of possible causes of cough is long and highly varied. Doctors classify coughs into 2 categories, acute and chronic. Many doctors define an acute cough as one that been present for less than 3 weeks. Chronic coughs are those present for more than 3 weeks.
Viewer Comments & ReviewsCoughs - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What is the treatment for you cough? |
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Cough
Bronchial Adenoma Overview
The term bronchial adenoma describes a diverse group of tumors arising from mucous glands and ducts of the trachea (windpipe) or bronchi (large airways of the lung). This term describes all of the following types of tumors: neuroendocrine tumors (carcinoids), adenoid cystic carcinomas (cylindromas), mucoepidermoid carcinomas, mucous gland adenomas, and other mixed seromucinous tumors arising from mucous glands and ducts of the windpipe and large airways.
These tumors are of widely variable malignant (cancerous) potential, although most of them are low-grade malignancies, growing and spreading much more slowly than true lung cancer. Only mucous gland adenomas are truly benign (noncancerous), lacking even the potential to turn malignant.
Bronchial Adenoma Causes
The cause of bronchial adenoma is not known.
Bronchial Adenoma Symptoms
Bronchial adenoma may remain undiagnosed for year...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Chronic Cough »
The management of chronic cough presents a challenge for the clinician.
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