Why do some people have persistent coughs? I have done many tests but cannot find the cause of my persistent cough. What else can I do? Let's listen to Dr. Wei-hsien Chen from Formosa Biomedical i-Medical Health Clinic share what functional medicine is? And how can I improve my physical discomfort?
❐ What is the reason for a persistent cough?
Coughing is a common symptom. Many people may experience a cough for a week or two, but some people continue to cough for weeks or even months. This situation is confusing and worrying, so it is very important to understand the cause and treatment of persistent coughs.

The primary cause of persistent coughs is often related to respiratory diseases. Colds, allergies, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections may cause long-term coughs. When people with allergic constitutions encounter allergens, postnasal drip will irritate the throat and cause coughing, especially at night. Such conditions can be alleviated by avoiding allergens and appropriate medication. Chronic bacterial infections may also be the cause of persistent coughs.
❐ Air quality and environmental factors
Poor air quality, exposure to secondhand smoke, or dust and chemicals in the work environment may cause persistent irritation to the respiratory tract and cause coughing. Improving living and working environments and reducing exposure to these harmful substances can help alleviate symptoms.

❐ Why can functional medicine help chronic coughs?
Functional medicine provides a different perspective on the problem of chronic coughs, mainly by adjusting the body's internal environment to achieve the purpose of improving health. Functional medicine emphasizes the overall balance of the body, and finds out the potential causes of chronic coughs by checking the levels of toxins such as heavy metals and plasticizers, as well as the adequacy of nutrients. These tests include blood draws and urine tests, which can help assess the overall health of the body and then make adjustments.
❐ Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Some people may have undiagnosed asthma, and although there are no obvious wheezing symptoms, they continue to cough. When bronchial constriction causes itching and makes people want to cough, if appropriate asthma medications are used, the coughing condition can be controlled. Long-term smokers may develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or tumors in the lungs or chest cavity may irritate the respiratory tract, which is also an important cause of long-term coughs.

❐ There are hundreds of reasons for long-term cough. Which department should I go to?
When a long-term cough occurs and cannot be improved by itself, it is recommended to seek professional medical help. First, you can choose a general physician for preliminary diagnosis, and refer to a specialist, such as otolaryngology or thoracic medicine, if necessary. Common examinations include chest X-ray, endoscopy, and low-dose lung CT to rule out potential serious diseases.

❐ It turns out that patients with gastroesophageal reflux may also have a long-term cough!
Gastroesophageal reflux is also one of the common causes of long-term cough. Gastric acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating the esophagus and throat, causing coughing. Adjust your eating habits and avoid eating irritating foods.
❐ Is nutrient deficiency related to long-term cough?
When the human body lacks nutrients, it will affect the normal functioning of the body, making people more likely to get sick, or the condition will last longer. Common nutrients and effects include:

Vitamin A: helps the health and repair of mucous membranes, mainly from orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, papayas, as well as animal liver and cod liver oil.
Vitamin B group: promotes the proliferation and production of lymphocytes and inhibits allergic reactions.
Vitamin C: enhances the activity of natural killer cells to fight against foreign microorganisms.
Vitamin D: regulates immune response, the main source is sunlight.
Vitamin E: is an antioxidant vitamin that helps reduce inflammation.
Testing the body's nutrients can help us understand which nutrients are lacking and replenish them through diet or health products.

❐ Chronic inflammation in the body actually means that there are toxins in it!
In modern life, toxins in the body are a major factor affecting health. Foreign substances such as heavy metals, organic mercury, pesticide residues, plasticizers, etc. may accumulate in our bodies and cause a series of health problems. These substances may come from environmental pollution, food, drinking water, daily necessities, etc. For example:

Heavy metals: People who like to eat sashimi may accumulate more organic mercury in their bodies, because mercury pollution is a global problem.
Pesticide residues: Pesticide residues in vegetables and tea may bring harmful substances such as arsenic.
Plasticizers: Using plastic bags or containers to hold hot food may absorb more plasticizers.
These foreign substances are not natural parts of the body, so they will cause a reaction from the immune system and cause chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a process in which the body fights against foreign substances, which will damage cells, prolong the body's repair time, and lead to slower recovery from illness. We can understand the types and levels of toxins in the body through functional medicine testing. Common testing methods include:

Blood and urine tests: can detect the content of heavy metals and plasticizers in the body.
Metabolic tests: can measure metabolic toxins in the body, such as toxins metabolized by bad intestinal bacteria.
These tests can help us adjust our diet and lifestyle. For example, reduce the intake of sashimi, drink more water, etc.
❐ The intestines and lungs are so far apart, but they are related!
There is a mutual influence between the intestines and the lungs, which is the so-called "gut-lung axis". The balance of intestinal flora has a great impact on the immune system, so intestinal health will directly affect immunity, and then affect the health of the respiratory tract.

The intestinal flora is composed of a variety of good and bad bacteria. When there are too few good bacteria, too many bad bacteria, or insufficient diversity of intestinal flora, the ecological balance of the intestine will be destroyed, leading to a decrease in immunity. In this case, the body is susceptible to various infections, especially respiratory infections.

70% of the immune cells in the intestine are located below the mucosal layer, making the intestine the largest immune organ in the human body. Compared with blood and lymph nodes, the intestine is exposed to the most foreign substances every day, so it needs a strong immune system to protect it. So when the diet is unhealthy, it will directly affect the function of the immune system.

In addition, scientific research shows that there is a close connection between the intestine and the brain, a phenomenon called the "gut-brain axis". The intestine is called the "second brain" because it contains a large number of nerve cells that can secrete neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which have an important impact on our emotions and mental state.

Dopamine: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that makes us feel energetic and energetic. About half of dopamine is released by the intestine, which not only affects our emotions, but also promotes gastrointestinal motility and regulates gastrointestinal function.
Serotonin: Serotonin is a substance that makes us feel happy and satisfied. 90% of serotonin is released by the intestines, where it regulates gastrointestinal motility and other functions.
There are many reasons for persistent coughs, ranging from respiratory diseases, gastroesophageal reflux to environmental factors. Understanding and finding the specific cause and prescribing the right medicine can solve the fundamental problem. If the cough lasts for more than a month and there is no obvious reason, you should seek medical attention in time to avoid delaying diagnosis and treatment.

Categories: health