People who smoke often develop a cough. Smoking causes a cough as the body is clearing out the chemicals that enter the airways and lungs through tobacco use.
If the cough is persistent, lasting for more than 3 weeks, it is known as smoker’s cough. While the cough may begin as a dry cough, it can eventually produce phlegm. Other symptoms include a sore throat and chest pain.
Treating smoker’s cough Elevate your head above the rest of your body while you sleep to make sure mucus doesn’t gather in your throat. Exercise 30 minutes per day on a regular basis. Exercise loosens up your mucus and makes it easier to cough up phlegm.
Fast facts on smoker’s cough:
- Not all smokers have smoker’s cough.
- Smoking causes a smoker’s cough.
- It can lead to a variety of other conditions, such as bronchitis.
- The most effective treatment for smoker’s cough is to quit smoking.
Smoker’s cough is a common complaint among people who smoke.
A study on young military personnel found that over 40 percent of participants who smoked daily and 27 percent who smoked occasionally experienced chronic cough and phlegm production.
As the study participants were aged 18-21, and smoker’s cough is more prevalent among long-term smokers, it is likely that the true percentage of smokers affected by smoker’s cough is higher than this.
Not all smokers develop smoker’s cough, but it is more likely among those persistent long-term users of tobacco.
In the early stages of smoker’s cough, the cough tend to be dry. In later stages, the cough produces phlegm that may be:
Other symptoms that occur along with the cough include:
- a crackling sound when breathing
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
- wheezing
Smoker’s cough tends to be worse first thing in the morning and gradually improves as the day goes on. Symptoms of smoker’s cough get progressively worse over time, unless the person quits smoking.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by difficulty breathing. The term COPD includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Symptoms include cough, phlegm, wheezing, and tightness in the chest.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, COPD – which is primarily caused by smoking – is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
A form of COPD caused by damage to the alveoli – the air sacs in the lungs. As a result, the body struggles to get the oxygen it requires. Symptoms include breathing difficulties and chronic cough.
In women, smoker’s cough may trigger stress urinary incontinence. Some research suggests that women who smoke heavily are much more likely to experience a sudden and strong need to urinate than non-smoking women.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in America, and smoking cigarettes is the number one cause of lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 90 percent of lung cancers in the United States are linked to smoking with even occasional smoking increasing cancer risk.
Tobacco use increases susceptibility to bacterial lung infections such as pneumonia. Symptoms of pneumonia include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
Some people, particularly those with underlying health problems, require hospitalization for pneumonia. Emphysema and certain other conditions can be exacerbated by this infection.
Quit Smoking : How to Get Rid of a Smoker’s Cough
FAQ
When should I be concerned about a smokers cough?
How long does smokers flu last?
What does smokers mucus look like?
How do I get rid of smoker lines?
Top options to help fade and smoothen out smoker lines include microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, micro needling and radio frequency therapy. When scheduled for a procedure, closely adhere to the pre-procedure and aftercare instructions which your skin care specialist will prescribe.
How can you quit smoking?
Nicotine causes addiction, so a decision to quit smoking is quite a difficult one with cravings and urges to smoke, which is hard to fight. There are various tactics to be used like delaying smoking, chewing gum, being physically active and distracting themselves. When nothing works using nicotine replacement patches are very helpful. Balanced diet, being mindful, doing meditation and breathing exercises also help to quit smoking.
How do you treat smoker’s flu?
Smoker’s flu is not a diagnosis and there are no specific guidelines on how to treat it. Even so, these symptoms will resolve with time. Until they do, there are several things you can try to better manage your symptoms: Treat the cough: Expectorants like guaifenesin can help by breaking up mucus so that it can be more easily coughed up.
How can I protect my skin from smoking?
Do not rely solely on your sunscreen for sun protection. Stay in the shade when you can and use an umbrella or a broad-brimmed hat to keep smoker lines out. Add antioxidants to your daily and nightly skin care regimens. These provide added UV protection but also help fight skin damage caused by free radicals.